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Welsh regulator to intervene in extra care housing provider

The Welsh government has intervened at an extra care housing provider over concerns about its governance and financial viability.

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Picture: Getty
Picture: Getty
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Polish Housing Society, which owns 93 extra care flats and a care and nursing home, has failed to effectively manage a significant risk or risks to its governance and services, and does not meet viability requirements, according to a regulatory judgement published earlier this month.

The provider was handed an ‘intervention’ regulatory grading on both counts after the Welsh government’s housing regulation team identified concerns with the landlord’s compliance in five of the 10 performance standards.

These include requirements on: board oversight, financial planning and asset management.


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Regulatory intervention will involve “continuing to progress the board’s decision to secure a business model which protects residents and service users”, the judgement said.

It does not outline specifics about the issues at Polish Housing Society.

Information provided in the judgement shows the society made a 7.5% deficit as a proportion of its turnover in 2017/18, while 100% of its borrowing is fixed – compared with the sector average of 74%.

A spokesperson for Polish Housing Society said: “After providing accommodation and care to the elderly for 70 years, we are currently experiencing a number of challenges across our business which have been highlighted in the regulatory judgement.

“This has resulted in us working closely with the Welsh housing regulator and other organisations, for a number of months now, to find a solution and agree a way forward to ensure continuity of service provision for all our residents.”

According to Polish Housing Society’s website, its general manager reports directly to “a voluntary board of directors consisting of a chairman and 12 members chosen from different walks of life in the Polish community”. It employs more than 75 staff.

The Welsh government uses a “co-regulatory” system for regulating housing associations – meaning the judgement is based on the landlord’s own assessment of its compliance with the performance standards as well as the regulator’s.

‘Intervention’ is the second-lowest regulatory rating under the Welsh government’s system, below ‘standard’ and ‘increased’ but above ‘statutory action’.

Polish Housing Society’s care and nursing activities – carried out at its Penrhos Polish Nursing and Residential Home in Gwynedd – are regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales.

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