Competency and Conduct: Raising the bar

Competency and Conduct: Raising the Bar was a six-month programme to help the housing sector to prepare for the implementation of the Government’s Competence and Conduct Standard.

Facilitated by Debbie Larner, it explored the implementation of the mandatory qualifications for staff, including the broader element to assess their attitudes and behaviours.

A series of virtual sessions covered topics including learning and development, and recruitment and retention, with speakers including:

  • Nikkie Pullen, Head of Organisational Development, Abri
  • Tom Collins, Head of Delivery, Kingdom Academy
  • Rosie Poole, Director, Howells Solutions
  • Olivia Withers, Recruitment Manager, Ian Williams,
  • Hayley Clifford, Net Zero Development Learning Manager, Wates

There was also an event focused on equality and diversity in the workplace, held at The Building Centre in London.

Hony Premlal, Chair of Eldon Housing Association Ltd and Women in Social Housing (WISH) London, Vice Chair of Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust and a Regional Group Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, talked about changing the dial on diversity in leadership, covering why 2025 needs EDI, the reality of the current situation and resistance and barriers to EDI.

Mushtaq Khan, Chief Executive of the Housing Diversity Network covered why diversity and inclusion matter, mistakes that organisations make, such as treating EDI as a problem to solve, and the key benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Jessica Fawke, Apprenticeship Coordinator, and Olivia Withers, Recruitment Manager, at Ian Williams Ltd discussed its apprenticeship ethos and approach to EDI in recruitment.

Hony Premlal speaking at Competency and Conduct

The session finished with a Q&A panel, where the speakers were joined by Claire Elston, People Manager at Ian Williams Ltd.

The programme will close with a lunch and learn session, set to take place in the Summer of 2025 after the Standard has been formally launched. There will also be a report issued with guidance for sector professionals on navigating the standard.