Our recordings cover various topics, from practical housing management and high-level policy discussions to events designed to support your professional development. All recordings are free for all CIH members, log in and listen/watch from anywhere.
The future of diversity in the social housing sector
What is the future of diversity in the sector? Our speakers and chairs in this webinar examined and discussed:
- Social landlords and diversity - why London landlords do not reflect their diverse communities (board, executives and senior managers)
- Overcoming challenges faced by diverse groups - networking as a means of overcoming challenges
- Moving forward - how to improve diversity in the sector
One CIH
In this virtual event for CIH volunteers and regional group members we heard from Gavin Smart, chief executive officer at CIH as he gave an update on the last year including the impact of COVID-19 and his general reflections on where CIH are at now. He shared a glimpse of future plans, as well as thanking you as volunteers for all of your commitment to the profession and membership. Debbie Larner, head of knowledge and products at CIH updated delegates on the CIH professional standards framework and discussed next steps in the project and our initial plans to start rolling this out across the sector, with the support of CIH volunteers.
Aileen Evans, CIH President, joined us to provide an update on her presidential campaign ‘Shine a Light’. She explained that the fundraising efforts have been continuing till been taking place and she raised awareness of the campaign. Aileen also introduced us to the new mental health tool kit for the sector which was recently launched.
Building better boards: Championing diversity and ensuring equality
We as a professional body are committed to supporting the sector with professional standards, but in particular championing diversity at all levels. This event explored good practice already in existence, but also importantly discussed the challenges for the sector in ensuring we have diversity across our organisations, but also are representative of our communities. In a continuation from our first Building better boards event, Mark Brown, CEO of the Dolphin Index expanded on how boards cannot live by governance alone, exploring how having diversity on boards can drive better decision making, and enable greater success.
Gera Patel, senior consultant at Campbell Tickell brings close to 20 years’ experience of working in and with a wide range of organisations. Now sitting on the consultancy side, Gera provided her insights on how a board’s recruitment and succession planning can be improved, opening themselves up to the wealth of talent available from across the diversity spectrum.
Mushtaq Khan, currently interim CEO at Housing Diversity Network also brought his lived experience of rising to senior roles within the housing sector. Housing Diversity Network are one of the leading organisations that help organisations to be better. We heard his take on where the sector is right now, and what are the practical measures that boards can take to change things for the better, encouraging more diversity at all levels.
Progress Housing Group were one of the first organisations to try and create a board development programme for candidates who perhaps didn’t have direct experience sitting on a board, but aspired to do so. We heard about their programme, the successes it had, but also where there is learning to be had in how programmes like this can be rolled out more widely and ensure that the talent being generated does then result it greater diversity actually being on the boards at the end.
Building better boards Cymru
We heard from a fantastic line-up of expert speakers at this inaugural Building better boards Cymru virtual event. We discussed the roles of boards and listened to best practice and how CIH is committed to supporting board members and governance professionals in Wales to overcome the challenges they face. Our speakers debated what the immediate impact of the COVID-19 crisis has had on providers, and considered how we can all inspire positive change to develop good governance within organisations long into the future.
Leadership in housing - a looming capability gap?
The Chartered Institute of Housing and the Institute of Leadership and Management launched their report ‘Leadership in Housing – a looming capability gap?’ The research for this report was presented along with recommendations on how we can ensure the future strength and success of the UK housing sector. We as the professional body recognise that there has been a leadership gap widening in the sector for some time and our report will help to lay the foundations of the steps we want to take with you to fix the problem.
in 2020 we have seen the broad range of skills that leaders need to have in order to be successful and keep the organisation running. It is fundamental that we as a sector do more to support aspiring leaders, in a meaningful and sustained way.
Drawing on the expertise of the Institute of Leadership and Management, this isn’t just about how we can be good leaders now and develop future talent, but more so, how we can do that in housing context. We are excited to also announce that our partnership will be going further in bringing you a joint membership offer.
Leadership in Housing – a looming capability gap? - Read the report
Joint membership offer with The Institute of Leadership and Management
Tipping point: Health and housing – building better partnerships
We heard about iHub’s work to support the housing sector in Scotland in dealing with the immediate impact of the Coronavirus outbreak and longer-term plans to promote better practice and partnership working between housing, health and social care. We also heard how Bield has had to adapt their services and what support they offered to tenants, as well as their experience of working with partners in health and social care.
Good housing is essential to our health and wellbeing. If there was ever any doubt about this, it has been well and truly extinguished by the Coronavirus epidemic which has cast new light on the inequalities within our society. People without a secure place to live, or space to work, and for children to learn and play, have been hit much harder by the pandemic.
At the same time, the amazing work of social landlords has ensured that tenants and communities have been supported, and that food and other essentials are being distributed to those who need them. As we start to adjust to a ‘new normal’ after Coronavirus, we need to be asking what lessons can be learned from the housing sector’s response to the pandemic and how can we build better relationships with our partners in health and social care?
Developing and retrofitting: the low carbon agenda
John Kiely, director of housing & public sector at Savills and Brian Rankin, energy manager at Choice Housing looked at the low- and zero-carbon agenda and retrofit of existing homes. Discussing the opportunities and current challenges, they shared examples of developing new homes to higher energy standards including Passive House, zero carbon, Code 5, and Code 4 projects.
Social Housing Allocations for now and the future
The complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has brought housing into sharp relief and means it is more important than ever that we are clear of the need and purpose of social housing in Wales. A central part of this is the allocation policies and processes that support people to access social housing in Wales.
Tyfu Tai Cymru looked across all local authority areas to understand how the allocations process works in different locations. Shelter Cymru presented findings from their detailed research which focused on the Swansea area.
All speakers explored what works and what can be improved.
Getting your repairs service back up and running during COVID-19
As we start easing the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions what will the impact be on repairs and maintenance services? How will organisations deal with the backlog of repairs, reach out to customers in a meaningful way and manage customer expectations.?
Our speakers reviewed the current situation, explored how we work towards returning to normal service, considering how long this might take and explored whether there are opportunities to be taken from this crisis to do things differently in the future.
Bonfires to beacons: community cohesion in Northern Ireland
Celebrations of culture and heritage can be an important part of life for some and a contentious issue for others. Tanya, Gavin & Mark examined the role social housing landlords can play in supporting communities to explore the diverse range of opportunities available to them in reimaging celebrating their cultural heritage differently, and looked at how we can learn from the journey's others have already embraced and how can we support positive expressions of culture.
International best practice examples, local office case studies and findings from consultation with staff and customers were explored alongside a series of practical initiatives designed to support communities' initiate conversations around change.
