Covalent for Housing Associations

Housing associations face increasing demand for performance information (1) for external purposes to satisfy regulatory compliance (2) for internal purposes to better manage operations, strategically and day-to-day. Covalent can deliver on both accounts

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“Covalent has transformed the way we manage everything. We have fortnightly meetings now and every other one is a Covalent meeting.”

Lisa Veysey, West Devon Homes

Configured for Housing Corporation Assessments

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Covalent can be configured to mirror the Housing Corporation Assessments (HCAs), for assessing compliance with the Code and the association's development performance.

In particular Covalent can be used within associations to demonstrate that the governing body is supported by appropriate governance and executive arrangements (Properly Governed? Regulatory Code part 2).

By reporting performance results and tracking action plan progress, Covalent can demonstrate the work being done on continuous improvement and ensuring effective, efficient service delivery (Properly Managed? Regulatory Code part 3).

Covalent tracks performance against annual targets and other benchmarks, and where necessary can be used to keep the Corporation adequately advised of the problems encountered (Development with Housing Corporation funding).

Helping manage the inspection process

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Covalent helps manage the Audit Commission Inspection process, dealing with both dimensions of the inspection report.

How good the service is

Approach to continuous improvement

Covalent tracks performance against targets. Importantly, it shows the association's performance compared with its peer group or other relevant benchmarks. Covalent provides inspectors with the evidence they need 'of challenging targets for performance improvement and a track record of delivering'.

Covalent's Action Central module delivers a powerful tool for managing improvement programmes and action plans on a continuous basis. In particular, it can demonstrate that the association is following a systematic approach to changes, and using a structured ongoing programme of reviews, as required by the Code 3.3.1.

Delivering on the framework for system validation

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Covalent delivers on the Housing Corporation's new Framework for Performance Reporting systems validation

By March 2006, all associations with 250 dwellings or more are required to undergo validation of their performance reporting systems. Covalent helps associations deal with the three perspectives that will be used by service providers to conduct validation review.

To support the Analytical review, Covalent can easily deliver the required information on 'prior years' performance indicator data, and comparisons with other indicators from various sources (e.g. annual accounts, internal management reports)'.

For the Systems review, Covalent supports all the lines of enquiry, allowing the association...

to clearly communicate its performance management framework, and tighten up the systems for data capture and manipulation;
to be certain the 'checks undertaken to ensure that related performance data are consistent';
to manage 'the data collection process including data and systems ownership';
to verify the 'quality of the source data (e.g. are there adequate controls over the capture of source data to provide assurance about data accuracy?)'

White papers

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How Covalent helps HAs address the Housing KLOE 'Prospects for Improvement'
Performance Management moves centre stage for Housing Associations
How PM software helps HAs address the Performance Reporting validation regime