Five star safety rating for ALMOs

Two housing organisations have been awarded the highest possible rating by the British Safety Council.

Brent Housing Partnership in London and St Leger Homes of Doncaster have both achieved a five star rating after their recent British Safety Council’s Health and Safety Management System Audit.

The British Safety Council undertook a week long audit at both organisations earlier this year when they reviewed all of the policies and procedures, undertook site visits across the housing stock and interviewed staff right across the organisation.

This top rating from the British Safety Council shows outside agencies and organisations that St Leger Homes and Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) have a strong health and safety culture with robust policies and procedures in place.

Gerry Doherty, chief executive of BHP, said: “We joined the British Safety Council not to achieve this award for awards sake but to externally test ourselves in this increasing demanding area of Health and Safety. We were told at the start of the audit that it was very rare for an organisation to achieve the 5 star status at its first attempt, and therefore the result is something that staff can feel justifiably proud of.”

Susan Jordan, chief executive of St Leger Homes of Doncaster, commented: “This is fantastic news. My health and safety staff, and staff across the organisation, have worked hard to achieve this accreditation. I want to say ‘well done’ to them all.

“The achievement also gives tenants’ peace of mind because whenever one of our staff knock on their front door to carry out a repair or maintenance to their home, tenants can be assured that our staff are trained to a high safety standard that has now been recognised nationally.”

Both organisations were presented with their certificate at BSC’s award ceremony held recently at HQS Wellington, which is docked on the Embankment, London.