Purpose-driven consultancy and support to maximise the benefits of Data Management & KIM, in Social Housing
The Social Housing sector provides affordable, good quality, homes and services but it’s not always straightforward. Faced with increased regulatory oversight, against a backdrop of high-profile tragic events in the sector, it’s no wonder that many providers are finding it increasingly challenging to balance the provision of quality homes and services with achieving the governance, financial viability, and consumer ratings needed to solidify their future operations.
The sector is aware of the need for both insight and action, to overcome the current challenges, and thrive.
We know, and it’s echoed by the Housing Ombudsman, that without quality data, providers are searching blindly for the best use of precious resources.
We also know that, sadly, a lack of data, or low-quality data, results in costly mistakes when making decisions.
But where to start?
This is where the PURPOSE Roadmap comes in…
We’re taking Data Management/KIM PURPOSE Roadmap clients on for 2025 & 2026 now, with limited spaces available, so reserve your space and by the end of the year your organisation could be more efficient, compliant, and empowered to achieve your purpose.
The PURPOSE Roadmap:
It’s impossible to do everything, all at once, as much as we might want to.
So, the PURPOSE Roadmap will guide and support you to identify the insights and actions that will move you closest to achieving your purpose, with – crucially – the least strain on your already heavily-burdened resources. The most ‘Pow!’, in the easiest way.
The PURPOSE Roadmap helps you create much more than just a written data strategy; it helps you adopt a new way of working throughout the organisation, that will multiply your impact.
“PURPOSE” isn’t just a Roadmap for us; it’s a guiding principle, that we apply to everything we do, and it’s also completely scalable – up and down – to suit your current status and your future plans.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- We launch projects to “clean” our data, but it never sticks.
- The digital transformation project has become unwieldly.
- We want one “source of truth”, but we keep finding random spreadsheets.
- Managing GDPR compliance is already a burden, we don’t have the appetite for another data project.
We see you.
We understand your challenges.
And we’re here to help you overcome these and many other obstacles.
The PURPOSE Roadmap is a transformative consultancy service designed to help you optimise your data management and KIM (knowledge & information management) systems. Tailored specifically for social housing providers, this approach aligns your operational needs with your mission.
The PURPOSE Roadmap is for you if you’re ready to:
- Get get ahead of the curve on KIM and align your data handling practices with your mission and values, with techniques to help you focus on the actions with the biggest impact.
- Empower your teams and improve decision-making by strengthening your Knowledge & Information Management and access to quality data.
- Ensure legal compliance with housing related laws as well as data protection laws, while maintaining your focus on social impact & achieving high ratings from the Regulator, by using compliance as an improvement tool.
- Streamline Your Operations to save time, reduce risk, and boost efficiency, instead of constantly reinventing the wheel.
But the PURPOSE Roadmap is not for everyone. It’s not for organisations who:
- Aren’t willing to embrace new strategies; even for organisations that are achieving good TSM results, and high ratings from the Regulator of Social Housing, we must remember that what got us here, won’t necessarily get us there.
- Expect a quick and easy transformation for the organisation – implementation of the PURPOSE Roadmap takes commitment and hard work, but it’s worth it, and we will scale and tailor it to suit both your current status and your future plans.
Why Invest in the PURPOSE Roadmap?
Because the stakes are too high to leave it to chance.
Without a strong foundation in data management and KIM, even the most purpose-driven organisations struggle to:
Prevent inefficiencies that drain resources and frustrate teams.
Deliver on promises to stakeholders and service users.
Stay compliant with increasingly complex regulations.
What you can achieve with the PURPOSE Roadmap:
Confidence in Your Systems: Knowing how to ensure your data is high-quality, secure, organised, and used effectively, and lawfully.
Enhanced Decision-Making & Stronger Team Collaboration: Enabling staff to access the information they need, and base actions on insights from accurate, well-managed data.
Alignment with Your Purpose: Empowering you to ensure every aspect of your operations supports your mission to provide affordable, quality homes and services.
The PURPOSE Roadmap helps you take control.
