CIH Northern Ireland roundtable insights: Advancing professionalism in housing and assets

CIH Northern Ireland director Justin Cartwright summarises the key points from a vibrant roundtable discussion on professionalism in the sector.

Professionals working in housing and asset management play a vital role in ensuring the wellbeing of communities. To shed light on the evolving landscape of professionalism in Northern Ireland, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) recently hosted a roundtable discussion in Belfast, bringing together 16 senior housing leaders from across the region. 

The meeting yielded valuable insights into key developments and initiatives in the field. 

Qualifications mandate in England

Gavin Smart, chief executive of CIH, began the discussion by summarising the recent legislation in England aimed at increasing professionalism in housing management. This legislation mandates qualifications for senior executives and managers in the housing sector. 

The consensus among attendees was that qualifications help to elevate standards and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the industry. However, qualifications also represent a single aspect of professionalism that interplays with other important features such as values, behaviours, and continuing professional development (CPD). 

CIH's initiatives in Northern Ireland 

The conversation then shifted to CIH's work in Northern Ireland, summarised by Northern Ireland vice-chair Caroline Connor. CIH has been actively engaging with housing association and Housing Executive members to explore how to approach the professionalism agenda effectively. 

This collaborative effort has already led to the successful introduction of a new Level 3 apprenticeship in housing practice and a Level 5 foundation degree in housing practice, helping to address the education gap left by the closure of the housing management degree. 

Social housing regulation in Northern Ireland 

One significant development discussed was the stance taken by the CIH Northern Ireland board on social housing regulation. It was proposed that housing associations should be required, under the consumer standard and as part of their regulatory returns, to clearly demonstrate their progress in enhancing the professionalism of their frontline housing and asset teams, as well as their managers and directors. 

This progress would be measured through various indicators, including CPD, training, qualifications, and adherence to relevant professional standards frameworks. 

The Northern Ireland review of social housing regulation 

Attendees discussed the progress of the review of social housing regulation in Northern Ireland. One key recommendation from the review was to test the appetite for mandating professionalism under the consumer standard. While this recommendation is under further consideration, the absence of the NI Executive does constrain the development of new policy and legislation. 

In the interim, the regulator proposes to incorporate a new expectation in its draft framework document under Consumer Standard 2, emphasising the need for housing associations to have plans in place for developing the skills, knowledge, and competency of their workforce. Participants emphasised the value in pursuing professionalism not just in the regulation space, but also voluntarily. 

Continuing education and skills gap analysis 

Finally, the roundtable emphasised the importance of CIH's role in developing education options for housing and asset management professionals. CIH engagement and external affairs manager Julie Steele underscored the value of the sector in co-designing training opportunities. 

Participants stressed the need for CIH to conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of skills across the housing sector. This analysis would provide valuable data to demonstrate the viability of housing education programmes to the education sector and underscore the industry's commitment to professionalism. 

Evolution of the housing sector 

The CIH roundtable discussion on professionalism in housing revealed a dynamic landscape with ongoing developments in England and Northern Ireland. As the sector continues to evolve, CIH and its members are committed to advancing professionalism, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and ensuring that housing and asset management professionals are equipped with the skills and qualifications needed to excel in their roles.

By collaborating and staying proactive, the industry is poised to make significant strides in delivering high-quality housing services to communities across the board.