Projects
Here is a list of many of our projects, including everything we have done over the past two years. For a complete client list click here.
Client Name
Project description
Sexual Health Services Review 2009
Research into sexual health service provision by GP practices throughout the borough, coupled with an analysis of GP and Practice Nurse's training needs.
Residents' Conference
Assisting Mount Green with the design and delivery of their Autumn 2009 Residents' Conference. Designing the day around a series of interesting and entertaining events for residents that will enable Mount Green to capture feedback and data from residents that will inform service planning and provision. Helping to prepare staff and residents involved in running the events.
Next of kin research
Independent telephone survey of the views of the next of kin of the residents of Glebe House nursing home.
The project aims are to build on surveys of the views of residents themselves and gain further insight that will enable Glebe HA to prioritise efforts to improve services.
Resident Satisfaction Research
Mystery Shopper Programme
An evaluation of sexual health services using a mystery shopper (MS) approach. Skills & Projects providing an on-line application which can be used by the mystery shoppers to record their responses, and the subsequent analysis and reporting of the data that is collected through this application.
Resident Satisfaction Survey
Research into options for improving ESCC's disabiled children's register with linked incentives scheme. Reviewing best practice in other authorities and producing an implementation plan for the revised scheme.
Resident Satisfaction Survey
Risk of Harm Self-Assessment and Evaluation Tool
We have developed web-based (intranet) application for Sussex Probation Area (SPA) that enables staff to record their usage and evaluation of the De Montford Risk of Harm training materials and guidance.
SPA have advised that they view the Risk of Harm materials as their key tool in raising the skill levels of all Offender Management staff. Their adoption and promotion of the self-assessment web application addresses their aspirations of compliance, through sound supervisory relationships and enforcement, and through excellent assessment skills.
We have developed a web-application for consultancy Campbell-Tickell that enables associates to maintain and access profiles and project data in a searchable database. This will streamline their processes and improve their ability to plan as thay are able to search accurate and up to date information about people and projects.
Sexual Health Services Review and GP Training Database
Skills & Projects were commissioned by Tower Hamlets PCT (THPCT) to review and report on sexual health service provision by GP practices in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The project brief required us to:
- Update the existing baseline review against services as outlined in National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV and to compare this with data from the 2006 review of sexual health and contraceptive provision amongst GPs in THPCT.
- Review provision against the Health Care Commission standard NO2a regarding GP training activity, and training and development needs with a specific focus on the provision of LARC.
- Carry out a parallel audit of the locally enhanced service for sexual health (LES 11).
- Produce a final written report with key recommendations relating to service provision and GP training needs.
As part of this project we implemented a web-application that will be used by the borough for the next three years to evaluate GP's training needs and aspirations, and to support sexual health training and development.
Internationalisation of the Curriculum
We were commissioned by Harrow Business School to conduct a survey of academic staff.
We were commissioned to run an on-line survey of Housing Associations to assist the Housing Corporation in evaluating the impact of the Gold Award scheme.
The Fostering Network has received funding from the Children’s Workforce Development Council to investigate peer mentoring schemes for foster carers, and specifically their role in supporting the CWDC’s Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care. We have been commissioned to run an on-line survey of Local Authorities, Independent Fostering Providers, Foster Care Associations and Foster Carers throughout England. The survey will map what Mentoring schemes are currently running as well as seeking to highlight leading thinking and good practice in this area, which will feed into them Good Practice Guidance that will be produced by our colleagues at Simon Newstone Consulting.
We have been engaged to facilitate action learning sets on the University of Westminster’s pilot Corporate Services Management Development Programme. This six month programme is tailored to meet the specific needs of the organisation and the individual participants in implementing the University’s corporate strategy. In addition to the learning sets, the programme includes a series of core modules, action research groups, 360 diagnostics and coaching. It is probably the most comprehensive and ambitious management development programme within any higher education institution.
We are working with Campbell-Tickell to develop a tenant inspection framework on behalf of Hackney Homes. The project includes the development of an inspection methodology, recruitment of tenant inspectors, and the design and delivery of staff/tenant training.
We are working with the middle and senior management group of a charity providing services for people with learning difficulties. The programme runs over five sessions and aims to create a shared vision of the future of Grace Eyre whilst building the capacity for success in an increasingly competitive environment.
We ran an on-line survey of Brighton and Hove managers in order to evaluate their development needs, using the council's Leader/Manager standards as a benchmark.
We are working with HouseMark to develop a series of good practice case studies under the theme of resident involvement. CityWest Homes, Colchester Borough Homes, Connect Housing, Hull City Council, Poplar HARCA, Richmond Housing Partnership, Sarcen HA and Sandwell Homes have all agreed to contribute to the project and the completed case studies will appear on HouseMark’s subscriber website.
We have been working with a local authority team facing considerable challenges arising from a change in management, withdrawal of funding and shifts within the authority’s political leadership. The day focused on the past successes of the team and their strengths in terms of professional expertise and team working capacity. During the day work was begun to build on this to create a future where their objectives were fully met, their reputation enhanced and the possibilities of future funding streams explored and secured.
Facilitation of a team development away-day for graphic information design academics.
