Resident Involvement - A New Approach » Housing » 24dash.com

Resident Involvement – A New Approach

Newark and Sherwood Homes launched their new Resident Involvement Strategy on Tuesday 11 March 2008. This new strategy has been a joint project between residents of the district and staff of Newark and Sherwood Homes. Months of hard work by all those involved has culminated in the production of a strategy which encourages residents to make a difference to the services they receive from Newark and Sherwood Homes.

The theme running through the strategy is captured by the definition of participation: -“A two way process involving sharing information and ideas, where tenants are able to influence decisions and take part in what is happening” (TPAS/CIH)The strategy offers a wider choice of ways in which residents can become involved, ranging from the formal methods such as membership of Tenants and Residents Associations to the more informal methods such as telephone surveys.

Mary Butler, Chairman of Newark and Sherwood Homes Board, stated at the launch: -‘ I am delighted to launch the updated Resident Involvement Strategy for Newark and Sherwood Homes. Residents play such an important part in helping us shape the delivery of excellent housing services across all of Newark and Sherwood’.

Mr McElhinney, Customer Services Director of Newark and Sherwood Homes also at the launch said: -‘Involving tenants and other service users goes to the heart of the delivery of excellent Housing Services. We are proud of the joint working with tenants and staff that delivered such a good quality document’.The importance of involving tenants is demonstrated by this quote from Mrs Val Wright who was a member of the project group: -

‘I have thoroughly enjoyed working with members of staff at Newark and Sherwood Homes and other residents on the resident involvement strategy. It is always very enlightening to hear views from both residents and staff and be able to discuss ideas to develop and improve services within Newark and Sherwood Homes. We have learned such a lot from our sessions and would like to see more residents becoming involved. Not only have we been able to voice our views on the good and not so good practices, we have also been able to suggest ways in which things could be done better’END

Newark and Sherwood Homes LtdKelham HallKelhamNEWARK ON TRENTNottinghamshireNG23 5QX
For further information, please contact:
Claire McDonald HR & Communications Manager01636 687888claire.mcdonald@nshomes.co.uk Fin McElhinneyCustomer Services Director01636 687888fin.mcelhinney@nshomes.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Newark and Sherwood Homes is an arms length management organisation (ALMO) which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Council’s homes, including management of the housing capital programme, responsive repairs and empty property management, rent collection and arrears recovery, estate management and resident involvement. The Company has a Board of 15 Directors comprising 5 tenants, 5 independents and 5 Council nominees.

The Company provides services to approximately 1 in 8 households in the District and took responsibility for the Services on the 1st of November 2004.