Employee Competency, Conduct and Performance Framework

This framework applies to all employees working at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

Effective Date

1 October 2026

Review Date

1 October 2029

Author

Sue McDaid; Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change)

Owned by

Sharon Harte-Andrews; Head of HR and Organisational Development

Statute

Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023

National Standards and Guidance

Regulator of Social Housing Consumer Standards – Competency and Conduct Standard

Related Policies

WHBC Corporate Vision and Objectives

WHBC Corporate Business Plan

WHBC CORE Behaviours

WHBC Performance Management Framework

WHBC Learning and Development Strategy 2026-2028

WHBC Recruitment and Selection policy

WHBC Code of Conduct

WHBC Disciplinary policy

WHBC Managing Capability policy

WHBC Respect at Work policy

WHBC Probationary policy

WHBC Council Housing Resident Involvement Strategy 2024-2027

1.1    This framework applies to all employees of the council.

1.2    This framework provides an overarching summary of the Council’s existing policies and procedures to demonstrate how these work together collectively to outline the Council’s approach to managing the competency, conduct and performance of staff.  The framework is informed by feedback from the Residents Panel to support its relevance, clarity and effectiveness.

1.3    The framework also explains the Council’s arrangements to meet the requirements of the Regulator of Social Housing’s requirements for the Competency and Conduct Standard for staff working in Housing Services. 

1.4    There is a particular requirement in the Regulator of Social Housing’s Competency and Conduct Standard for a written framework which includes our approach to:
a)    managing and developing the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours of relevant staff  and how we will tailor this approach, as appropriate, to the   different roles of relevant staff within their organisation
b)    learning and development for relevant staff. This must include how we ensure that relevant staff maintain and demonstrate appropriate and up to date skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours in their roles
c)    appraising and regularly reviewing the performance of relevant staff, including our approach to managing poor performance 

1.5    There is also a requirement in the Regulator of Social Housing’s Competency and Conduct standard for a Code of Conduct for housing staff. There is a current Code of Conduct that applies to all employees (not just housing staff). Please the embedded link in Appendix 1.

1.6    The Competency and Conduct standard also requires that Senior Housing Managers and Senior Housing Executives that lead relevant housing functions (as defined in the Act and guidance) hold a Level 4 and Level 5 housing qualification respectively or be working towards it by 1 October 2029.  

1.7    The Council contracts out individual housing functions to contractors (eg repairs and maintenance) but not a number of housing functions to any one contractor. If the Council contracted out some, or all, of its housing services to a contractor then the Competency and Conduct Standard requirements for contractors (‘service providers’) would apply as the contractor would be considered as providing housing services on behalf of the landlord. Whilst the competency and conduct standard does not apply in this context, as explained in paragraph 2.5, the council expects all contractors to be aligned with the council’s expectations of conduct, performance and behaviours.