Housing Options Training Kit up for CIH award

Scotland’s Housing Network is proud to announce that its Housing Options Training Toolkit has been shortlisted for the ‘Working in Partnership’ category at the CIH Housing Awards 2024. The toolkit is an online platform developed by the 32 local authorities and Wheatley Homes Glasgow, now hosted by Scotland’s Housing Network and overseen by the Governance Advisory Board representing the five Housing Hubs in Scotland.

Since its launch in 2022, the Housing Options Training Toolkit has seen significant growth, with three modules going live initially and the final three modules following in March 2024. Currently, the toolkit boasts over 1,900 live users, with 1000 users having already completed Module 1.

Leza Lafferty, Scotland’s Housing Network learning/development officer, expressed her delight at the toolkit’s nomination for the CIH Housing Award, highlighting the dedication of staff and partner agencies in its development. Encouraging landlords to utilise this valuable resource, she emphasized its importance for staff training.

CEO Andrea Finkel-Gates commended the collaborative effort behind the toolkit’s development, noting the involvement of all 32 local authorities and Wheatley Homes Glasgow. She also acknowledged the significant contributions from external partners such as the Scottish Prison Service, the Cyrennians, and Public Health Scotland, emphasising the collective achievement in creating this valuable resource.

Lee Valantine, chair of the Governance Advisory Board from South Lanarkshire Council, reflected on the innovative nature of the project, from its inception to its current state of impacting housing colleagues and partners across Scotland. He stressed the importance of ensuring consistent quality housing options and advice through this shared training resource, emphasizing the collective effort of all partners involved.

This collaborative initiative marks the first time all 32 local authorities and Wheatley have united to develop and implement a shared training resource, signifying a significant milestone in improving housing knowledge and expertise throughout Scotland.

For more information and to view the complete awards shortlist, please click here.