JOB OF THE WEEK: HOUSING SERVICES MANAGER (DEPUTE DIRECTOR)
09 February 2010

(EVH Grade 9, £37,224 – £39,467) Rural Stirling is a growing RSL operating throughout a highly pressured housing area which includes part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. We wish to recruit someone with broad social housing management expertise and a track record of achievement, previous supervisory experience and excellent communication skills to: Lead our housing management, property maintenance and advice staff in the delivery and ongoing development of our services. Support the Director and volunteer Committee in the overall management of the organisation. A degree and/or relevant professional qualification are preferred. Excellent EVH terms and conditions are offered including essential car user allowance and final salary pension scheme. An application pack (no CVs) can be downloaded from www.evh.org.uk or e-mail: Diane@evh.org.uk or tel: 0141 352 7445. Closing date: Monday 15th February 2010 at 12 noon Interview date: 2nd March 2010 The Association is an Equal Opportunities employer. An enhanced disclosure check is required for this post. Rural Stirling Housing Association, Stirling Road, Doune, FK16 6AA Tel: 01786 841101, www.rsha.org.uk Further Links:

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TENDER: INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES
09 February 2010

Tender for Internal Audit Services Moray Housing Partnership Moray Housing Partnership is a Registered Social Landlord based in Lossiemouth and serving most of the Moray region. It owns and manages just under 500 general needs units. We are currently tendering for our internal audit services. This will initially be for a three year period with the possibility to extend this to six years. We are seeking tenders from audit companies with internal audit experience within the RSL sector. If you wish further information or want to receive the tender documents sent to you, please contact Michaela Munro on 01343 543210 or michaela@morayhousingpartnership.co.uk. The closing dates for tenders will be 19th February and we plan to interview prior to the end of February. The period of appointment will commence on 1 April 2010, however we may ask that some work be carried out in March if this is mutually convenient. Moray Housing Partnership is a registered charity operating under Scottish Charity number SC 031841 Registered office Clifton Road, Lossiemouth. Moray, IV31 6DJ. Registered with the FSA under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (No2567R(S)) and the Scottish Housing Regulator No: 325. Further Links:

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TENDER: TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY
09 February 2010

Craigdale Housing Association provides housing for around 370 households in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow. We wish to engage suitably qualified consultants to carry out a Tenant Satisfaction Survey in April 2010. Previous experience of conducting a Tenant Satisfaction Survey for a social housing provider using a range of methods would be essential as is the ability to capture and analyse data using appropriate systems. A client brief for the survey can be obtained from Frances Cunningham. Telephone: 0141-634-6473 or Email: frances@craigdaleha.co.uk. Proposals, including a company profile and information giving previous experience of conducting tenant satisfaction surveys for the social housing sector together with a list of previous clients in the sector from whom we can obtain references should be sent to: Elizabeth McGinniss, Director, Craigdale Housing Association, 83/85 Dougrie Road, Castlemilk, Glasgow, G45-9NS By mid-day Monday 8th March 2010 Further Links: www.craigdaleha.co.uk Further Links:

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TENDER: DESIGN TEAMS REQUIRED FOR PLANNED RENEWAL WORKS
09 February 2010

Hillhead Housing Association 2000 is proposing to appoint 2 separate Design Teams for its next 2 improvement and repair contracts. Each phase will include improvement and repair works being carried out to existing stock built during the period 1930 to 1960. The works will include internal and external works. Each phase of work will consist of approximately 100 units. The 1st phase will commence 2010/11 with the 2nd commencing 2011/12. Works will be funded via a private loan and are not subject to HAG funding. If you are interested in being considered for these works, please contact S Tait, Property Services Officer for a PQQ. It should be noted that the Association wishes completed PQQs to include details of the whole design team, including an Architect, QS, Engineer and CDM Co-ordinator. We are not seeking individual disciplines to submit PQQs. A track record in this type of work will be essential. Design teams submitting PQQs that meet the minimum requirements will be invited to submit a Quality Questionnaire which will be subject to a Quality/Price exercise, details of which will be confirmed at that stage. The closing date for completed PQQs is Friday, 19 February 2010. If you are interested in being considered, contact stephent@hillheadhousing.org for a PQQ. Further Links:

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SCOTTISH HOUSING JOBS ON-LINE - JOBS FLASH
09 February 2010

