OPERATIONAL UPDATES

It’s been a busy month for information requests, with 6 Subject Access Requests (SARs) live at one stage. Several other requests have been received and considered but have been referred into other teams, as the information requested wasn’t aligned with the scope of a SAR. Linked to this, the team have been working on a review of the ‘ad-hoc’ request for information procedure, working with a wide range of colleagues and teams to design processes that support working towards a resolution for the customer.

We’d had a number of enquiries relating to colleagues being videoed or recorded during their work and are considering this in the ongoing review of our surveillance procedure and guidance. The development of Sharepoint continues, building an electronic document repository that can support all colleagues to access the information they need to deliver effective services, with strong information governance principles with privacy and data protection by design.

With maternity leave in the team, we’ve had a shift of some of the partnering arrangements for risk, compliance and assurance. The team are having handovers, making introductions and getting to know the new services and functions they’re now supporting and enabling.

In addition to the normal activities and focus, it’s a peak period for governing body meetings and reporting, drafting copy for end of financial year reporting and cyclical events, such as contributing to the mountain of form filling for the group insurance policy renewal, which this year, is a full tender.

Integration remains the message running through the stick of rock across almost anything that is touched, with the need to explore and understand the current status of practical alignment of processes and controls and drive these where it is lacking.

•Continuing to support with Enham integration.

•Pulling together research to assist with Enham’s future strategy.

•Working across the business to finalise the Corporate Performance Framework for the next financial year.

•Pulling together a new property compliance dashboard.

•A briefing on the Consumer Regulation Implementation Plan.

•A paper for the Customer Experience Panel on the Better Social Housing Review to help share best practice.

•Creating a paper for the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group to share updates and best practice.

•Working with the Development team to draft a consultation response to the National Planning Policy Framework Consultation.

•Monthly market intel briefing and continuing to keep an eye on news and relevant market intelligence.

The Governance Team was pleased to present the findings of Deloitte’s review of the Group’s Governance arrangements. While the outcomes are positive, there is always room for improvement. The outcomes will now be developed into an action plan for delivery by October 2023. It’s going to be a busy 2023!