What we do

Our Accreditations

At Watford Community Housing, we are committed to providing the highest level of service to our customers. As a testament to our high standards and values, we hold a number of professional accreditations and memberships.


British Safety Council


In 2023, we achieved five stars in the British Safety Council's Occupational Health and Safety Audit. This audit, which includes documentation review, stakeholder interviews and operational sampling, benchmarks our health and safety management against the latest best practice techniques. 

This five star audit is a great achievement and reflects that we are a proactive organisation committed to the continual improvement of our health and safety practices. 

Visit their website for more information.


BuildEast


We are a member of BuildEast, a consortium of housing associations in the East who aim to combine their strengths and make a bigger difference. By working together and sharing knowledge and experience, we support our communities to thrive, and provide housing that is fit for the future in the East.

To learn more about BuildEast, click here.


Cyber Essentials Plus


We have received a Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation which means that we are certified as having satisfactory defences against commodity based cyber attacks. The certificate recognises the hard work we have undertaken to improve our data security measures. 

Learn more about our accreditation here.


Disability Confident employer


The Disability Confident scheme supports and encourages employers to change their behaviour and cultures in their own businesses to provide inclusive recruitment practices.

The scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people, and:

  • draw from the widest possible pool of talent
  • secure high-quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
  • improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating that all employees are treated fairly
  • being accredited as a Disability Confident employer helps customers and other businesses identify us as an organisation that is committed to equality in the workplace. 

Find out what it means to be Disability Confident here.  


EIDA


We are a member of EIDA (Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse) which is a dynamic community of large and small businesses sharing resources to better support all those affected by domestic abuse.

For more information on EIDA, click here.


Erosh Independent Living Standards



We have achieved Erosh's Independent Living Standards accreditation for our independent living and flexicare schemes. Erosh help to improve housing standards for older people by ensuring that the sector adheres to their guidelines and that older people living in independent living schemes are given accessible, affordable and inclusive services. This award recognises our hard work, professionalism and commitment to providing high-quality services for older people.

Learn more about Erosh here. 


Harry’s pledge



We have signed up to Harry’s Pledge, which focuses on four key areas to ensure that we support those who need care and those who provide it. 

  • We will be a carer-friendly employer
  • Our office and community spaces will be as accessible as possible
  • Our homes will be as accessible as possible 
  • We will work together with our colleagues to make a difference

For more information about Harry’s Pledge, click here.


Herts Sunflower J9

We are a part of the Herts Sunflower J9 initiative to establish a network of ‘Community Champions’. This is a community initiative to create safe spaces within local businesses for people who are experiencing domestic abuse. 

A J9 sunflower logo on a window will indicate that the business/service is a safe place to receive information on the support available to them, to take the time to go through and process this information and use the telephone.

Visit the Herts Sunflower website here.


Homes for Cathy


We are a proud member of Homes for Cathy. 

We are a group of housing associations and homelessness charities united by our aim to end homelessness – together we own and manage over 1.34 million homes. All members sign up to nine homelessness commitments, developed with Crisis, which guide and benchmark best practice within our organisations.

Learn more about Homes for Cathy here.


HouseProud


We signed up to HouseProud Pledge Pioneer accreditation which empowers landlords to be more responsive and accountable to their LGBTQ+ residents and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and support. 

To achieve this accreditation, we must deliver three core commitments:

  • Ensuring that LGBT+ residents can have input at executive/strategic level.
  • Increasing LGBT+ visibility through use of the Pledge Pioneer symbol.
  • Including training opportunities to improve understanding of LGBT+ lives.

Learn about the HouseProud Pledge here.


Housing Diversity Network



We are a member of the Housing Diversity Network (HDN) and are currently working towards an accreditation with them. HDN is a social enterprise that aims to inspire and empower people, as well as promote equality, diversity and opportunity for all. They work collaboratively to support organisations to improve how they address inequality, get the most from their staff and meet the needs of the communities they work with.

Learn more about the Housing Diversity Network here.


National Housing Federation

We are a member of the National Housing Federation (NHF) – the voice of England’s housing associations. Their housing association members provide homes for around six million people and are driven by a social purpose: providing good quality housing that people can afford.

Find out more here.


Purple 365

We are a member of Purple 365, a subscription service by Purple Tuesday which supports organisations and their staff to access knowledge, understanding and practical approaches to provide a better everyday customer experience for disabled people and their families.

Find out about Purple Tuesday here.


Safer Watford


Safer Watford – Watford's community safety partnership – brings together all of the town's key organisations, including Watford Borough Council, health service providers, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Herts Fire and Rescue, and other housing providers. By working together we can better tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, and keep Watford safe.

Read more about the partnership here.