2nd November 2021
Sanctuary
As Chair of the National Resident Scrutiny Panel (NRSP), I was delighted when Sanctuary offered us the opportunity to undertake a nationally recognised qualification in resident scrutiny.
I am happy to say that our Vice Chair, Bob Werrett; Dylan Asphar, a resident member from Sanctuary Supported Living, and myself have recently achieved the Chartered Institute of Housing, Level 2 Award in Involvement in Housing and Communities - Resident Scrutiny.
The qualification took us just over ten months to complete. Each of the three modules started with a workshop where we received in depth insights from expert senior staff within Sanctuary on topics such as Value for Money and Housing Management Performance Information. These sessions were in valuable in helping us to write our 1500-word assignments at the end of each module.
The course material was developed in-house and fully funded by Sanctuary with a strong focus on the resident scrutiny role we undertake. It is clear to us that Sanctuary believe residents can and should drive up standards through their views, and that they are committed to ensuring we have the skills and knowledge to enable us to be as effective as possible in our scrutiny role.
Speaking about his involvement, Dylan said “Growing my understanding of concepts I thought would be mundane, like data and Value for Money, has given me a more holistic view of Sanctuary’s performance. It was a really worthwhile experience.”
"I liked the flexibility of the programme. We were allowed to work at our own pace and in our own different ways within the overall guidelines for achieving what was required. Support was given whenever needed and in a way that acknowledged our individual experience and requirements."
I know that Bob shares my views on the approach taken by Sanctuary and, reflecting on his own experience, said: “I think achieving this qualification will make me more confident in my approach to the scrutiny work. It was a challenging process however it will allow me to feel better qualified to make comments and ask questions from a firm knowledge base.”
NRSP asked Sanctuary to consider how this qualification could be made available to more residents living in a Sanctuary home. I am pleased to say that we anticipate registrations for the programme, which includes a 12-month membership of the CIH, will be open to everyone in Spring 2022.
The qualification is a commitment but if you have an interest in helping shape Sanctuary’s services or feel you might want to become a member of the NRSP in the future, we encourage you to think about taking it.
Graham Jones CIHM NRSP Chair
