Scottish housing charity Bield Housing and Care has launched a new five-year corporate strategy, within which tech-driven solutions are set to play a key role.
Bield says the new strategy will help it to put tenants, customers, and staff at the centre of the organisation’s decision-making; design and adapt homes to meet customer needs; simplify services; strengthen financial performance; support staff to improve skills and efficiency; and secure UK-wide recognition for innovative approaches.
Bield says the strategy has been launched to help drive growth and maximise tenant independence.
Other external challenges that Bield is looking to help tackle in its new strategy include climate change, the cost-of-living crisis, and an ageing population.
Dr Lynne Douglas, CEO at Bield (pictured, right), said: “Our new five-year corporate strategy will guide us along the way as we focus on achieving our vision and ambitions and ultimately make a positive impact.
“Our strategy will measure whether we are delivering to meet our customers’ desires, rather than just ticking boxes.
“This new outcome-based approach will expand our influence in the sector, as we look to set and deliver the standard for ageing at home.”
Digital hub
Bield recently opened a new digital hub, showcasing “housing technology of the future”, at its West Port development in Linlithgow.
The hub has been supported by funding from the Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) project.
The hub, which provides a series of preventative care technologies to support individuals to live independently in their own homes for longer, is available for tenants, staff, and other stakeholders to trial.
Bield says it will implement its new corporate strategy in three phases: strengthen, grow, and lead.
It says this phased growth will allow it to meet key priorities, which are broken down into five main subsets: facing challenges, improving efficiency, harnessing strengths, enhancing impact, and leading the way.
Lynne said: “At Bield, we’re always striving to improve customer experience and satisfaction whilst growing our use of modern, in-home technologies to support independent living.
“Our new strategy will enable us to develop a personalised and proactive approach to delivering our services, develop and test new innovative digital solutions and share our experience and expertise for the benefit of wider society.
“It is estimated that by 2030 more than 600,00 people in Scotland will be aged 75 or over, so now more than ever is the time to be ambitious.”
Bield Housing and Care has around 180 developments that facilitate independent living across Scotland.
The charity currently operates across 22 local authorities and works with 24 health and social care partnerships.
Main image: A bield staff member showing a tenant how to use a virtual reality device
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