Value For Money Statement 2016 VFM Statement 2017 | Page 4

EXECUTIVE INTRODUCTION
Accord Housing Association is a provider of affordable housing and a range of support
and care services to customers across central and northern England. The organisation
exists to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and does this through the provision
of dynamic homes and services to meet those needs.
As a business with a social purpose, great attention is given to services and types of
homes provided to ensure quality and satisfaction is delivered throughout.
As a large business with a turnover of c£110m and a surplus of over £8m, Accord also has
an obligation – to its regulators, shareholders, stakeholders and customers – to operate
efficiently. This is done from Board level, through to Executive management, to front-line
people, though an embedded process of what Accord calls Making it Count.
Accord has changed significantly over the last 12 months following a detailed
process of research, discussion and consultation. This has resulted in the
previous federated structure with eight separate entities being simplified into one
organisation, Accord Housing Association. This was a journey undertaken by the
Board during 2016.. There were several drivers; internal efficiency and removal of
duplication, accountability to customers and of course added value and increased
capacity – these themes all focus on delivering increased Value for Money (VFM).
The new legal single entity structure took effect on 31 March 2017 and over the
coming months, and into early 2018, the business is transforming into a provider
which is leaner at the centre, more able to respond, flexible and importantly
delivering better direct services locally to customers. This Annual Statement
captures a range of activities and provides narrative around the continuing Make It
Count successes.
This Board-approved VFM Statement once again evidences how Accord continually
reviews its effectiveness and demonstrates how accountability for VFM is embedded
throughout the whole organisation.
2
Accord Housing Association