Social housing isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about people. It’s about communities, often filled with individuals from different backgrounds who face challenges that require understanding, empathy, and creative solutions. The professionals working in this sector need more than technical expertise. They need emotional intelligence, resilience, and problem-solving skills to serve their residents and make a meaningful impact. In this article Lubna Haq and Cise Kilic look at the misconceptions of psychometric assessments and the benefits for organisations when hiring or developing their people.
Finding and developing the right executives is tough, and that’s where psychometric assessments help. These tools go beyond resumes, offering deep insights into how people think, work, and interact.
What are psychometrics?
At its core, psychometrics is about measuring the attributes and capabilities that aren’t always visible on the surface, qualities like personality, cognitive aptitude, and emotional resilience. It involves scientifically designed assessment questioning that gauge how individuals process information, approach challenges, and collaborate with others. Attributes critical to job performance and teamwork.
However, psychometrics also suffers from a fair amount of scepticism owing to the sheer variety of tools on the market. When organisations rely on assessments with questionable reliability or poorly proven validity, they risk basing significant decisions on flawed data. Such tools can inadvertently reinforce biases.
To be effective, organisations must use scientifically validated tools and apply them thoughtfully to enhance decision-making rather than as a superficial box-ticking exercise.
The Power of Psychometrics in Social Housing
Benching marking data along with organisational performance highlights psychometric assessments provide objective insights that improve hiring, people development, and teamwork.
For instance, a frontline housing officer needs empathy, quick thinking, and resilience, qualities not always apparent in interviews but identifiable through well-designed assessments. Beyond hiring, psychometrics uncover leadership potential and guide tailored professional development plans, fostering stronger teams.
Addressing the DEI Debate
Critics argue psychometrics can reinforce bias, but the opposite is often true, well-designed tools, used correctly, promote inclusivity. Standardised scoring removes demographic influence, ensuring fair evaluation. Many modern assessments accommodate diverse communication styles and accessibility needs, aiding non-traditional talent based on competencies rather than rigid job criteria. This is vital for leadership development, shifting focus from perceptions to actual capability.
Using Psychometrics Responsibly
Of course, for psychometrics to truly support DEI, they need to be used responsibly. That means regularly validating assessments to ensure they remain equitable and relevant. It means being transparent with candidates and employees about how their data will be used. And it means training leaders and HR professionals to interpret results in a way that supports fairness and inclusivity.
When organisations take these steps, psychometrics become more than just assessment tools, they become catalysts for organisation performance and positive change.
Why This Matters for Social Housing
In social housing, professionals do more than manage properties, they build communities and support vulnerable individuals. To succeed, teams must reflect the diversity they serve and receive meaningful development opportunities.
Used wisely, psychometric assessments help organisations hire and nurture inclusive, resilient teams, benefiting employees, residents, and communities alike.
At NSCG we have proprietary assessment tools that have been robustly tested on their scientific validity and use industry benchmarking to ensure your assessment reports provide valuable insight data that can be incorporated in the selection or development of your people.
To trial these assessment tools for yourself, visit our psychometric tests platform, Congruity.
Alternatively, you can contact us now to discuss your specific psychometric assessment needs.