We will soon be welcoming the Housing Inspectors from the Audit Commission. The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog who inspect the effectiveness and efficiency of local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
Everyone, staff and residents alike, have been working really hard to make sure that we are ready for their arrival. The Audit Commission will have already starting testing some of our services, carrying out ‘Mystery Shopping’ or they may have even been in some of your neighbourhoods. Even so they will certainly be out and about in Sutton talking to residents from Monday 19th October through to Friday 30th October 2009.
We thought you may like to know a little bit more about what happens in an inspection, so here’s a few questions and answers...
When will the inspection take place?
From Monday 19th October through to Friday 30th October 2009.
What is involved?
The inspectors will meet with our staff and residents to assess the quality of our housing services.
What kind of rating system will be used?
A three-star rating system will be used with the lowest possible rating being no stars (poor) and the highest being three stars (excellent).
What is the Audit Commission's current star rating of SHP?
In the last inspection the Audit Commission rated us to be a one star (fair) organisation with promising prospects for the future.
What will the inspection mean for you, our residents?
We are aiming for at least a two star rating which will give us access to £112.5 million of funding which will be used to bring all homes up to the Decent Homes Standard (DHS).
What happens after 30th October 2009?
Following the two-week inspection, the Audit Commission will then put together their report which should be available in early January 2010.
Posted on Thursday 15th October 2009