Jobs CIH is seeking a Learning and Development Manager, £27,870 to £32,418 plus car, based at our Edinburgh office. Closing date: noon, February 18. CIH is seeking a Head of Policy & Public Affairs. Salary on appointment £36,038, rising to £41,921 subject to performance plus substantial benefits. Closing date: noon on February 12. Knowes Housing Association is seeking a Technical Services Inspector, 26,592 - £29,235. Closing Date: February 12. For more information on any of the above jobs, or to apply, go to www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Tenders Moray Housing Partnership is inviting tenders for a Internal Audit Services. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: February 19. Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. West Dunbartonshire Council is inviting tenders for a Lead Consultant . For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: February 15. Hebridean Housing Partnership is inviting tenders for its Approved Contractor List. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: February 26. To advertise Jobs, call Contact Publicity on 0141 204 2042 or email: jobsonline@contactpublicity.co.uk To advertise Tenders, call Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email: jeff@constructionnow.co.uk

ROSS WILSON PR
09 February 2010

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CIH SCOTLAND PRESENTS…MANAGING RENT ARREARS IN A RECESSION
09 February 2010

Managing rent arrears in a recession Thursday 25th February, The Teacher Building, Glasgow With the recession still affecting households across Scotland, landlords could still see an increase in their rent arrears. CIH Scotland would like to invite you along to this one day practical event to look at how social landlords can use innovative and new ways of managing rent arrears and maximising their income. This event will also look at supporting tenants through arrears prevention and promoting tenancy sustainment. Sessions include: Financial inclusion as key to rent arrears prevention Counting the cost of eviction Money advice - how to offer the right advice Good practice workshops And more... Come along and debate the eviction question with our expert speakers. Learn about new and innovative approaches to rent arrears management and prevention. This event aims to be a practical resource for housing organisations and bring together experts in the field and a range of good practice examples to discuss the challenges of balancing landlords and tenants interests. This event should be attended by housing officers, arrears officers, financial inclusion advisors, money advice officers, housing managers and anyone involved in the front line delivery of services related to the collection and management of rent arrears. For more information and to view the programme and sessions please follow this link: www.cih.org/scotland/conferences. Please visit our website for updates to the programme www.cih.org/scotland. Further Links:

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TRAINING AT SHARE - COMING SOON!
09 February 2010

