Registration

Introduction and context

Gerard Lemos, Partner at Lemos&Crane, and former Audit Commissioner and chair of Notting Hill Housing (facilitator throughout the day)

Learning from the best of Choice-Based Lettings (CBL)

Robin Newby, Adviser on CBL, Communities and Local Government, reviews best practice and innovation from across the country with a particular focus on successful approaches to marketing and promotion, customer service, accessibility and sub-regional working.

Planning and designing new service models through Enhanced Housing Options: emerging practice and initiatives, innovation from 'trailblazing' authorities, new service, partnership and delivery ideas - presentations followed by discussion

John Conway, Head of Housing, Kettering Borough Council

Antony Dixon, Housing Strategy Support Manager, Nottingham City Council

Gareth Mead, Assistant Director Housing Options, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Andy Gale, Special Adviser, Homelessness, Overcrowding and Worklessness, CLG

Using ICT to profile local residents’ needs and offer tailored choices and advice

Abritas, innovative suppliers of web based systems for local authority housing and social services, present their new online 'Housing Options Wizard'

Provider innovation & service enhancement 1: Choice & opportunity for hard-to-reach groups

Jo Beck, Enhanced Housing Options Manager, London Borough of Greenwich Housing Department – choice and opportunity for socially excluded adults (ex-offenders, victims of domestic violence, vulnerable young people, black and minority ethnic communities)

David Rubick, Agency Manager, Anchor Staying Put - advice, advocacy and support for older people to make an informed choice about whether to move house and advising them of all available options

Provider innovation & service enhancement 2: Responding to the recession

Sarah Thurman, Director, Hyde Plus, The Hyde Group – on customised support services for tenants and shared ownership residents addressing worklessness, financial inclusion and fuel poverty.

Andrew Church, Head of Community Investment, Cambridge Housing Society, supporting people through the recession with packages including skills for jobs, financial capability and laptops.

Provider innovation & service enhancement 3: Customer service and access

Chris Deery, Head of ICT, Solihull Community Housing – using the Internet to improve tenants’ access to housing services such as choice-based lettings, as well as to wider opportunities for training, job seeking and social networking.

Ann Duffield, Head of Policy and Housing Options, Northwards Housing – improving customer service and improving communications with customers