10 June 2009
‘CAM’ WE HELP YOU?

Springfield Horseshoe Co-operative in Wolverhampton has become the first tenants’ organisation to be assessed as competent under the new system of external assessment by an Approved Assessor. Springfield Horseshoe Co-op already manages 83 homes but is planning to increase that number to 284 – hence the need for a fresh assessment of competence. Now they are offering to help other groups who are preparing for an assessment. In particular they are offering to share information about how they mastered the Common Assessment Model, or ‘CAM’ as it’s known.

The CAM is the framework of standards that must be met for a successful assessment. Groups must show that they meet these standards by providing evidence of their competence. Some tenants’ groups have been struggled to gather and present the evidence to the satisfaction of the Assessors.

The chair of the Co-op Les Buckingham says of the CAM, “The process may possibly have been a lot easier if we had started the regime from the outset, however we managed to achieve a successful assessment. What is clear though, is that the CAM enables TMOs to demonstrate their competence of management and ensures that committee members are clear about their responsibilities”

If your group think that Springfield Horseshoe can help guide you to a successful assessment you can contact the co-op manager at Julia.Pangbourne@wolverhampton.gov.uk .