- Conference
- 2024 National Community Conference and Seminar
- Date
- 15 November 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Turnover across the Housing sector has increased markedly in recent years. According to Housemark, while voluntary turnover in the sector has historically averaged 10% a year, this has increased to 14% a year in the last two years, with particularly high turnover in customer-facing roles.
Our members see this where they work. High levels of vacancy increase pressures on staff, where employers had already reduced staffing levels, often merging previously distinct roles such as resident engagement, community development and housing officers. In an article in July 2023, Inside Housing found numerous examples of overwork, burnout, and unsustainable pressures across the sector. A lack of consistency in role description and duties in generic functions between Housing Associations is adding to the difficulty members face in pushing back against impossible workloads.
A particular concern among members is around the increasing involvement of housing association staff in complex problems experienced by residents that should fall to social or mental health workers to address; the collapse in provision in these areas is meaning that housing officers are dragged into areas they have little experience of or training in, increasing work pressures.
Increasing concentration on record keeping and (proper) focus on tenant engagement is just adding to workloads where no more staff are employed to carry out these tasks. And adding to all these pressures of new tasking is the continuing limitation on the ability of Housing Associations to raise money through capping of rents at below the level at which their costs are rising.
Conference calls upon the Community Service Group Executive to work with the Local Government Service Group Executive to:
a.Support reps and branches in pressing for realistic work loading and staffing complements with individual employers.
b.Support reps and branches in securing appropriate training for their roles, fully funded by employers and in work time.
c.Work with UNISON Labour Link and other stakeholders including lobbying political parties in positions of power and influence in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to promote the need to secure appropriate levels of funding to provide proper support in the sector.
d.Regularly highlight issues affecting Housing Association members to Community members via all appropriate media.
