CASE STUDY
Developing a ‘best in class’ housing offer for two councils
GROWTH, REGENERATION & DEVELOPMENT
Image: iStock
Maggie Rafalowicz
Director, Campbell Tickell
Campbell Tickell was commissioned by Broadland and South Norfolk District Councils to create a housing service with a highly innovative Accommodation Pathway approach.
Challenges
In launching a shared service model in January 2020, Broadland and South Norfolk Councils saw the opportunity to create a holistic Accommodation Pathway model that would enable residents to explore their housing options and to secure suitable sustainable accommodation. This would meet the individual needs of each sovereign council, while delivering the service through a best-in-class operating model and social housing management system. The councils recognised that the approach currently adopted across the sector supports the few, and only at the point of crisis, ignoring the needs of the many. This situation is compounded by a lack of strategic alignment between councils and landlords. This results in a transfer of risk and responsibility for those placed in social housing, which increases the risk of tenancy failure, often resulting in a life-limiting and costly unbroken cycle of homelessness and eviction.
Our approach
Key tasks involved:
- Reviewing the delivery models of both councils and understanding their individual aspirations for local housing provision and joint working objectives .
- Defining an Accommodation Pathway that will enable individuals to plan for their long-term accommodation needs through a realistic set of options, whilst supporting those who reach a point of crisis to re-establish and sustain a suitable home .
- Reframing the provision of temporary accommodation through a sustainable model that optimises the supply of a high-quality accommodation through using accurate forecasting and modelling property occupancy .
- Reframing housing service provision to meet the approaches and needs of both councils within a compliant and flexible model for allocating homes fairly and transparently .
- Establishing a comprehensive performance framework to ensure compliance of the new model, to drive process efficiency and ensure the delivery of anticipated outcomes .
- Outlining a ‘transformation roadmap’ to enable the rapid delivery of change, with effective governance, resource planning, and ongoing benefits tracking .
Outcomes
The councils are now successfully progressing with the delivery of the new service model and the Accommodation Pathway.
Jamie Sutterby, director of people and communities at South Norfolk Council, said:
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Campbell Tickell on developing a ‘best-in-class’ housing offer for Broadland and South Norfolk District Councils. CT engaged positively and entirely within the spirit of the brief.
“The operating model CT created to help tackle homelessness and provide high-quality temporary accommodation will shape the housing agenda and improve the lives of our most vulnerable clients in the area. We are really excited to proceed, hopefully with the full support of both our councils, to implement this model.”
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