Best value
In 1998, Carr-Gomm was awarded Best Value pilot status by the Housing Corporation. Two reviews – of our Maintenance and Support services - were carried out. The areas reviewed were chosen by Carr-Gomm clients.
One of the results of this work was the creation of a user-friendly, pocket-sized 'SMART' pack containing information on the newly developed service standards for maintenance and support in Carr-Gomm. This has proved very popular with clients and staff.
Since then we have gone from strength to strength. We have a planned programme of best value reviews and our Best Value Steering Group – a sub-committee of Board, made up of staff, clients and board members – meets every quarter.
In 2005, the group completed reviews of four different aspects of Carr-Gomm’s work looking at:
- Making savings and being more efficient in our corporate spending
- Our policies around reducing anti-social behaviour amongst clients
- Recruitment of new staff
- Staff welfare and support Each of these reviews produced a range of recommendations for improvement, which are being implemented.
This year, Carr-Gomm will be carrying out best value reviews on:
- Presentation of financial information
- Diversity and Equality
- Our complaints, compliments and queries procedure
- Staff turnover and retention
What is Best Value?
Best Value is a government initiative introduced in 1997 which requires Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords to review their services and improve them. The review requires organisations to:
- CHALLENGE ourselves about the current services we provide.
- CONSULT with tenants and service users, staff and other agencies to find out what's good, bad and how to improve our services.
- COMPARE our services to those of similar agencies and to learn from their experience.
- COMPETE to ensure we save costs and provide the best value for money.
