The Wrekin Housing Group (WHG) is a Community Benefit Society that provides housing and care services which deliver social value across Shropshire, Staffordshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Objective
We were asked to provide interim support to develop a care and support strategy for the group.
What we did
The purpose of the role was to undertake a strategic review of all the group’s CQC registered care and extra care services in order to:
- Develop an understanding of existing and future funding and sustainability within the group’s strategic operating areas of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
- Develop a thorough understanding of all contracts and funding streams, future sustainability and direction.
- Identify internal and external opportunities for growth and expansion.
- Identify services that might be considered for withdrawal.
- Review current governance models in relation to its subsidiary, Choices Housing Association, and make recommendations as to its position within the group.
- Identify potential areas for improving efficiency and effectiveness from current services.
- Provide a set of researched and evidenced strategic options on future care opportunities, growth or withdrawal for WHG board consideration.
- Develop WHG’s care strategy and implementation plan for board approval.
What we achieved
- We developed a care and support strategy which was approved by the board, and supported the organisation to implement the strategy – through the continuation of the interim role. Board, executive and staff across the group were fully engaged during the development of the strategy and were involved in steering its direction and considering strategic options along the way.
- We were also asked to lead the recruitment of a new Director of Care and Support, which we did using a third-party recruitment agency (selected by WHG following our recommendations). While this role has been recruited to, we also provided interim leadership for the group’s CQC registered care services, retirement housing and general support services.
- We also provided recommendations for the group to consider around board reporting for CQC registered care services following the move to a group coterminous board (reporting previously held with a separate care and support board).
