IN THE 1960s, shocked by how many single mothers were homeless, Nina Corcoran, a church social worker, got together a group of Christians to buy a house to put a roof over the women's heads. Forum Housing Association now provides supported accommodation to young people aged between 16 and 25 across the Wirral, Sefton and Cheshire. In addition to its role as a social landlord, the organisation offers accredited learning, social behaviour coaching and family mediation to 400 people a week. The organisation is run on sound moral principles, staff say (an 89% positive score). Chris Allen, the chief executive, keeps her office door open and knows employees personally. She holds a vision and values session with all new employees and runs motivational events designed to bring staff together for updates on business issues and her plans, which the workforce believe in (86%). Senior managers model the organisation's values which include positivity, patience and understanding (80%), contributing to Forum's sixth place among small organisations for Leadership. All 116 employees are encouraged to be “culture carriers” and those demonstrating the organisation's philosophy most are celebrated at a prizegiving held during the annual Nina Corcoran memorial dinner, to which all staff are invited. A special award is also presented to the person who has demonstrated the greatest willingness to learn through their job, education or training. Last year 13 frontline staff took an accredited course on affordable warmth and fuel poverty, enabling them to offer practical advice and support to service users. Development opportunities include funding for work-related qualifications, coaching and mentoring, management development and knowledge sharing. Forum has allowed one staff member to compress their hours on a temporary basis to complete a course, and let another complete a degree. Managers are good listeners (79%) and motivate staff to give their best every day (74%). Consequently, employees, half of whom have been on the payroll for at least a decade, believe they can make a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation (88%). www.forumhousing.co.uk
