ERoSH appoints Director of Policy

Imogen Parry, an independent sheltered housing consultant and formerly an ERoSH Trustee, has been appointed to a newly-created part-time role of Director of Policy within ERoSH, the national consortium for sheltered and retirement housing.

Imogen has taken up the role, which is for an initial period of 12 months after which it will be reviewed, with immediate effect and is now responsible for building ERoSH's capacity to maintain and develop its growing reputation as representing the sheltered housing sector. The purpose of the post, which reports directly to ERoSH's Executive Committee, is to develop the charity's work in accordance with its business plan and charitable objectives.

The announcement of the new post is timely given recent and imminent activity relating to the sector, namely:

• The Audit Commission’s report on the Supporting People programme which described sheltered housing "as a major resource" (October 2005). This is a key message for ERoSH, the promotion of which will form the basis of Imogen's initial work
• The forthcoming ODPM national strategies for the Supporting People programme (due out for consultation in November)
• The forthcoming (December) combined health and social care White Paper, to which ERoSH intends to respond.

Imogen said, "I am delighted to have been offered this exciting new post which will be critical to growing ERoSH over the next year or so. The sector is undergoing considerable change and I intend for my role to play a crucial part in developing sound links with the Department of Health, the ODPM and the Audit Commission to help influence and allow our sector a voice within the national agendas on health, housing and social care."

Lucy Cooper, ERoSH Chair, said, "We are delighted that Imogen has agreed to take up this post. She is a co-founder of ERoSH and her knowledge and experience of sheltered and retirement housing, and how it relates to the health and social care sectors, are second to none. There is much hard work to be done over the coming 12 months, but the outcome will have tremendous benefit to our growing membership and to current and future residents of sheltered and retirement housing."

Imogen Parry has been a social worker, lecturer, warden's trainer, and senior policy manager. She has co-authored the first edition of 'Effective Sheltered Housing' and the recent Chartered Institute of Housing publication 'Sheltered and Retirement Housing – a good practice guide'. She will continue to work as an independent consultant and trainer, alongside the part-time Director of Policy post for ERoSH.