Transcript Capacity Building and Accreditation of Housing Professionals

Accreditation of Canadian
Housing Professionals
Howie Wong, Chief Operating Officer, Housing Services Corporation
Martin Winn, Director of Professional Development, Chartered Institute of
Housing
Paul Tennant, Group Chief executive, Orbit Group and Vice President,
Chartered Institute of Housing
HSC: Who We Are
• Established in 2002 as the Social Housing Services Corporation
under the Social Housing Reform Act
• Mandated by legislation to deliver programs to benefit Ontario’s
affordable housing sector
• Housing Services Act, 2011, reaffirmed our role and broadened
our objects as a result of our successful track record in meeting
sector needs:
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Insurance
Bulk purchasing programs
Research, education and training
Capital Reserve Investment Management
Tenant insurance
Energy & Asset management
Program support (SHRRP, OPA, Infrastructure Ontario)
Partnerships (sector working groups, research, program funding and
delivery, private/public)
• HSC board is made up of a cross-section of our clients with
representation from across the province
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HSC Legislated
Objects:
1. To improve the operation,
efficiency and long-term
sustainability of housing
providers that provide
housing for moderate and
low-income households.
2. To improve the
management, maintenance
and long-term
sustainability and viability
of the physical assets of
housing providers that
provide housing for
moderate and low-income
households.
3. To improve the quality of
life of residents in housing
for moderate and lowincome households.
HSC Sector Renewal Investigation
• Committed to raising
the profile of social
housing and
encouraging youth to
pursue a career in
housing
• Committed to building
capacity in the sector
• Committed to working
with sector
organizations
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CIH Involvement
• Engaged the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) to
assist with investigation of Accreditation options.
Specifically to:
• Develop an Accreditation Framework
• Explore potential qualification routes for accreditation
• Explore the potential to develop a professional body for
housing in Canada
• Consultations with sector took place in November
2011 and February 2012
• Accreditation meetings in UK in February 2012
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CIH: Background
• Established in 1918 by Royal Charter as the
professional body for the housing sector
• Non-profit organization; registered charity
• 22,000 plus members in over 20 countries
• Influence with us
• Improve with us
• Learn with us
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What CIH Means to me
• Personal
• Member 1982; qualified 1985; Fellow 1993
• Professional qualification; continuous development
• Designed to support my needs; change with career needs
• Organizational
• Training; qualifications; policy guide
• Academy; accreditation; people development
• Address our transformation agenda; strategic alliance
• Sector
• Education; standards; ethics
• Policy lead; lobby; engage with broader church
• Respond to changing world; transformation agenda
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Professional accreditation
• CIH Accredits housing education programmes at
over 100 centres in the UK
• We also accredit programmes in Hong Kong,
China, Macau, Taiwan, Australia, Republic of
Ireland, and Holland
• Intermediary between employers and education
providers
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Ontario Methodology
• Purpose
• Develop a specification that outlines the knowledge and skills of a qualified
housing professional in Ontario
• Explore accreditation program delivery options and models that meet the
needs of the sector
• Consultations were held in November 2011 and February 2012
• Wide range of stakeholders consulted from across the province
(Service managers, non-profits, co-ops, LHCs and Sector
Organizations – ONPHA, CHF, IHM, OMSSA)
• Map of what housing professionals in Ontario do – and the skills and
knowledge required
• Specification setting out the outcomes required from an accredited
education program
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Ontario Accreditation Framework
• Positive feedback from sector - desire for
accreditation that is meaningful and challenging
• Qualification needs to be tiered, to recognize the
different levels at which housing staff operate
• Certified Housing Practitioner (Level 1)
• Chartered CIH Member (Level 2)
• Honour what currently exists, while creating a
new paradigm for professionalization in sector
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Certified Housing Practitioner:
Routes to Accreditation
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Chartered CIH Member:
Routes to Accreditation
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Opportunities for CIH/Ontario
Collaboration
• Recognize existing Ontario courses & work
experience within a CIH qualification framework
• All Ontario courses can continue with value-added
CIH credit recognition
• Increase collective value of Ontario sector offerings
through the CIH process
• CIH will offer gap-filler courses for accreditation
• Customized CIH-Ontario accreditation framework
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CIH-Canada…beyond Ontario
CIH-Canada Business:
• Membership services (includes International
membership to CIH)
• Distance learning programs
• Challenge exams
• Accredit College/University programs
Seeking provincial involvement:
• Locally-led
• Flexible model
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Discussion
• What efforts around Accreditation are currently
underway in other Provinces?
• How are other Provinces establishing and
elevating standards for housing professionals?
• Where do Canadian housing professionals go
for designations and accreditation now?
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Thank you
Howie Wong
COO, Housing Services Corporation
390 Bay Street, Suite 710
Toronto, ON Canada
M5H 2Y2
P: 416 594 9325 x. 252 | Toll Free: 1 866 268 4451
F: 416 594 9422
E: [email protected]
© 2012 Housing Services Corporation