The Social Housing Services Conference 2024

Since the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, the Government has demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of social housing. A host of new legislation, regulation and recommendations have been made, most notably the Social Housing Regulation Act, which received Royal Assent in July 2023. Housing associations and local government must respond to these legislative changes and recommendations to tackle the prevalence of damp and mould, strengthen relations with tenants and provide customer support during the cost-of-living crisis. To take effective action, it is important social housing landlords work together to share best practice and solutions moving forward.

• The social housing sector owns 4.4 million homes across England, with a net increase of over 31,000 social homes in the year, DLUHC reported in 2022
• In 2020, 11% of dwellings in the social rented sector failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard, around 448,000 homes, according to the Better Social Housing Review
• The English Housing Survey found almost one third of social renters had considered making a complaint to their landlord and among those who did complain, almost two thirds were not happy with the response they received to their complaint

Join us at The Social Housing Services Conference 2024 to hear the latest updates and recommendations for implementing the latest social housing reform and regulations from experts across the housing sector. You will hear a range of case studies showcasing a variety of important topics, including tackling damp and mould, improving tenant engagement, and effective data collection techniques. You will also have the opportunity to network with senior colleagues from across the social housing sector to share and address common challenges in providing high-quality housing.

Why Attend:

✓ High-level keynotes and updates from social housing experts on complying with the latest guidance and regulations
✓ Successful case studies demonstrating a range of initiatives for engaging with tenants and responding to key issues such as reducing mould and damp
✓ Network with speakers and senior colleagues from across the HR sector
✓ CPD (gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota)

NEW AND EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR
CONFERENCE PACKAGE – GE Insights:

This year’s conference package includes 12-months FREE access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more (RRP £199). Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.

Key benefits include:

 ✓100s of Exclusive Case Studies – fingertip access to videos and articles covering all key sectors including Local Authorities, Voluntary, and Education and ALL CPD certified

 ✓Key Sessions from All Our Conferences – gain valuable insights from our past, present, and future events (160+ pa)

 ✓Articles and Interviews – learn from our network of expert speakers and contributors explore further the key discussions from the conferences

 ✓Additional CPD Hours – automatically earn more for everything you watch, read, and hear

 ✓Your Own CPD Dashboard – charts your progress, allows you to add notes, download your activities, and save/print an official CPD certificate

 ✓Personalised Homepage – only see the relevant content you need to save time

 ✓30+ New Uploads Each Month – we’re adding new content every week to ensure you stay engaged and informed all year round.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.00

  Online Registration

• 09.50

  Chair’s Opening Remarks

  Professor Rebecca Tunstall, Former Centre Director & Joseph Rowntree Professor of Housing Policy, University of York (CONFIRMED)

• 10.00

  Keynote: The Social Housing Quality Programme: Improving Sector-Wide Standards and Accountability

  • Overview of the Government’s social housing quality programme
  • Updates on programme measures, including:
    • Awaab’s Law  – insights into time limits for repairs
    • Competence and Conduct standard
    • Social Housing Access to Information Requirements
    • Improving tenant’s access to redress
    • Strengthening tenant voice

  Senior representative, Department of Levelling-up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) (CONFRIMED)

• 10.20

  Keynote: The Better Social Housing Review: Key Takeaways and Advice on Taking Action

  • Outlining the seven key recommendations made by the Independent Panel and tangible methods for implementing change
  • Insights into addressing and combatting the structural inequalities BAME communities face in social housing
  • Working with local stakeholders to provide effective tools and learning resources for staff to ensure action is taken
  • Primary outcomes from the initial stages of the working and steering group and next steps for discussion
  • Advice for social landlords to effectively measure progress and report on successes

  Sarah Davis, Policy Officer, Chartered Institute of Housing (CONFIRMED)

• 10.40

  Key Supporter Session

• 11.00

  Questions and Answers

• 11.20

  Comfort Break

• 11.35

  Case Study: Successfully Strengthening Tenant Relations with Social Housing Landlords

  • Get involved: listening to and working with tenants and leaseholders to write an engagement strategy that delivers sustainable, long-term relationships
  • Using a range of activities and engagement methods to facilitate tenants to share feedback and opinions
  • Tackling barriers to accessibility for tenants and embedding equality and diversity throughout housing services
  • Developing a Tenant and Leaseholder Committee to monitor engagement performance and drive service improvement

  Peter Locke, Head of Communities, North Star Housing Group (CONFIRMED)

• 11.55

  Case Study: Developing Community Hubs to Increase Engagement with Tenants and Improve Wellbeing