Meet Clare Paterson, the PURPOSE Roadmap creator:
“It took me almost 30 years to find the way organisations can fulfil their social purpose and build trust, by embedding pragmatic and ethical data strategies, and I want to share my knowledge and give you the tools to help your organisation get that result quicker and easier.
Hi I’m Clare
I’ve combined two decades of experience working in and with social housing, with my specialist knowledge of data protection legislation, as well as quality assurance and risk management expertise that goes back almost 30 years, (plus a love of wordplay!) to develop the PURPOSE Roadmap.
In the summer of 2017 the race was on to review data protection policies, rewrite privacy notices, and roll out training, before the GDPR became law in May 2018. The timing was right, so I took the leap and CP Data Protection was born.
I never expected to find myself reading the legislation, case studies, and blogs, while rocking my baby to sleep, but I was enjoying every minute! I soon realised that being able to read and understand the law is only the first step to compliance; I needed to help clients build and embed practical processes and strategies.
As I continued to work on better understanding my clients’ challenges, I called on the critical thinking skills and tools from my quality assurance and risk management work over the years. Eventually I realised that I had accidentally (or was my subconscious working away in the background?) developed a framework that spelled out the word PURPOSE and that can be applied to all data management, not just personal data.
It perfectly brings to life my maxim for everything data-related (and beyond): “Purpose first”!
I’d love you to join me in the purpose-driven movement, and build organisations, a sector, and professionals who achieve their social purpose, without friction.“
Testimonials
No nonsense, completely understandable, and practical advice
“What I get from Clare is no nonsense, completely understandable, and practical advice, couched in language that is totally accessible.”
DPO
The DPIA subject matter was clearly close to all our hearts
“Really enjoyed the format and great to see the interaction in the group. The DPIA subject matter was clearly close to all our hearts so very much related to the subject matter and the conversation – perversely it’s nice to see others have similar issues! Off to review and work on my templates…”
Alan Cooke, Privacy Partners
The subject was very interesting, the pace was perfect
“I really enjoyed the session and took a lot from it. The subject was very interesting, the pace was perfect and liked how everyone was comfortable in sharing experiences.”
Denise, Data Governance Manager
What does PURPOSE stand for?
How the PURPOSE Roadmap consultancy works:
Ready to take the first step toward transforming your data management and KIM practices? Here’s how it works:
- Purpose alignment session: We’ll have a virtual coffee to ensure we have a good fit and our approach aligns with your mission and values – we don’t want to strongarm anyone into the PURPOSE Roadmap, as it would completely defeat the purpose!
- Current Status Review: We’ll start by understanding your current challenges, and opportunities, to report on your current data status.
- Tailored Roadmap Creation: We design a bespoke plan, complete with actionable steps and measurable outcomes.
- Implementation Support: We provide as much or little guidance and support as you want and need for bringing the roadmap to life, including the use of clear and practical templates and ready-to-use guidance notes, to put into immediate action.
Just some of the templates and guidance available in the implementation support:
- Data Protection & KIM Policy Templates
- Purpose-driven Decision-making Matrix
- Policy Template with KIM ‘baked-in’
- Procedure Template with KIM ‘baked-in’
- Information Security Policy Template
- DSAR Procedure Template
- DSAR Log Template
- DSAR Guidance
- Privacy Notice Checklist
- Privacy Notice Template
- Data Processor Contracts Handbook
- Data Processing Due Diligence Checklist
- Data Processing Agreement Template
- DPIA Procedure Template
- DPIA Procedure Infographic
- Risks & Controls Guidance
- Records of Processing Template
- DPO Role Description
- Data Incident Checklist
- Data Incident Log Template
- CCTV Policy Template
- CCTV Procedure Template & Appendices
- Marketing Quick Start Guide
- Cookies Quick Start Guide
- Photo & Film Guidance
- Photo & Film Consent Form
- Data Sharing Agreement Template
- Data / KIM Report Template
- Data / KIM Audit Plan Templates
- Content-creation Process
- Internal Communication Templates
- EDI Data Quick Start Guide
- EDI Data Board/Exec Report Template
- Data Security Guidance & Templates
- Records-keeping Guidance & Templates
- Practical Training Sessions & Materials
Testimonials
I would recommend this training to everyone
“The training helped with the way I look at giving advice especially getting to the bottom of why we need new projects, procedures. Also helps with having those conversation with those involved, to help them and us make sure that what they are doing will help the organisation. I would recommend this training to everyone.”
