<strong>Social</strong> <strong>Landlords</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>: Shap<strong>in</strong>g <strong>up</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>improvement</strong>.c) the degree to which protect<strong>in</strong>g the tax-payers’ <strong>in</strong>terest should <strong>for</strong>m part ofthe regulator’s remit, recognis<strong>in</strong>g it is not always the same as the <strong>in</strong>terestof tenants, but may <strong>for</strong>m an important balance;d) the role of the regulator <strong>in</strong> publish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation that may be important tothe proper function<strong>in</strong>g of the sector, <strong>for</strong> example on debt costs; ande) whether the regulator should have a focus on place-mak<strong>in</strong>g and localhous<strong>in</strong>g system design, shift<strong>in</strong>g the focus from <strong>in</strong>dividual organisations toexam<strong>in</strong>e social hous<strong>in</strong>g outcomes more broadly <strong>for</strong> local communities.9.9 Our current purpose is to protect the <strong>in</strong>terest of current and future tenants;ensure the cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g provision of good quality social hous<strong>in</strong>g; and ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>the confidence of funders. We will do this by work<strong>in</strong>g with consumers,providers, funders, policy makers, other scrut<strong>in</strong>y bodies, and <strong>in</strong>terest gro<strong>up</strong>s.This paper aims to contribute to the debate about the challenges fac<strong>in</strong>g thesector and the role of regulation <strong>in</strong> secur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>improvement</strong>.55
<strong>Social</strong> <strong>Landlords</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>: Shap<strong>in</strong>g <strong>up</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>improvement</strong>.Grad<strong>in</strong>g Illustrations Appendix 1Grade A (excellent) will apply to a service, organisation or part of an organisationcharacterised by major strengths, that delivers well above m<strong>in</strong>imum requirements, ishighly cost-effective and has a record of cont<strong>in</strong>uous <strong>improvement</strong>. It may be fullycontribut<strong>in</strong>g to the achievement of wider strategic outcomes <strong>for</strong> communities. Wemay still f<strong>in</strong>d weaknesses, but there will be very few areas <strong>for</strong> <strong>improvement</strong> and few,if any, barriers to <strong>improvement</strong>. In service <strong>in</strong>spections we will f<strong>in</strong>d that theseweaknesses do not affect the service user or h<strong>in</strong>der the ability to improve services.Grade B (good) will apply to a service, organisation, or part of an organisation withmany strengths, which delivers above m<strong>in</strong>imum requirements, is cost-effective, andfocuses on cont<strong>in</strong>uous <strong>improvement</strong>. It may be mak<strong>in</strong>g contributions to widerstrategic outcomes <strong>for</strong> communities. The strengths will outweigh the weaknesses.And the capacity to make <strong>improvement</strong>s is likely to strongly outweigh any barriers to<strong>improvement</strong>. In service <strong>in</strong>spections we will f<strong>in</strong>d that any weaknesses are notenough, either s<strong>in</strong>gly or collectively, to detract from services or h<strong>in</strong>der the ability toimprove services.Grade C (fair) will apply to a service, organisation, or part of an organisation withsome strengths but also some weaknesses, that meets only m<strong>in</strong>imum requirements<strong>in</strong> key areas. It is not particularly cost-effective or focused on <strong>improvement</strong>. It maybe contribut<strong>in</strong>g to a limited extent to wider strategic outcomes <strong>for</strong> communities.Strengths and weaknesses will be f<strong>in</strong>ely balanced. And the capacity <strong>for</strong>, and barriersto, <strong>improvement</strong> are also likely to be f<strong>in</strong>ely balanced. In service <strong>in</strong>spections we willf<strong>in</strong>d some important weaknesses, which, either <strong>in</strong>dividually or collectively, noticeablydetract from the service or h<strong>in</strong>der the ability to improve. A grade C is likely tosuggest the need <strong>for</strong> structured or timely action to put th<strong>in</strong>gs right. However, <strong>in</strong> the<strong>in</strong>spection of a new or restructured organisation, the award of a grade C may reflectits newness and the particular po<strong>in</strong>t it has reached <strong>in</strong> its early development – it mayshow a relatively good level of achievement <strong>in</strong> a short space of time.Grade D (poor) will apply to a service, organisation, or part of an organisation withmajor weaknesses, which does not deliver m<strong>in</strong>imum requirements, may not be costeffective,and is not focused on <strong>improvement</strong>. It may be mak<strong>in</strong>g little or nocontribution to wider outcomes <strong>for</strong> communities. The weaknesses will outweigh the56