TMT Bloggers

Three members of your TMT team recently undertook training on how to post blogs onto the website, the reason for this is so they can keep you upto date with what is happening with the team, latest news, forthcoming events. People will be invited to post their comments on what they see. So watch this space.

TMT delivering training at Trafford Hall

TMT were asked if they would like to help deliver a training session at Trafford Hall. They were approached by Burkitt Vernelle Training & Consultancy who were delivering a two day course for experienced tenants on Scrutiny. Jill, Chris and Keith attended and were asked to share their knowledge and experiences with the tenants.

News from Co-Regulatory Champions

News from Co-Regulatory Champions
Forty social housing tenants from across the country stormed Parliament on 6th February. Members of The Tenant Management Team at New Charter joined with scrutiny panels from six different other landlords to see how accountability works through the parliamentary Select Committees. The group represented the Co-Regulation Champions appointed by the social housing regulator and TPAS in 2011. Each Champion has committed to a set of principles underpinning tenants’ constructive challenge to their landlords.

Booking begins for the 'Co-regulation and Scrutiny' conference at Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

To book your places at the 'Co-regulation & Scrutiny' conference please use our booking form:
Conference Booking Form

For directions and more information about the conference venue:
Britannia Hotel Manchester

New TMT website in testing…

The TMT website is having a few updates done to it over the next few weeks.

We are looking to:

• Add some information about how the TMT are working on tenants behalf (throughout the UK)
• Add some new ways for tenants to give us their feedback
• Add some new ways for people to get involved

More follows…

Jamie Eastwood
Regeneration Officer

Susan Allen - Contribution

The Tenant Management Team would like to recognise the work and assistance of Susan Allen who has contributed to the work of the Tenant Management Team.

Susan continues to work within the local community.

Tenant Management Team Members - 25 October, 2010

Chris Burgess: Chris has been a member of the TMT for a year.  Chris comes to the team with a vast knowledge of housing, having worked in the field for a number of years. 

Alan Evans:  Alan lives in Denton & has been involved with resident participation at  New Charter for approximately two years.  He wants to make a difference to residents and is enjoying the challenge on the Tenant Management Team. 

Vera Anderton:  Vera is currently Chair of Assheton Residents Association and has been involved for many years in achieving improvements on the block.  She is a member of many involvement working groups and has worked closely with New Charter in ensuring the Company are working in the interest of tenants.  

Frank Gittens:  Frank is secretary of Micklehurst  Estate Residents Association, a  position he has held for seven years now and is a former member of New Charter Federation.  He is also on the Fair Share panel for Micklehurst, on the partnership panel for Mossley and on the Mossley sports and Leisure Committee who run the Mossley Mini Olympics annually. Frank has also helped set up and run the Tool Bank in Mossley.  

Jill Kupczak:  Jill is married with 2 grown up children. She lives in Hindley Close, Ashton. Jill joined the Tenant Management Team as she believes that tenants deserve the best service possible from their landlord. She is looking forward to working to try and improve the service New Charter provides to tenants.

Ann Daly:  Ann joined  because she has a strong desire to assist in all areas that will improve life for tenants. Hopefully by aiding New Charter to better understand tenants needs and points of view. Ann is a Mother of two and Grandma to nine children. Her hobbies include reading and gardening.

Keith Hardy:  Keith has been the Chairman of the Brushes Estate Management Board for the past seven years.  The Board is an independent company registered at Company house and its function is to run Social housing on Brushes estate on behalf of New Charter Housing Trust.  Given the above, Keith is obviously a strong believer in Tenant Participation and thinks the structure of TMT is an effective method of  involvement.

Belinda Jeffery:  Belinda has been involved with her residents group (CRAG) for 8 years and was with the Tenants Federation for 5 years, 4 of them as secretary.  She has seen many changes brought about by tenants for tenants over the years and enjoys working to improve the services received by all New Charter residents.

Steve Thomas:  Steve enjoys helping people and has been involved for 2 years,  working together to make a difference. Steve has experience of working in a team but is looking forward to learning new skills, which he can use during the term and also in life.  He believes that the time invested on the Tenant Management Team will be worthwhile for both residents and landlord. 

Tenant Management Team Role Profile

This is the role profile of the Tenant Management Team members
New Charter Housing Trust Tenant Management Team

Role Profile:

Purpose
The purpose of the role of Tenant Management Team (TMT) member is to work as a member of a team to:

• Operate on behalf of New Charter Homes (NCH) tenants and residents, ensuring that they receive resident-centred services of the highest standard.