  • Working in partnership with local stakeholders to build a place-shaping programme that connects different communities
  • Insights into delivering a cost-effective range of health and wellbeing activities, including sports, employment and food opportunities
  • Collaborating with charities to provide free and accessible activities tailored to minority groups
  • Creating a dedicated neighbourhood and communities division to consult with residents and shape responses based on their social health need
  • Collecting data on the community hubs and resident engagement to inform further improvements

  Terri Calbraith, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Poplar HARCA (CONFIRMED)

• 12.15

  Case Study: Wrap-Around Interventions to Support Tenants Through the Cost-of-Living Crisis

  • Strategies for rolling-out and handling a successful cost-of-living tool for struggling tenants
  • Early intervention: actions to minimise rent arrears at the initial stages of tenancies
  • Collecting and using customer data to understand the scale of issues and effectively target those most at risk of financial difficulties
  • Introducing and managing a digital tool that’s easily accessible for struggling tenants

  Katie Ford, Cost-of-Living Digital Tool Manager, Hyde-housing Association (CONFIRMED)

• 12.35

  Questions and Answers

• 12.55

  Lunch Break

• 13.35

  Keynote: Meeting National Health and Safety Regulatory Standards for Tackling Damp and Mould

  • Sharing findings from the call for evidence from landlords on damp and mould and best practice approaches from the evidence submitted
  • Advice on collecting data on stock condition and implementing clear processes for tenants to deal with damp and mould
  • Training staff to recognise damp and mould in tenant housing and employing specialised staff to deal with more complex cases
  • Best practice governance of damp and mould cases and delivering a robust policy that tackles the issue

  Anthea Chilton, Sector Learning and Development Lead, Housing Ombudsman Service (CONFIRMED)

• 13.55

  Case Study: Responding to Social Housing Regulation: Preparing for and Enacting Substantial Change

  • Good governance: delivering a clear strategy and building robust relationships to be resilient moving forward
  • Supporting colleagues to have the tools and training to deliver a consistent style and standard of service through a period of change and new regulation
  • Mobilising a new operating model: expanding digital capabilities alongside a localised offer to address the differing needs of wider communities
  • Establishing a Customer Experience Panel to engage with more diverse communities and ensure their changing needs are being met

  Clare Durnin, Executive Director (Corporate Resources), Platform Housing Group (CONFIRMED)

• 14.15

  Key Supporter Session

• 14.35

  Questions and Answers

• 14.55

  Breakout Networking: Providing High-Quality Housing: Overcoming Obstacles and Sharing Solutions

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in delivering high-quality housing in line with tenant need. This will allow you to share your experiences and encourage cross sector collaboration.

• 15.25

  Comfort Break

• 15.40

  Case Study: Supporting a Positive Safeguarding Culture in Social Housing

  • Explore practical approaches and protocols for supporting safeguarding and domestic abuse
  • Learn about empowerment-focused strategies aimed at empowering survivors to assert their rights, access support services
  • Strategies for addressing systemic barriers within social housing systems that may hinder effective responses to safeguarding concerns

  Brea Attrill, Corporate Lead – Safeguarding, Southern Housing (CONFIRMED)

   

• 16.00

  Case Study: Collecting Resident Diversity Data to Inform Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Measures and Drive Positive Change

  • Establishing an EDI data working group to ensure customer relations teams are supported with the data needed to better support communities
  • Guidance on using data to shape and tailor services to customer need and develop safe spaces within communities
  • Creating an inclusive and accessible self-service data portal to ensure data is recent and relevant
  • Utilising data to improve media and digital communications with older or neurodiverse tenants
  • Outlining key challenges faced when collating high-quality, up-to-date data and tips for overcoming them

  Naomi Sweeting, Director of Customer Experience, Grand Union Housing Group (CONFIRMED)

• 16.30

  Questions and Answers

• 16.40

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

  *programme subject to change without notice

Who Should Attend?

*This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business

If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris and Ali today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.

Benefits of partnering with us include:

• Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
• Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
• Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
• Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
• Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
• Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.

IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.

All packages include:

• Extensive branding – before, during, after the conference
• 15-20 min morning speaking session with Q&A
• Virtual stand to showcase your organisation, products, services, and solutions
• Opportunities to network during the day
• Half to full page ad in the E-Guide
• Banner ad on the virtual events platform
• Announcement post on LinkedIn
• Announcement within delegate communication
• 1-3 delegate places (worth upto £1,947)
• Access to the delegate details after the event
• Ongoing exposure through OnDemand (coming soon)

For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

Virtual vs F2F

Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:

• Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
• Lower sponsorship package costs
• No travel/accommodation
• Less time out of the office
• No stand materials required (lower costs)
• 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
• Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
• Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
• Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)

To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

• Public Sector: £449+VAT
• Voluntary Sector: £379+VAT
• Private Sector: £649+VAT