Learning & Development at Amber Valley Housing
Amber Valley Housing aims to guide and support Learning & Development practice and procedure to ensure that the Corporate Plan objectives are achieved in line with our organisational team ethics.
Amber Valley Housing has a clear Vision as defined in our Corporate Plan to:
“Enhance the potential of communities to create safer, better places to live.”
The Balance Business Scorecard approach shown below demonstrates the business focus in achieving the vision.
The five dependent but different aspects of the Scorecard act as ‘doorways’ through one of which each business initiative must pass.
Learning & Development passes through the ‘Top Performing People’ doorway through which Amber Valley Housing commits to the objective of maximising the capacity of its people by: -
“Developing and maintaining well trained, skilled, motivated and enthusiastic people working within an environment where they are recognised, rewarded and supported in reaching their full potential”.
The learning & development area has a key role in supporting the business to achieve all of the objectives set out annually in the corporate and team plans.
Once team plans are in place our managers are asked to identify what development interventions they require for their team in order to support them in achieving their objectives.
In addition to this process other Personal Development is identified through team member Appraisals on a yearly basis.
Since March 2003 we have successfully funded and supported more than 30 team members to undertake qualifications in Housing, IT, H&S, Procurement, Human Resources and more which we have achieved through our Professional Sponsorship scheme and policy.
To date we have given opportunities to four trade apprentices who have chosen brickwork, carpentry and plumbing three of whom are still studying for their chosen career.
Last year we launched the Graduate Management Trainee programme with the successful candidate Helen Bray being selected through our Assessment process and has been provided with the opportunity to work across the organisation in all teams whilst receiving ongoing development opportunities during the two year programme.
Amber Valley Housing like many Social Housing providers has a key focus on driving efficiency through improved service and/or reduced costs. Learning and Development will have a key role in supporting the business to achieve this.
Individuals need new, additional skills and capabilities in order to meet the challenges they face during the changing times ahead.
Culture of Learning
The Learning and Development initiative aims to continue working towards creating a learning culture across the organisation and has focused on developing the key operational stakeholders and line management to have the skills, confidence and time to support learning.
In order to ensure that our management team and board are appropriately equipped a number of development programmes are currently being developed and will be implemented during 2007-08.
Some of our team leaders are currently undergoing an in-house ILM Team Leader programme, which is being run by our local Derby University, dependant upon the success of the programme we are looking to continue this in the future.
