CIH professional standards
The CIH professional standards framework focuses on the following characteristics to enable you to think about your professional development needs and how you can contribute to the professionalism of your organisation and wider sector.
A housing professional has a clear understanding of their values and acts in accordance with them – they will do the right thing, for the right reasons, based on the best evidence and without partiality.
A housing professional acts transparently and fairly; builds good relationships; and works collaboratively with partners, customers and communities to achieve better outcomes.
A housing professional acts fairly and makes choices and decisions by applying principles and values consistently. They understand the impact that poor decisions can have both on people’s lives and the reputation of their organisation and they challenge unethical practice in a fair and considered way.
A housing professional has relevant and up-to-date practical and specialist knowledge as required by their job role, understands the bigger picture and has a passion for continuous learning.
A housing professional equips themselves with the relevant skills to deliver effective services to tenants, customers, colleagues, and partners.
A housing professional equips themselves with the relevant skills to deliver effective services to tenants, customers, colleagues, and partners.
Housing professionals at all levels should demonstrate leadership, be forward thinking and create opportunities. They find solutions to improve outcomes for their organisation, tenants and communities and demonstrate their ability to adapt to the latest ideas, situations, and change.
Who is the toolkit for?
Investing in the housing workforce is not only the right thing to do, but essential in delivering results - especially in a crisis.
Organisations that lead, support and develop their workforce are more productive and effective; but sometimes housing organisations struggle to find the best way to create a culture of continuous professional development.
This guidance is for housing organisations who need direction on investing in their workforce to deliver better outcomes for tenants and customers.
Why do we need a toolkit for professional development?
The housing sector is dealing with a range of priorities, from improving existing stock and delivering new homes, to keeping rents affordable. All while inflation is eroding the value of the money it does have.
If investing in your workforce was ever a ‘nice to have’, it‘s now essential for housing organisations to do so. Developing skills through education, housing organisations can give themselves the best possible assurance that they are doing everything possible to improve customer and tenant satisfaction, as well as improving service delivery in relation to efficiencies and value for money. We need a greater focus, both nationally and locally, on investment in recruiting, developing and supporting the retention of housing professionals and this guide will set out some of the main ways housing organisations can achieve this.