• Form an effective part of the management structure of NCH together with the Board and the Group Management Team.

• Take an independent view of NCH performance.

• Establish priorities for reviewing NCH performance

• Oversee scrutiny activities

• Commission performance reviews to enable TMT to carry out its duties

• Assess performance against expected standards. These could be NCH agreed service standards, Audit Commission Key Lines of Enquiry standards, or standards encountered when benchmarking with other housing providers.

• Hold the Board and Group Management Team to account where performance falls below expected standards

• Members of the Tenant Management Team will work together on a voluntary basis with New Charter Homes. The individuals who are recruited as Tenant Management team members are volunteers.

Training and Support
All members will undertake an Induction programme and further training needs will be assessed. Full training and support will be provided.

Key Activities
Key activities of TMT members are to:

• Attend meetings, training and planning sessions.

• Read documents in preparation for meetings.

• Review performance information provided by New Charter Homes and tenant and resident groups.

• Prioritise service areas for review

• Compare performance to other comparable organisations

• Identify the need for further information to enable TMT to carry out its duties. To liaise with the Tenant Participation Team to consider the most appropriate source of that information. For example, to commission Resident Inspections or Mystery Shopping on a specific topic or to commission reports from NCH.

• Where standards fall below expected levels, consider how improvements might be made

• Work co-operatively with other TMT members, New Charter Homes staff and tenants and residents

• Assist in the preparation of reports

Responsibilities

• To familiarise yourself with the policies and procedures including the Terms of Reference, Code of Conduct, Confidentiality, Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, Expenses policies. 

• To carry out the role of TMT member in accordance with the policies and procedures including the Code of Conduct.

• To observe confidentiality throughout the process

• To remain impartial and objective at all times

• Not to raise any personal issues or concerns via the TMT

• To act professionally and carry out your responsibilities with integrity and high standards of behaviour at all times

• To act and behave in a manner that ensures the safety of yourself and others

• To treat everyone with respect and ensure that you are responsive to the needs of all people in the community.

Related Documents
Terms of Reference
Code of Conduct
Confidentiality Policy
Expenses Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Equality and Diversity Policy

Joint Conference with TPAS & Salix Homes

Led by Tenants, with the help from the Tenant Participation Team and guidance from the Tenant Participation Advisory Services (TPAS)
3 December, 2009 at Manchester Conference Centre

With the fast approaching/forthcoming Resident Led Self Regulation (RLSR) the Tenant Management Team (TMT) New Charter Housing Trust (NCHT) held a joint conference with the Senate (Salix Homes).

The aim was to show the approach from two different housing organisations, Salix Homes being a Arms Length Management Organisation and NCHT being a Housing Association.

The aim was to show other Social Landlords and active tenants, how to set up RLSR from day one. This included information on how to set up a framework and the sharing of documents written by TMT which included Terms of Reference, Role Profile and Codes of Conduct.

Having started to plan the event in August 2009, working together, TMT members and Senators put together presentations for workshops and ran practice days.

The event was a huge success and, in fact, was oversubscribed. We received very good feedback from the delegates who attended and some stated that we had provided them with all the valuable tools to enable them to set up RLSR within their organisation.

Showcase Event

Showcase Event: 19th September 2009
A showcase event, led by tenants, took place at New Charter Housing Trust in September 2009.

All the usual popular events were available to try, including face painting, rock climbing and entertainment from clowns for the children. The day also included workshops designed to help residents achieve colourful hanging baskets and demonstrations on how to grow your own vegetables. All these workshops were designed and run by residents.

The Tenant Management Team (TMT) held workshops, to explain to tenants and residents what we are all about. We explained what our aims and objectives were and how this would benefit not only tenants, but also to show that working together will benefit all, including New Charter Housing Trust.

As well as being able to show the benefits that TMTs’ work can bring, the workshops also gave TMT the opportunity to promote Resident Involvement with New Charter.

This led to TMT holding information sessions, where we held “informal chats”, for those who showed an interest in getting involved.

From this TMT have welcomed three new members to their team and introduced other prospective tenants who showed an interest in alternative areas of involvement.

Overall the Showcase event was a success. Both the Tenant Participation Team at New Charter together with residents worked very hard to achieve this event. Hats off to all involved.

The Tenant Management Team: “working together to make a difference.”