The Audit Commission has announced that all housing services inspections it carries out from this month onwards will be scored using the star rating system. The move is part of the commission's phasing in of a new inspections methodology.
It already uses star ratings to assess local authorities and arm's-length management organisations on a scale of no stars to three, and as delivering "poor", "fair", "good" or "excellent" services.
Registered social landlords were previously rated using a more complicated system that considered how good services were and whether the association was improving.
The first star rating for a housing association is expected out by mid-July.
The commission's intention to introduce star ratings across the sector was revealed by its chairman, James Strachan, in Housing Today (HT 10 October 2003, page 18).
However, the date on which the switch was to take place has remained a secret until now.
Other inspection changes announced this week as part of the commission's new methodology include:
- all organisations about to be inspected will be asked to carry out a self-assessment of their performance as the basis for their inspections, as is already the case for housing associations
- report structures and lengths will be guided by questions on service delivery and prospects for improvement used in the inspection.
The commission also plans to publish 15 "key lines of enquiry", around which inspections will be planned and carried out, in June. This is to help housing organisations prepare for inspection.
Martin Palmer, lead housing inspector at the Audit Commission, said future appraisals would have three components: service criteria (such as supported housing); key lines of enquiry (including value for money); and criteria for judgement (what makes a one-star, two-star or three-star service).
Source
Housing Today
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