Project to expand Innisfree's support services to other boroughs outside of Brent (in north and west London) and help establish a client-base that can receive direct benefit from this development. More details ...
Design and delivery of a workshop on cross-cultural teaching and learning for academic staff at the University of Westminster.
Skills & Projects were comissioned by Newlon HA to design and deliver a series of facilitated workshops which bring together Newlon staff with their contractors. The events have been designed to develop the sense of working together as a team to deliver excellent service to Newlon's tenants, and have received excellent feedback from participants.
Team Away Day Facilitation
Facilitate a team away-day that brought everyone together to explore the individual and organisation legacy of the Modernisation Initiative, and celebrate what had been achieved and what would be taken into the future. In doing this, enhance people’s understanding of individual contributions and interactions through Belbin team roles analysis.
Preventing Homelessness: Research
We are contributing to a large research project, comissioned by the Housing Corporation into how Housing Associations may be able to tackle homelessness by engaging more with the private rented sector. Skills & Prjects contribution has been to conduct an on-line survey of Housing Associations and interview stakeholders. The report on the findings of this research will be launched at the Chartered Institute of Housing Conference in Harrogate.
Skills and projects were commissioned to project manage a Work Based Learning programme.
Skills and Projects were engaged by Campbell Tickell to undertake some building work with a North London housing Association. This involved working with team members individually and as a group in activities to examine team roles and relationships and build a sense of team spirit.
Policy and Guidance
The Housing Corporation have commissioned Skills & Projects to revise the framework and guidance for the External Validation of performance reporting systems. This will build on our previous work where we facilitated the consultation process and wrote the original guidance, and then conducted a review of its impact. More details...
Benchmarking Performance
We are delighted that a group of seven small housing associations from the South West have decided to adopt our Benchmarking Software and set up a new Benchmarking Club following the model of the g320.
Delivery of Classroom Training
We have an ongoing relationship with City College whereby we provide a variety of training courses aimed predominantly at local businesses. Course headings include 'Introduction to Leadership and Management', and 'Training for Trainers'.
We have developed a web-based Benchmarking Application for the G320 group of small London Housing Associations. We are providing a cost-effective solution designed to help small orgsanisations reap the benefits of benchmarking. Click here to find out more.
West Sussex County Council Family Resource Service have used Elan to build a clear picture of their most relevant training needs, to be able to pinpoint the highest priorities, focus development resources where they are needed most, be able to quickly and easily measure the success of training programmes. More about Elan ...
University of Westminster
Organisational development - Westminster
An action research project with Professor Richard Harding of the University of Westminster. The project focuses on cross-organisational collaboration and dialogue within the University’s international engagement activities. For more details click here ...
Development of a Resident Involvement Tracker designed to maximise the benefits of Resident or Service User Involvement Strategies. More details ...
Housing Corporation
Validating performance
Review of the framework and guidance for the external validation of housing association performance reporting systems on behalf of the Housing Corporation (To be published with the Corporation’s PI review). More details ...
A range of inputs into Dome's independent tenant advice projects on behalf of the tenants of Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, Canning Town and Customs House and the staff of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
HouseMark
Research and Guidance
Research and guidance into the ‘efficiency agenda’ on behalf of HouseMark and the National Housing Federation. For more details click here ...
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Organisational Development and Review
Review of the role of Project Worker for Housing Association Tenants within the Borough.
Housing Corporation
Policy Development
Development of the regulatory framework and guidance for the external validation of housing association performance reporting systems. More details ...
Delta and Edu State Higher Education Projects
Staff development in West Africa
Co-ordination, design and delivery of staff development programmes on behalf of the University of Westminster for Igbinedion University, Edu State, Nigeria and the Delta State Higher Education Project, Delta State, Nigeria. Click here to find out more ...
University of Westminster
Entrepreneurship Project
Development of entrepreneurial skills, work-based learning, business start-up and freelancing activities within the environment of the University and wider partnerships. Click here to find out more ...
Keep London Working Partnership
Evaluation of the Keep London Working Partnership’s SRB programme and associated research into housing and labour market links. For more details click here ...
Clapham Park NDC
Baseline evaluation of Clapham Park New Deal for Communities regeneration scheme.
Cross River Learning Partnership
Research on behalf of the Cross River Learning Partnership into the workforce development needs of employers.
College of Estate Management, University of Reading
Development of guidance and materials on housing policy.
Lewisham Voluntary Sector Training Network
Research on behalf of Lewisham Voluntary Sector Training Network into skills gaps and work force development, and into the barriers to employment faced by residents on two London housing estates.
National Housing Federation
Policy & Guidance Development
Development of national Best Value guidance on behalf of the National Housing Federation.
National Housing Federation
Policy & Guidance Development
Development of national guidance on employment and training on behalf of the National Housing Federation.
Evaluation of the Keep London Working Partnership's SRB programme.
Housing Corporation
Policy & Guidance Development
Development of national guidance on social auditing on behalf of the Housing Corporation.
Patchwork Community Housing Association
Policy Review and Development
Review of the organisation’s approach to health and safety, including production of policy manual and design/delivery of staff training, on behalf of Patchwork Community Housing Association.