Grainne Mullin from Radius Housing talks about the Tenant Participation Accreditation Process with Supporting Communities.

The Tenant Participation Accreditation Scheme is aimed at social landlords in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The accreditation process consists of five steps: a pre-brief and self-assessment, an independent assessment, three focus groups, an independent validation, and finally, a de-brief session and feedback report.

Successful organisations can be accredited for up to three years, allowing for an optional annual review or re-accreditation when the time is right for your organisation.

The timescale for completing the accreditation process is entirely dependent on each social landlord; however, about three months is normal.

How does it work? 

The process of gaining accreditation involves five steps:

  1. Pre-Brief and Self-Assessment

Our assessor will join you on-site to begin your journey with a well-informed Pre-Brief session. We will answer questions, provide clarity, and set expectations for the process. During this phase, you will:

  • Complete a self-assessment of TP practices and activities against the TP Standards & Competencies. 

  • Submit documentary evidence via our TP Accreditation digital platform.

2. Independent Assessment 

Our assessor will review your self-assessment, using this information to prepare for focus group consultations.

3. Focus Groups

We will conduct focus groups with:

  • Tenants

  • Staff

  • Senior Management & Board

    Social landlords will invite attendees to participate in focus groups, and we will facilitate them on-site.

4. Independent Validation

An independent panel of experts will review and assess the evidence to determine the final rating of the submission.

5. Debrief and Feedback Report

Finally, we will conduct a debrief session on the final rating and provide a comprehensive feedback report. This report will serve as your roadmap for taking your tenant engagement to the next level.

What are the benefits of accreditation? 

Our assessment framework is designed to provide social landlords with an objective measurement of their Tenant Participation activities through four standardised accreditation levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum.

TP Accreditation provides quality assurance to the Department for Communities and its Regulatory Branch that your Tenant Participation Strategy is relevant, fit for purpose and aligns with the 10 Principles for Tenant Participation as outlined in the TPS NI (2015-2020). 

Our accreditation will demonstrate that your organisation effectively involves residents and highlight opportunities for improvement.

Tenant Participation Accreditation is just one of the tools we offer to raise the standard of engagement for tenants across the island of Ireland. Our trading arm, Empowering Communities, offers members a range of training and consultancy services to support you on your TP journey.