Raven Housing Trust is delivering good quality housing management services, with strong approaches to tenancy and estate management, well-maintained homes and a strong focus on value for money. However, there is still scope to deal with telephone enquiries more quickly and strengthen repairs monitoring. Strong leadership and capacity means the Trust should be well-placed to meet the challenges ahead.

Dover District Council is delivering a fair strategic housing service. Access to housing support is strong, housing options work is reducing levels of homelessness and there has been good progress in delivering affordable rural homes. However, further work is needed to strengthen the approach to value for money and diversity and to improve the quality of housing strategies and plans.

The London Borough of Greenwich is providing a 'fair' one star repairs and maintenance service that has 'promising' prospects for improvement. Tenants are provided with a range of services well, and homes are generally. However there are some aspects of the service that are not sufficiently customer focused. The Council has a positive track record for delivering improvements and there is a strong commitment to deliverign further improvements.

The awareness of Supporting People across the Council has been limited and there is no strategy for improvement. Public information and service user involvement are areas for improvement and performance management including financial management have until very recently been weak. However, the programme is delivering positive outcomes for existing service users.

The London borough of Wandsworth and its partners have implemented the Supporting People programme well over the past five years and have achieved improvements in the quality and range of supported housing services available in the borough. The Council and its partners also have the capacity and plans in place to deliver further improvements to the programme.

This report looks at the recruitment and retention pressures currently facing councils in the light of demographic and other changes. It assesses the potential risks to key services of councils failing to properly plan their workforces and it evaluates the progress councils have made. The report contains case studies of good recruitment and retention practice to help other councils improve their own workforce strategies.

Bournemouth Council is delivering a good quality strategic housing service which is increasing the amount of affordable housing available to its residents. Good outcomes have been delivered for vulnerable groups, homelessness prevention is successful and there is a well-developed approach to private sector housing. However, service standards are underdeveloped and the overall approach to equality and diversity remains an area for improvement.

The housing landlord service provided by North West Leicestershire District Council is a fair, one-star service with promising prospects for improvement. The Council is providing a more accessible housing service to its tenants, with clear improvements across all aspects of the service and a focus on value for money. However, there are still weaknesses in its approach to repairs and adaptations for vulnerable customers.

The Supporting People programme in Redbridge was inspected in early 2006 and found to be poor with uncertain prospects for improvement. The delivery of the programme has improved and the prospects for improvement remain uncertain.

The strategic housing services provided by Salford City Council are good. Salford is focusing its efforts on delivering things which make a positive impact on local people. Services are of a good standard. However while the Council is rising to the new challenge of enabling an increased supply of affordable housing this approach is not yet delivering sufficient affordable housing units to the level required to meet need.

The Supporting People programme provided by Dorset County Council is 'fair' and has 'promising prospects for improvement'. The Council demonstrates effective and strong strategic partnerships and the programme is supported by a well-managed team. Increased choice for service users and pro-active support for small providers is delivering improved quality of services for users.

The programme has had limited impact and some ineligible services are still paid for through the Supporting People programme. There is still significant weakness in the assessment of value for money and quality of services.

The delivery of the £15 million Supporting People programme provided by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council is 'poor' and has 'promising prospects' to improve. Progress has been slow and there is little change to services to better meet the unmet needs of vulnerable groups. Recent progress is leading to improved performance and quality of some contracted services.

South Lakes Housing provides good services with excellent prospects of improvement. Estates are well managed and homes are being brought up to modern standards. There are some weaknesses, however, in frontline management systems.

Berwick District Council is providing local people with poor access to services, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.

Mid Suffolk District Council has received a 'good' two star rating for strategic housing services. There are 'promising' prospects for improvement. Providing affordable and decent housing is the top corporate priority and effective action is undertaken to realise this objective. Substantial numbers of new affordable dwellings are being completed annually both for rent and for sale. Good work on homelessness prevention is occurring but the Council needs to address diversity issues in a more effective way.

The report looks at the ambitious programme of market-style reforms that aim to improve efficiency and effectiveness and were first set out in the NHS Plan of 2000. It evaluates the key elements: giving patients more choice; greater NHS use of the independent sector; the creation of foundation trusts; practice based commissioning; and Payment by Results. It also reviews the impact of major changes to employment contracts with NHS staff.

Residents experience a customer focussed service that they have been able to influence. Homes and estates have been well maintained and there is a good repairs service. Properties to be re-let are turned around quickly and to a high standard and gas safety checks have been carried out to 99.60 per cent of homes. Supported housing schemes are well managed and maintained and service users have an excellent 24 hour support service.

Strengths in the services offered include a good approach to customer care and rent collection. These, however, are balanced by weaknesses including value for money and the improvement of properties.

Gravesham Council is delivering a good community safety service that has promising prospects for improvement. It has engaged comprehensively with local residents, worked closely with partners and contributed significantly to a sustained reduction in crime.