SHARE CERTIFICATE IN DEVELOPMENT There are 5 sessions remaining from the 6 on this course – these can be booked as stand alone sessions for those who wish to attend some but not all. Wednesdays 10; 17; 24 February and 3 March 9.30am – 4.30pm Trainers: Mark Hilton, Laura Edwards and John Mulholland Who’s it for and what’s it about? The impact of the credit-crunch economy on the world of housing association development has yet to be fully realised. However, it is clear the world will not be as it was prior to the summer of 2007 when the financial world began to wake up to the seriousness of the crisis. Property development has changed, and whether you have development on-site, or are contemplating it, you need staff who know and understand current processes and procedures. This comprehensive series of training events covers the key aspects of the development process as it pertains to housing organisations. The informative sessions help to build a strong knowledge base on which to develop the practical skills which are necessary for anyone involved in the development process. Practical exercises will ensure that delegates have the opportunity to practise their skills in a safe environment. The course has been designed so that delegates may attend the whole series of sessions or to pick and mix. However, in order to be awarded the SHARE Certificate in Development a delegate needs to attend all sessions and participate in a 2 hour skill-based assessment on the final day. Assessment will be based on the delegate’s participation in and contribution to the final exercise. The exercise will bring together the various strands of the course giving delegates insight into how the whole process works. The course is for anyone who is new to development who supports development Officers and Finance Officers, or to development staff who have experience but never attended any formal training. Course Content: This is a brief overview of what the course will cover, a more comprehensive summary of each session is available on request. 10 Feb 09:30 – 12:30 The Planning System The process of strategic planning The process of development planning 10 Feb 1:30- 4:30 Working with Consultants The roles and responsibilities of design team members Selection and appointment process Monitoring performance 17 Feb 9:30 – 4:30 Procurement and Contracts Current considerations when procuring services from contractors Risk management and accountability in procurement Outline the different types of contractual arrangements specifically focus on the advertising requirements of OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) Contract administration 24 Feb: 9:30 – 4:30 Understanding plans, basic construction and site visit The basics of construction Understand architect’s drawings Compare drawings with a real scheme 3 March 9:30 – 4:30 Funding Course Summary and Assessment Provides a summary of the ‘bigger picture’ issues relating to development funding for Registered Social Landlords in Scotland. Takes delegates through a ‘mock’ submission for Housing Association Grant (HAG) funding. Assessment Exercise Learning Outcomes On completion of this course you will be well-versed in current development issues, have widened your understanding of the ‘bigger picture’ and developed some practical skills to enable you to provide robust assistance to development colleagues with the management of RSL development programmes. MAKING SENSE OF REPORTS Friday 12 February 1.00 - 4.00pm (including lunch) Trainer: Dr Stewart Montgomery Who’s it for and what’s it all about? This is a new half day course for committee members. A key role of committee members is organisational governance. Committee members fulfill this role by assessing and discussing written reports before and during committee meetings. This is one of the main ways committee members get information about the organisation’s operation. This course aims to improve committee members’ critical skills in examining and evaluating reports. The course will cover three key issues Developing accessible reports; The role and value of performance indicators; and Interpreting data that is presented. Course Outcomes By the end of the course participants will be able to; Discuss the value of targets Interpret reports with more confidence Be more effective when participating in meetings SPRINGBOARD Thursdays 25 February; 25 March; 29 April and one other date to be agreed. 9:30am – 4:30pm Trainer: Gillian Neish Who’s it for and what’s it about? Springboard is the international, award winning, career and personal development programme specifically created for women to enable them to have greater influence in their own lives and achieve their full potential. Springboard is tried and tested. Any women who have used it report exciting changes in their lives, including being taken seriously, sorting out difficult relationships, substantial promotions, speaking out and generally feeling more confident. Course Content Over the four months delegates will consider a wide range of issues including: Self assessment Skills assessment Identifying your values The world about you Setting goals Assertiveness Networking Putting yourself across positively Building your image Learning Outcomes The results of the programme relate to the objectives each woman sets herself on the first workshop and may include:Work life - Many women use the programme to get results at work, such as new qualifications, promotions, new skills, a new attitude to change and a massive boost in confidence. Personal life – others focus on results in their personal lives such as sorting out difficult relationships, improving health, dealing with stress and gaining a work/life balance. Managers of participants are usually delighted with the changes in their staff. They say women are more focussed, confident, bring solutions, are more positive and have improved communication skills. APM INTRODUCTORY CERTIFICATE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 February 8.30am – 5.30pm Trainer: Jim McGraw Who’s it for and what’s it about? This two day course is for anyone working in a Project Management or Change environment. It is an opportunity to reinforce existing knowledge as well as gain a recognised qualification. Course Content The content of the course follows the examination syllabus extracted from the Association for Project Management (APM) Body of Knowledge (BoK) 5th edition. Amongst the 27 aspects of project management covered there will be a practical explanation of the Project Lifecycle, in conjunction with the prescribed Organisational and People Management elements. The course will conclude with a 1 hour exam and successful delegates will receive the APM Introductory Certificate in Project Management. Project management Programme management Project environment Lifecycle design & management Project success criteria Business case Procurement H&S and environment Strategy/project management plans Work content and scope management Time scheduling and phasing Estimating Resource management Configuration management Quality management Risk management Project/ change control Project completion – handover Post-project Evaluation Review PPE Organisational roles Communication Teamwork Conflict management NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING (NLP) FOR MANAGERS Tuesday 16 February 9.30am – 4.30pm Trainer: Gordon Robertson In simple terms: it's the exploration of how we think, communicate and change. NLP training leads to greatly improved communication skills, confidence, motivation and success and is directly related to increasing our ability to coach, influence and persuade. It’s also effective in overcoming blocks or barriers caused by a lack of these skills NLP is an exploration of how we think, communicate and change, focusing on developing the attitudes that produce results by modeling successful strategies and developing techniques that allow us to communicate those success strategies to others. What will this NLP course cover? There will be a mix of experiential activities, demonstrations, an introduction to key NLP models of change and an opportunity for some discussion and questions. You will learn something about NLP history, 'modelling' and coaching, the powerful NLP 'presuppositions' and attitudes for learning and change. You'll learn some tools and processes that relate to goal-setting, personal values, relationships, behavioural flexibility, 'reframing' and emotional self-management. Learning Outcomes: Participants will: Enhance their management and coaching abilities Greatly improve communication and influencing skills Discover new ways to motivate their employees Have greater concentration, focus and vision Enhance personal performance Improve interpersonal communication Increase employee performance QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING Who’s it for and what’s it all about? This is a new series of courses for both experienced and relatively new committee members. They will focus on the committee members’ role as scrutineer of the association’s activities. There is no shortage of information presented to Committees. Sometimes committee members are not sure of the right questions to ask. However there are some critical questions that Committee should be asking. Not only is this good governance but also helps in managing risk as well as being good practice. It also leads to a more productive relationship with the staff team who compile the reports. Each session will be led by an experienced practitioner in the area in question. Wednesdays, 5.30 - 7.45pm Development 17 February Trainer: John Mulholland Finance 10 March Trainer: John Russell Housing Management 31 March Trainer: Aidan McGuiness Maintenance 21 April Trainer: Jim MacGregor By the end of the course participants will be able to Identify the key areas that they should be questioning List a series of key questions for the particular topic Be more confident in their role as committee member To book a place on these courses or for further information please call 0141 550 7595 or e-mail info@share.org.uk. All our courses as well as a downloadable calendar are listed on our website at www.share.org.uk. Further Links:

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