‘Dawn of a New Age?’
Well for all the hardworking members of our Tenant Management Team (Scrutiny Panel), Resident Inspectors, Mystery Shoppers, Sounding Board and everyone else working on behalf of all tenants, we certainly hope so.
Have the new coalition government really given enough thought to their review of the TSA?
It would be bordering on criminal if all the effort, training and experience gained over the last months, not to mention the cost of it all should go to waste. We sincerely trust that it is not a case of act in haste and repent at leisure.
Five members of the Tenant Management Team (TMT) have recently attended the TPAS conference and AGM in Birmingham where we gave a workshop on scrutiny. The session went down a storm, and we are all feeling euphoric as a result. The praise was overwhelming.
No time to sit and bask in glory however, we have a job to do and this year is just hurtling by. Having just delivered our Grounds Maintenance Scrutiny Report to the Board, we are working with managers on an action plan to address our recommendations. Whilst our next scrutiny is about to get under way, we are also out and about talking to other tenants about National Standards and Local Offers, the Tenants Annual Report and how we can do better. New Charter has established the ‘Xtra Factor Team’ consisting of staff together with National Standards Champions from TMT, Resident Involvement Monitoring Panel, & our TPAS mentor. We are on the phones, visiting TARAS, accosting people in New Charter shops, at bus stops and anywhere else they might be. We want to speak to as many tenants as possible and we need more people to get involved.
Summer has almost flown by in a flurry of consultation meetings, conferences and training courses. Then along came the election and the resultant atmosphere of uncertainty about the future. Will we still have a job to do? Has all our effort been for nothing?
We are very proud of New Charter and the stance that they are taking. Long before the dust began to settle, our Board announced that it would be business as usual and that we should continue to meet the deadlines that we have been working to. Most importantly, no matter what Housing Regulation brings in the future, they will be supporting tenant empowerment and scrutiny will be the way forward. Tenants will be the pulse that keeps the corporate heart beating.
The next months will be tough. Gathering and collating the thoughts and aspirations of as many tenants as possible and converting them into policies and actions that will be used to shape the future, push the barriers and improve standards won’t be a walk in the park. With effort, stamina and enthusiasm great progress is possible. We are looking forward to meeting the challenge.
Let’s watch the “New Dawn” turn into a fantastic New Day.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
TPAS Conference Birmingham 2009
As members of the Tenant Management Team (TMT), we attended the annual conference run by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS), at Birmingham August 2009.
Saturday, 16 January 2010
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.
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.
Monday, 23 November 2009
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.”
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.”
Friday, 16 January 2009
Staff Induction Training
Staff Induction Training
With the introduction of the Tenant Management Team (TMT) in 2009, members undertook many in-house training session including the Staff Induction training sessions, alongside New Charter employees.
Once formally recognised TMT have since been invited to all staff induction sessions to present our roles to new staff and give an insight into what our aims and objectives as the team.
The first presentation we completed was on 17th Sept 09.
We talk to the new staff members and give a short presentation advising what our involvement means to New Charter, the employees and more importantly, what it means for residents.
These presentations are done by members of TMT, who wish to contribute to the promotion of the team and are done on a rota basis.
We liaise with all members of the training team, at New Charter, to make sure that the presentations are up to date and are run with professionalism.
We are then invited to the lunch, provided by the training team, which allows us to discuss further our future activities and answer any questions from the new employees.
With the introduction of the Tenant Management Team (TMT) in 2009, members undertook many in-house training session including the Staff Induction training sessions, alongside New Charter employees.
Once formally recognised TMT have since been invited to all staff induction sessions to present our roles to new staff and give an insight into what our aims and objectives as the team.
The first presentation we completed was on 17th Sept 09.
We talk to the new staff members and give a short presentation advising what our involvement means to New Charter, the employees and more importantly, what it means for residents.
These presentations are done by members of TMT, who wish to contribute to the promotion of the team and are done on a rota basis.
We liaise with all members of the training team, at New Charter, to make sure that the presentations are up to date and are run with professionalism.
We are then invited to the lunch, provided by the training team, which allows us to discuss further our future activities and answer any questions from the new employees.
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