NHF: Federation publishes excellence in standards of conduct
Monday, 8 February 2010
12:00 AM
The National Housing Federation is to publish a new book, Excellence in standards of conduct, on Friday, February 12, which aims to support housing associations in maintaining excellent standards of conduct in everything they do.
The book sets out a comprehensive framework covering all aspects of an association's business, and requires all associations to demonstrate their commitment to excellent standards of conduct by laying down clear expectations for staff and board members.
The new book is designed to be used alongside the two codes published last year by the Federation - Excellence in governance and Excellence in service delivery and accountability.
For many years, the regulation of business probity in housing associations has been addressed through successive Housing Acts, which have laid down a series of increasingly complex provisions and entrusted their enforcement to the Housing Corporation, and then the Tenant Services Authority, as statutory regulator.
But as the sector has grown and evolved, it has became increasingly clear that the statutory approach has imposed sweeping restrictions that have often operated to restrict normal business practices, while at the same time overlooking some key issues of probity and reputation.
Federation chief executive David Orr said: "The publication of this book is a massive step forward in the understanding of standards of conduct required by housing associations to ensure the upholding of their probity and reputation.
"I am sure that it will go on to provide an invaluable framework for the business of housing associations for many years to come."
:: You can buy Excellence in standards of conduct: code for members at the Federation's online store https://www.housing.org.uk/OnlineStore/
Price: £6.95 (Members £5.95)
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DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS
21 August 2003
BENEFIT FRAUD INSPECTORATE REPORT: EAST RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Andrew Smith has today
published a report by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) on the
administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and
counter-fraud activity by East Renfrewshire Council.
BFI inspected the council against the Performance Standards for
housing benefits. The report found that the council was not at
standard for any of the seven functional areas - strategic
management, customer services, processing of claims, working with
landlords, internal security, counter- fraud, and overpayments.
The report found evidence of the council's commitment to improving
its benefits administration as it had increased the numbers of staff
working in this area. However, this increased commitment needed to be
directed by a clear vision for the Benefits service supported by
formal policies and clearly communicated targets.
The council was performing well in some areas of claims processing
with 99 per cent of renewal claims processed before the expiry of the
previous claim, and new claims processed on average in 31 days
compared to the national standard of 36 days. However, the council
needed to do more management checking of cases, and improve its
approach to verifying supporting evidence to meet the national
verification framework. To reach the counter-fraud standard, the
council must ensure that fraud investigations are properly planned
and thoroughly conducted. However, BFI acknowledged that the council
had undertaken some quality fraud investigations.
The council had no specific overpayment policy, and did not do enough
to establish the cause of individual benefit overpayments. The
council did not make use of all the available methods of recovery and
its processes were fragmented and poorly controlled. The council has
responded positively to BFI's recommendations in this area and plans
to change its processes and organisational structure.
In 2001/02, East Renfrewshire Council administered approximately
#11.7 million in housing benefits. This is approximately 7.6 per cent
of its gross revenue expenditure.
BFI is an independent unit within the Department for Work and
Pensions that reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions on the standard of benefit administration and counter-fraud
activity.
Notes to Editors
1. The process for the inspection at East Renfrewshire Council
included an initial fact finding stage, an on-site visit, and
production and clearance of the report. The on-site visit took place
during February 2003.
2. Each BFI inspection report is considered by the Secretary of State
who decides whether any further action is appropriate. The Secretary
of State has powers to issue directions to a local authority to
secure acceptable or minimum standards in performance.
3. In its response to the Housing Green Paper of November 2000, the
Department for Work and Pensions developed a performance framework
for housing benefits. The HB/CTB Performance Standards, published in
April 2002, enable local authorities to make a comprehensive self-
assessment of whether they deliver benefit effectively and securely.
They are the standards that the Department for Work and Pensions
expects local authorities to aspire to and achieve in time.
4. The Department for Work and Pensions has not set a timescale for
when the standards need to be met by local authorities.
5. BFI inspects against the seven functional areas of the Performance
Standards:
- Strategic management - clearly stated aims and action, resources
and monitoring, with effective training and IT
- Customer services - providing an efficient and prompt service that
meets the needs of all claimants and persons with a legitimate
interest in a claim
- Processing of claims - speedy and accurate claims processing with
effective verification
- Working with landlords - to give private landlords the confidence
to let to claimants and to support delivery of social housing
- Internal security - preventing internal fraud
- Counter-fraud - deterring, preventing, detecting and pursuing fraud
- Overpayments - preventing, identifying and recovering overpayments.
6. The HB/CTB Performance Standards can be downloaded from:
www.dwp.gov.uk/housingbenefit/publications/2002.
7. Media copies of the BFI inspection report can be obtained from the
Department for Work and Pensions Press Office on 020 7238 0866.
8. All BFI inspection reports can be found on the BFI website -
www.bfi.gov.uk.
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