Preparing for the 2026 Competence and Conduct Standard
From October 2026, housing providers must ensure relevant staff have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to deliver good quality services and take steps to secure the same in service providers' staff.
What the changes mean
The new standard sets a clear expectation for qualifications that must be held by relevant senior managers. Senior housing managers and executives will be required to hold or be working towards a relevant housing qualification. With a three‑year transition window given to large providers, now is the time to prepare and implement the change effectively.
At The Learning Foundry, we do not just see this change as a compliance requirement, but as a chance to upskill sector colleagues, embed quality across services, and drive real, lasting change.
When you’re juggling compliance, customer expectations, and constant change, you need teams who are confident, capable, and clear on what good looks like.
That’s exactly what the Competence and Conduct Standard is about - raising the bar across the board. We’re here to help you navigate this change and meet the new requirements.
How The Learning Foundry can help
At The Learning Foundry, we’ve supported housing providers for over 35 years. We’ve worked with over 75 housing organisations across the UK, delivering Ofqual-approved, CIH-accredited qualifications from Level 2 to Level 5. We help individuals and organisations to showcase their dedication to customer excellence and professional integrity.
Our flexible, sector-aligned programmes are designed to meet you where you are. Backed by expert support and tailored commercial solutions, we’re here to help you upskill with purpose and build a workforce ready for the future of housing. Whether you’re looking to upskill frontline staff or develop future leaders, we offer training that’s:
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Flexible – tailored to your organisation’s needs
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Practical – built by housing professionals, for housing professionals
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Proven – with a 99% pass rate and 75% distinction rate
Steve Blackburn, Director of Operations at The Learning Foundry, shares his insight:
“As a former housing director, I’ve worked in the sector long enough to know that training isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s essential. The Learning Foundry is committed to helping you meet the expectations outlined in the Competence and Conduct Standard.
We’re part of The Regenda Group which has a Housing Association, Regenda Homes, at its heart, so we understand the sector inside out. We know what it takes to meet the standard - and more importantly, what it takes to deliver services that genuinely make a difference to people’s lives.
If you’re ready to invest in your people and build a stronger, more confident workforce, we’re here to help you navigate the change and deliver services that truly meet the needs of tenants and communities.”
Now is the time to prepare
On December 4th at 2pm, The Learning Foundry will host a free webinar: Understanding the Competence and Conduct Standard.
The webinar offers an easy-to-understand breakdown of the Competence and Conduct Standard and how it will impact training, upskilling and teams in our sector.
You will hear directly from the senior team from The Learning Foundry, and Executive Directors from Regenda Homes, who will discuss what the change really means, how Regenda is implementing the training across the organisation and how The Learning Foundry can help you prepare.
This session is designed for anyone with responsibility for preparing their organisation to meet regulatory standards. It’s your chance to get ahead, ask questions, and gain clarity on what the Competence and Conduct Standard means for your teams and tenants.