Data Protection Officer
Explained the thought process behind decisions which highlighted better outcomes
“It was interesting to understand the process and how links are developed that sometimes cause more problems. Picking the bones out of things and understanding how to piece them back together effectively is a challenge, but you explained the thought process behind decisions which highlighted better outcomes”
Housing Association DP Team
Presentations and policy work are excellent quality
“I worked with Clare whilst she put into place a comprehensive GDPR training and policy refresh for my organisation. Clare is organised, reliable and knowledgeable. Her presentations and policy work are excellent quality and she brings a warm and professional manner to all her work. Clare is generous with her time and knowledge and is a pleasure to work with – I highly recommend her.”
Charity Chief Executive
We’re taking PURPOSE Roadmap clients on for 2025 & 2026 now, with limited spaces available, so reserve your space and by the end of the year your organisation could be more efficient, compliant, and empowered to achieve your purpose.
It is not enough to be busy. The question is: What are we busy about?”
Henry David Thoreau
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should we worry about Knowledge & Information Management (KIM) / data management when we have so many other areas to focus on in the housing sector?
To put it bluntly, poor KIM and data management are found at the root of many of the issues in the housing sector, such as poor repairs services, complaint handling, and even day-to-day customer service. The lack of joined-up data has been recognised as a significant health & safety failing post-Grenfell, with a new emphasis on the need for a “Golden Thread” of information. And as the Housing Ombudsman’s Spotlight Report on KIM put it in 2023, “getting Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) right is ‘the closest thing to a silver bullet for the social housing sector’.” However, while the phrase “a silver bullet” might make robust KIM sound like something simple and easy to achieve, it is anything but; which is why the PURPOSE Roadmap and the consultancy is tailored, detailed, and supportive, wherever you are on your KIM and data journey.
We don’t have time to embark on another project – how can we adopt the PURPOSE Roadmap?
We hear you! The beauty of the PURPOSE Roadmap is that it helps you identify the areas of work where your time and resources will produce the most impact, including in your current work. So, while the project does require some time to start with, you will soon see the benefits in freed up time so you can produce the results you want, more easily. We can also support you every step of the way, with hands-on help if needed.
How much does the PURPOSE Roadmap consultancy cost?
Investment starts at between £3,000 to £7,000 (+VAT) to start your organisation’s PURPOSE-led journey. The additional costs are based on the level of support you require for the implementation stages; completely scalable and tailored to your needs.
How long does a PURPOSE Roadmap implementation project take?
The time spent on the project will depend on the level of support you require and the degree of change you are embarking on. In general though, around 6 to 24 months, with 12 months as an average.
How do we pay for a PURPOSE Roadmap implementation project?
Because we only take on a limited number of PURPOSE Roadmap consultancy clients each year, an initial payment is required for the Current Status Review and Tailored Roadmap Creation to secure your space. In the Implementation Support stage, we will invoice monthly, as agreed beforehand, for payment by bank transfer.
I don’t know if we’re ready for the PURPOSE Roadmap yet – how else can we access support to improve our KIM and data management practices?
Here are four key ways to plug into better KIM and data management that work perfectly alongside the PURPOSE Roadmap journey, but also provide huge value on their own:
- Come to the monthly Hive Online [FREE] sessions;
- Buy and use our resources, tools and templates, including:
- the book on data protection in social housing, written by Clare Paterson and published by Law Brief Publishing, with free delivery, and use code X48CGM at checkout for 10% off;
- The DSARs Toolkit for less stressful, more efficient, and more effective DSARs; and
- The EDI (equality/equity, diversity & inclusion) data Toolkit that clarifies how you can use EDI data lawfully and effectively;
- Join the DiSH – Data in Social Housing – network for community, collaboration, and continued learning; and
- Come to the Hive Live Annual Data Conference in October each year – join the mailing list for the latest news on the event.
Any other questions? Email Clare@cpdataprotection.com or Sue@cpdataprotection.com