Equality & Diversity in Housing Conference Fairness in service provision: the role of housing

13th July 2011, York Racecourse

First chance to hear from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on the new Housing Sector Guidance!The focus on diversity has never been greater. Housing providers need to address the different needs of their customers to ensure they can access services and have a say about how services are designed and delivered. This established annual Equality and Diversity Conference, in partnership with Housing Diversity Network, is aimed at practitioners to ensure their knowledge is up to date. This will enable you to take practical steps to ensure equality and diversity is fully integrated throughout service delivery.There are new legislative provisions introduced by the Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty that came into force in April 2011. The abolition of the Audit Commission and the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) present new challenges and opportunities for the housing sector. Organisations will need to be more proactive in involving their residents and tenants in self-regulation. A formal scrutiny role in relation to diversity issues could help maximise performance improvement.

New equalities guidance for the housing sectorFollowing the Court of Appeal “Weaver Case” and in response to calls for Guidance from the housing sector on how best to deliver a housing service that complied with the requirements of the Human Rights Act, 1998, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) convened a Stakeholder Group comprising representatives from a range of housing organisations and Department of Communities and Local Government to shape the guidance to the housing sector being drawn up by the Commission.This Guidance is due to be launched shortly before this conference and we are delighted to welcome Peter Reading from the Commission to the conference to give an overview of recent key cases on housing and human rights, as well as introducing us to the Guidance. Benefits of attending: • LearnhowtheEqualityandHumanRightsCommission’sGuidanceandCodesofPracticecanassist housing organisations to implement the Equality Act requirements. • Helpprepareforthechallengeofco-regulationandtenantscrutinyinequalities.• Hearaboutkeylegalissues.• Hearabouthowtousecustomerinsightandintelligencetoensurefairaccessforyourcustomers.• Findoutabouthowtodesignpracticaltoolkitstosuityourorganisation.• Hear from organisations delivering good practice and share practical experience of tackling issues relating to equality and diversity.

Who should attend? Thisconferencewillbenefitanyorganisationkeentofullyembraceequalityanddiversity,andwillbeofparticularinterestto:HeadsofHousing,EqualityOfficersandManagers,HousingStrategyandPolicyOfficers/Managers,ResidentandTenantOfficersandManagers,HumanResourceProfessionals,CustomerServiceManagers,EqualityandDiversityPolicyAdvisors,SupportedServiceManagersandBusinessServiceManagers.

Continuing Professional Development Delegates will be able to record 4 Continuing Professional Development hours for attending this conference.

Programme10.00

10.30

10.45

11.30

Registration and refreshments

Chair’s introduction, welcome and opening address Clifton Robinson, Chief Executive, Housing Diversity Network

EHRC Housing Sector Guidance Launch Peter Reading, Director of Legal Policy, Equality and Human Rights Commission The Equalities and Human Rights Commission Housing Sector Guidance was launched shortly before the conference and Peter will:• Giveanoverviewofrecentkeylegalcasesonhousingandhumanrights,and• Outlinekeyaspectsoftheguidance.

Question and answer sessionProfessional Practice Sessions 1. Equality Impact Assessments and Equality AnalysisJohn Dembovskis, Housing Diversity Network Associate Mark Johns,Equality&PolicyManager,SouthTynesideHomesThis session will cover:• Equalityimpactassessmentsandequalityanalysis.• Howtodesignpracticaltoolkitstosuityourorganisation.

2. What has human rights got to do with my organisation?Adele Baumgardt, Housing Diversity Network AssociateThis session will:• Explorethekeyprinciplesofthehumanrightsactanditsimplicationsforhousing organisations. • Helpyouidentifyhowtotakeahumanrightsbasedapproachtoyourwork.

3. Equality in ProcurementNicola Hellewell,ProcurementandContractsManager,NorthernHousingConsortiumEqualityanddiversityprofessionalshaveseveralopportunitiestoinfluencetheprocurementprocess. This session will cover: • Supportingtheprocurementtenderprocess–contractspecificationandtheselection process. • WhereE&Dprovisionsarenotincludedinthespecificationorarefresherisrequired, what should be included in a Contractor Code of Conduct?• Contractorperformancemanagement–supportingprocurement/contractmanagement with performance issues: guidance, training, serious incidents.

4a. Making effective use of customer insightAnna Milner,PerformanceandPracticeManager,NorthernHousingConsortium Yvonne Davies, Housing Diversity Network AssociateOrganisations can plan their services better and provide support where it is most neededoncecustomer’sneeds,expectationsandaspirationsareunderstood. The session will discuss:• Howtomaximisetheuseofcustomerprofilingtodevelopinsightandintelligenceto ensure fair access for customers. • Deliveringanimprovedservicethatmeetstheneedsofallyourcustomers.

Lunch

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) issues in HousingJohn Thornhill,CIHSeniorPolicyandPracticeOfficerJohnThornhillisSeniorPolicyandPracticeOfficerfortheCharteredInstituteofHousing(CIH)andauthorofseveralpublicationsincludingthenewCIHPracticeBrief:Deliveringservices housing services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender customers. John will present the new practice brief that aims to help enable housing providers across the UK to recogniseLGBTissuesinrelationtohousingprovisionandtoplanandprovideappropriateservices that match the differing needs and preferences of diverse customers.

Professional Practice Sessions: Repeat of 1 to 3, plus4b. Equality in Resident Scrutiny PanelsAnna Milner,PerformanceandPracticeManager,NorthernHousingConsortium Yvonne Davies, Housing Diversity Network AssociateSociallandlordshavealwaysaimedtoengagewiththeircommunities,including‘difficulttoreach’and‘vulnerable’residentsbutnowseektogofurtherandempowertenantstotakean active role to monitor and audit services. This workshop session will help you to ensure that those who sit on your scrutiny panel are: • Representativeofyourcustomerbase.• Skilledtounderstandandinvestigatetheequalityelementofservicesgivesomepointers as you training requirements for the panel members.

Refreshments

Self Assessment - your progress and performance on diversityYvonne Davies, Housing Diversity Network AssociateIn this session, Yvonne will cover:• Ensuringthatyourorganisationispreparedtomeettherequirementsofthe Public Sector Duty.• Understandingtheprocessofserviceselfassessmentofyourequalityanddiversity services.• Hintsandtipstokeepabreastofdevelopmentsinserviceexcellenceandhowtoaction plan for improvement.

Chair’s closing remarks

Close of conference

1.30

2.10

12.30

3.10

4.10

3.30

4.15

Delegate fees:

£199 £179

£249 £229

Early booking discounted rates ( book by 22nd June)

Northern Housing ConsortiumMember

NonMember

Equality & Diversity in Housing Conference Fairness in service provision: the role of housing13th July 2011, York Racecourse

All delegates fees are shown excluding VAT

By post to:Northern Housing Consortium, Websters Ropery, Ropery Road, Deptford Terrace, Sunderland

Online at: www.northern-consortium.org.uk

By fax on:0191 566 1001

How to book

Download a copy of the programme here

Book online

Contact us For further information or if you have a query please contact a member of the events team: Telephone: 0191 566 1000 Email: events@northern-consortium.org.uk