Choice Group must be caring, committed, and creative to succeed
Michael McDonnell, Choice Group Chief Executive, outlines the housing association’s new roadmap for effective and efficient services.
A clearly defined ‘roadmap’ is important to ensure the smooth and successful operation of any organisation and Choice Group is no different. On 1 April, Choice launched our Strategy to 2027, a document that will feed directly into the day-to-day activities that take place at one of Northern Ireland’s largest housing associations and social enterprises.
It will also provide clear direction in terms of decision-making, and the creation and implementation of new policies over the next three years.
Reflecting the views of our stakeholders, including trustees, tenants, staff, partners, and others across the Northern Ireland housing sector, we believe that we have a bold vision for the future. Choice Group has listened carefully over recent months and we have identified three strategic priorities which create a framework for our activities from now until 2027.
There are many opportunities for our tenant-centred, community-focused, not-for-profit organisation to change and improve the way that we do things. Ultimately, Choice seeks to make a positive difference to our stakeholders through effective and efficient services and a focus on maximising our resources to keep our rents as low as possible. We will also continue to access development funding at competitive rates to enable our growth aspirations.
Our first priority is to Provide Great Homes. In the case of new homes, we intend to contribute significantly to the Social Housing Development Programme with a clear focus on high-demand, general needs housing. All Choice homes should be safe, affordable and of a high quality. We will continue to lead the sector with our mixed-tenure strategy using the skills and expertise of our Maple and May subsidiaries to ensure we create communities that are free from stigma and segregation. We will also champion the ‘Housing for All’ initiative which promotes diverse, integrated, and sustainable neighbourhoods.
Supporting Communities to Thrive is our second strategic imperative and this should underpin every Choice scheme across Northern Ireland. Listening to our tenants, taking their views on board and reflecting their feedback in our service delivery is fundamental to our charitable status. Tenancy sustainment is crucial, too, and we will achieve this through the provision of excellent housing and property management services, including best in class maintenance response times through our subsidiary Choice Services.
Other objectives include working through mutually beneficial partnerships to meet sheltered and supported housing priorities and informing and influencing public policy and debate around the issues that affect tenants and communities.
As a large employer across Northern Ireland, we are committed to Empowering our People by investing in their skills and wellbeing. This strategic priority reflects the fundamental importance of our people and the need to develop talent in a competitive labour market. We will also make better use of our systems, data, and reporting to improve the decision-making process. Enabling technology to simplify both the staff and customer journey will promote both high satisfaction with our service delivery and enhanced value for money.
Whilst Strategy to 2027 sets a new and exciting direction forward for Choice Group, our mission is unchanged as we seek to enrich the lives of our tenants and communities through the provision of great homes and services.
Our vision is to excel in everything we do in the eyes of our customers, partners and staff. Our ultimate ambition is to empower staff and partners to make a positive and sustainable difference by: increasing the supply of high quality and affordable homes; ensuring access to excellent support services; enabling our communities to flourish; and making best use of our collective talent and resources.
Underpinning everything are the Choice values which remain unchanged. We will be caring through listening, being helpful and always act professionally. We will be committed through our determination, being a reliable housing provider and always acting with integrity. And we will be creative through innovating, being responsive and always seeking to improve.
But Choice should always be judged by what we do rather than what we say. So, we will continue to develop challenging annual business plans and budgets with specific deliverables and robust key performance indicators and targets. Progress will be monitored with group board, subsidiary boards and committee members and we are going to report regularly to stakeholders on our achievements, future intentions and investment plans. We will also deliver annual reports on our performance to the Department for Communities and Charities Commission who act as our regulators.
These are challenging times for the Northern Ireland housing sector with lots of risks to manage and obstacles to overcome. However, the recommencement of the Northern Assembly provides a basis for optimism and renewed hope that housing will feature prominently in the new Programme for Government.
Whatever the context, Choice Group through our new strategy will continue to focus on supporting our tenants, their families, and communities across the region.
T: 0300 111 2211
E: enquiries@choice-housing.org
W: www.choice-housing.org
