Kate has many years experience in delivering organisational change, having worked for over ten years as a senior director in one of the UK’s leading housing associations. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and an affiliate audit commission inspector.
She was instrumental in designing the quality framework for the national Supporting People programme – a major government initiative which began in 2003 and is now a member of the working group which is reviewing the Quality Assessment Framework. As part of this work, Kate regularly works with government and local authorities across England to monitor progress, resolve ongoing problems and help people prepare for forthcoming inspections. She is an associate member of CLG’s Supporting People Performance and Quality Team.
Last year Kate was involved in developing the new outcomes framework for Supporting People and delivering extensive national training on this to providers and Local Authorities on behalf of CLG
Other ongoing partnership work with CLG includes the development of a cost modelling tool for SP Administering Authorities, which builds on successful work with Warwickshire SP team and others to develop an overall value for money framework for SP.
In 2007 Kate was also selected by CLG to work with the 13 national Individual Budget pilot sites, to offer support to effectively integrate Supporting People and DFG funding streams.
In 2008 Kate is working in partnership with Matrix Consultancy on a major study funded by CLG, the Housing Corporation and CSIP to carry out research into the relationship between regional investment, housing support and health and social care.
As a consultant, Kate regularly advises councils on complex funding schemes, preparing for external audits and providing written policy guidance on housing-related policies. Her particular area of expertise is value for money.Current major consultancy projects include:
- Working with a large LSVT to overhaul and improve current sheltered housing provision to better meet the needs of the customer, whilst driving forward the strategic aims of the local Supporting People authority.
- Contributing to an Authority-wide Supporting People needs analysis.
Consultancy services:
- Assistance with implementing Audit Commission Supporting People and Housing inspection recommendations
- Professional advice ahead of inspection
- Coaching and mentoring staff to help them to prepare for inspection
- Help and advice to Local Authorities on procurement and commissioning of SP-funded services including design of cost and service models
- Action planning
- Strategy development , including tested ways to identify and prioritise strategic objectives
- Needs assessments
- Priority-setting
- Good practice guidance
- Help on securing value for money
"At their 3rd Annual Housing Awards at the Chartered Institute of Housing's Annual Conference, the Audit Commission awarded Carr-Gomm the highest rating for service delivery following their inspection in 2003. As Operations Director, Kate McAllister took the lead role in preparing the organisation thoroughly for this inspection, the first of its kind for a national supported housing provider. Her project management skills, attention to detail and commitment were instrumental in making this process a positive experience for the staff, service users and the inspectors."
Gary Lashko, Chief Executive, Carr-Gomm
"Kate McAllister has made a very positive contribution in a consultancy role with Advance Housing and Support, helping it to gear up for Supporting People Quality and Monitoring requirements. This work has included -presentations to middle and senior managers groups on Strategic Relevance and Value for Money - a series of training events for project mangers in the requirements of the Quality Assessment Framework - working with the Senior Management Team to implement a QAF pilot exercise, review and analysis of results, culminating in an organizational Action Plan."
Derek Healey, Deputy Chief Executive, Advance Housing and Support Ltd