The report also found that services had been improving in most areas, although the pace of improvement in relation to repairs was markedly slower. The Association has a clear strategic direction for the future, which is set out in its Business Plan, and progress is regularly monitored and reported to the Board.

Examples of good practice exercised by the Association are also identified in the report, which other similar organisations can learn from. These include: holding regular lunches for tenants with support needs; offering pre-tenancy advice for applicants likely to be offered a home, on matters such as managing budgets; employing Estates Assistants to provide a front line service on larger estates; ensuring that the identification and provision of support is an integral part of the work of all staff; and recruiting staff from a diverse range of backgrounds..

The report includes a number of recommendations designed to promote further improvement, including:

• Ensuring that all service standards are readily available to tenants and developing arrangements to monitor and report to residents on performance.
• Monitoring by ethnic origin access to all services.
• Comprehensively evaluating the impact of debt prevention advice provided by the Association’s staff and by external agencies.
• Working with residents to ensure that all responsive repairs are carried out effectively.

Jeremy Colman, Auditor General for Wales, said today:
“I am pleased that Taff Housing Association has been rated excellent in most areas and that services are continually improving. It is a strong Association with clear plans for the future, and I hope other social housing organisations take note of the many examples of good practice we found there. But, there is no room for complacency and I hope the Association considers my recommendations - particularly in areas such as repairs and resident involvement - to improve even further.”