North London social landlord Barnet Homes is set to become the first arm’s length management organisation (ALMO) nationally to take on additional local authority services following a landmark agreement with Barnet Council.
Barnet Homes will take responsibility for housing needs and resources services from 1 April 2012 in a move that will enable a reduction in management costs to the council.
At the same time, Barnet Council has agreed to the creation of a new adult social care sister company for Barnet Homes, called Your Choice (Barnet) Ltd, and a parent company, called The Barnet Group. Both will go live on 1 February 2012.
Your Choice Barnet will provide a range of services to adults with physical and learning disabilities and will receive business support, such as finance and IT, from Barnet Homes.
Both decisions were taken at a meeting of the council’s Cabinet Resources Committee on 16 January 2012. Existing council staff working for the housing and adult social services will transfer to the relevant organisations under ‘TUPE’ arrangements.
Barnet Homes Chief Executive Tracey Lees said: “These decisions are a resounding endorsement not only of what we’ve achieved at Barnet Homes over the past seven years, but also of the flexibility of the ALMO model.
“We’re proud of our record of making substantial year-on-year business efficiencies while overseeing increased resident satisfaction with our services.
“We’re confident we can have a similar impact with Your Choice Barnet, with the additional housing services and with other organisations that may come into The Barnet Group over time.”
Under the agreement, Barnet Homes will become responsible for advising customers on housing issues and assessing whether those who have, or about to, become homeless are eligible for housing in the private or social housing sector. They will also become responsible for maintaining the supply of these properties and for managing temporary accommodation.
The switch of responsibility means that people will deal with one organisation only from the point of becoming homeless through to being housed. It will also cut costs by reducing duplication of tasks between Barnet Council and Barnet Homes.
Meanwhile, the creation of Your Choice Barnet ensures that users of the in-house services currently provided by Barnet Council will be able to use direct payments to purchase these services in future.
Tracey Lees will become Chief Executive of The Barnet Group and the organisations within it.
The Barnet Group, Barnet Homes and Your Choice Barnet will each have their own Boards, with resident and service user/carer representation on the Barnet Homes and Your Choice Barnet Boards. The Boards will each be chaired by a single Chair.
Your Choice Barnet will include the following services:
• Rosa Morison
• Flower Lane Autism Service
• CommunitySpace
• Valley Way Respite Service
• Barnet Supported Living Service
• Barnet Independent Living Service
Barnet Homes and Barnet Council are planning an official launch of Your Choice Barnet and The Barnet Group in February.