Strategy and objectives

Factors influencing the 'Life Chances Plan'¹

Delivering value for money is more important than ever. Housing associations’ costs have increased more than inflation and we need to achieve larger economies of scale: one of the many tangible benefits of being a large housing group.

Regulation has changed with the formation of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The Audit Commission is likely to continue combining traditional inspections with the new short notice regime. We will be expected to deliver more customer facing services and increase tenants’ rights.

There will be increased partnership working with local authorities, ALMOs and housing associations.

Good governance is increasingly important - maintaining a local focus and accountability, particularly for large groups is essential.

It is crucial that we continue to develop appropriate new products and services, including new ways for people to buy stakes in their homes as well as schemes designed to help with unemployment and those facing financial difficulty.

'Life Chances Plan'

Our eight strategic goals:

Primary goals

Homes

The provision of safe, secure, comfortable and affordable places to live is the starting point for Circle in enhancing life chances. At Circle we will continue to provide new homes whilst investing in our existing stock to ensure that the homes we provide are of a high quality and meet customer needs. This will be done through a sustainable development programme, meeting decent homes targets and investing in estates. We will continue to develop a range of tenure options and seek out ways to continuously engage and involve our customers. We will work with our key local stakeholders to ensure that our resources are being focussed in the right place.

Services
Developing quality, responsive and consistent services that meet individual customer needs is paramount to Circle's ability to enhance life chances. By a process of continuous improvement we will aim to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction, which will in turn prepare us for the customer choice agenda. We will give particular focus to our repairs service, ensuring that we deliver value for money, whilst reviewing our geographical coverage so that we focus investment and resources in local areas. We will keep our promises made to new and existing partners.

Care and support

The provision of care and support is a key element of the Group's life chances ambitions. The care and support strategy has confirmed the Group’s intention to provide care and support services. Through the creation of a single Group care and support partner, we will focus on local areas to meet local need and research and respond to the impact of demographic changes on our current and future customers. We will continue to investigate and embrace the use of telecare and associated technology to deliver care and support solutions and meet the demographic changes.

Sustainable communities

At Circle we provide a wide range of services to enhance our customers life chances. We will develop our existing provision to extend support services focussing on worklessness and financial inclusion. We will support the strategic plans of our key partners and continue to work for social inclusion for all our customers.

Enabling goals

Adding value through growth

Growth has enabled the Group to add significant value and helped the group in meeting its life chances agenda. Growth will be explored that adds capacity and value, benefits the needs of our current customers and supports the ambition to focus resources on current and future key local areas. The Group recognises the benefits that increased commercial income can bring to the group's ability to enhance life chances and will continue to seek to increase revenues.

Enhancing performance through business excellence

Excellence in governance provides the foundation for enhancing life chances. Circle will continue to strengthen all governance arrangements across the Group to achieve the highest standards of probity and meet changing regulatory expectations. The Group aims for a shared vision and consistency of policy, strategy, systems, processes and communications to achieve economy of scale and increase efficiencies. The Group will also re-engineer service delivery both at Group and partner level to achieve business excellence and value for money in all areas.

Ensuring financial stability

A stable financial environment provides the Group with the resources to enhance life chances. We will ensure the financial stability of the organisation through effective financial controls and risk management with financially aware managers. The availability of sufficient funding secured on terms which enhances the ability of the group to deliver its plans with the flexibility to react to changing circumstances will be a key objective. The Group will maintain a strong focus on providing services that provide value for money.

High performance, people and culture

Circle will facilitate the growth and development of people, with the aim of maximising their capability and thus enhancing life chances. We will develop, recognise and reward talent to ensure we have the right people in the right roles. We will support the leadership across the Group to engage staff and create a high performing culture to deliver our service model.

^{1. Life chances are the opportunities each individual has to improve his or her quality of life and are linked to a person’s social situation. More about life chances >}

19/01/09 17:15