29 March 2012
Minister praises GHA for advice service
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) has been recognised for the quality of advice and information staff provide to a wide range customers.
GHA has gained accreditation to the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers, formerly known as Homepoint.
And today, Housing Minister Keith Brown marked the achievement by meeting with staff at the GHA Academy.
The accreditation recognises GHA’s best practice in signposting customers to where they can get help on a range of issues, such as benefits or legal advice.
A team of auditors assessed GHA last month and concluded that the organisation’s performance was ‘exemplary’.
Fanchea Kelly, GHA’s Executive Director of Housing and Support Services, said:
“At GHA we have a strong focus on customer service. We are often the first point of contact for people and we are delighted the auditors gave our staff such a resounding vote of confidence in the advice and support they provide.”
Housing Minister Keith Brown said:
“GHA staff are to be congratulated for their hard work and commitment to delivering and excellent services to tenants across Glasgow.
“It is hugely important that tenants have access to the right support and expert advice when they need it.
“This award highlights the positive strides being taken by GHA to ensure a first rate service for its tenants.”
21 December 2011
Newly accredited agency against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers
Congratulations to the staff and management team at Glasgow Housing Association, which recently achieved accreditation against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers. The accreditation of the service will cover for a four year period until December 2015.
The association's Housing Advice Team is accredited in 10 of the housing advice topics at Type I level, being delivered from almost 30 locations across Glasgow. It is the 20th individual housing association to have a current accreditation against the Standards.
6 December 2012
Getting Started with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers Seminar, Friday 3rd February 2012.
The Information and Advice Standards Unit (IASU) will host a Getting Started with the Scottish National Standards seminar on Friday 3rd February. This event will be held at Scottish Government Buildings in Victoria Quay, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ, from approximately 10.15 - 3.30.
The Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers is a composite quality assurance framework for advice agencies with topic specific competences for advisers in Housing, Money and Welfare Benefits. The Standards are the quality level expected of local authorities and the services they fund, CABx, housing associations and other third sector agencies.
We are hosting this event to assist organisations who deliver any combination of housing, money and welfare benefits related information and advice to interpret the Standards for your Agency and to work out a plan to implement them with the least disruption to your service. You will also have the opportunity to hear from two organisations that are accredited against the Standards and we are hoping to have speakers from Shelter and Child Poverty Action Group also in attendance. Steve Chambers from MBARC is also scheduled to speak on the day, explaining MBARC's role in the audit process.
The event is free of charge and includes lunch. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To book a place, please contact Lindsay Gray by emailing Lindsay.Gray@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by telephoning on 0131 244 5526. Could you please respond by Friday 14th January.
It is inevitable that sometimes the person who is booked to attend for some reason cannot do so. Our events are generally oversubscribed so we really would appreciate that you let us know if confirmed delegates are unable to attend so we can offer their place to another organisation on the waiting list.
22 November 2011
Newly accredited agency against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers
Congratulations to the staff and management team at Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association's Financial Inclusion Team in Edinburgh, which recently achieved accreditation against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers. The accreditation of the service will cover for a four year period until November 2015.
The association's Financial Inclusion Team is accredited in 6 of the welfare benefit advice topics at Type III level. It is the first housing association based in Edinburgh to achieve accreditation although the team provides the service to their tenants in 8 local authority areas across Scotland.
9 November 2011
Newly accredited agency against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers
Congratulations to the staff and management team at Govan Law Centre in Glasgow, which recently achieved accreditation against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers for their Prevention of Homelessness Service. The accreditation of the service will cover for a four year period until November 2015.
Govan Law Centre's Prevention of Homelessness Service is accredited in all 15 housing advice topics at Type II / III level and becomes the sixth law centre in Scotland to achieve accreditation.
7 November 2011
Newly accredited agency against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers
Congratulations to the staff and management team at Easthall Park Housing Co-operative, which recently achieved accreditation against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers for a four year period until November 2015.
Easthall Park Housing Co-operative is accredited in 11 of the housing advice topics at Type I level and is the sixth housing association to achieve accreditation in the Glasgow City Council area.
1 November 2011
Newly accredited agency against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers
Congratulations to the staff and management team at Lochaber Housing Association, which recently achieved accreditation against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers for a four year period until October 2015.
The association has achieved accreditation in 8 housing advice topics at Type I level and becomes the third housing association to become accredited in the Highland Council area.
Older News
GHA has gained accreditation to the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers, formerly known as Homepoint.
And today, Housing Minister Keith Brown marked the achievement by meeting with staff at the GHA Academy.
The accreditation recognises GHA’s best practice in signposting customers to where they can get help on a range of issues, such as benefits or legal advice.
A team of auditors assessed GHA last month and concluded that the organisation’s performance was ‘exemplary’.
Fanchea Kelly, GHA’s Executive Director of Housing and Support Services, said:
“At GHA we have a strong focus on customer service. We are often the first point of contact for people and we are delighted the auditors gave our staff such a resounding vote of confidence in the advice and support they provide.”
Housing Minister Keith Brown said:
“GHA staff are to be congratulated for their hard work and commitment to delivering and excellent services to tenants across Glasgow.
“It is hugely important that tenants have access to the right support and expert advice when they need it.
“This award highlights the positive strides being taken by GHA to ensure a first rate service for its tenants.”
Minister praises GHA for advice service