Positive Engagement Strategy
H&F Homes has recently assessed itself against the actions it signed up to in the Positive Engagement Strategy action plan.
H&F Homes (HFH) aims to improve its understanding, engagement and communication methods to effectively consult, engage and work in partnership with `Hard To Reach’, excluded, marginalised communities. This in turn will provide an opportunity for those groups or communities to access H&F Homes service delivery and assist in addressing any barriers that may arise through effective consultation and engagement.
PROGRESS ON THE POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY – ACTION PLAN
(click here to download a copy of the table below)
| ACTION | PROGRESS | STATUS |
| H&F Homes to provide information points within local areas to the wider community | Information Points are currently provided via our 4 Area offices both South and North of the Borough and also via Estate notice boards and Riverview House. A number of community centres will have specific information focusing on local issues and support agencies. | Completed |
| Staff to organise networking open days with the local community groups and individuals (2 open days per year per office) |
Corporate Meet the Community Day held on 27th November 2008 Area Initiatives – Becklow Gardens Multi Agency Public meeting 24th September 2008 Services Network Community Day Emlyn Gardens – 22 October 2008 African Child Awareness Sessions – May – September 2009 Services Open Day – Becklow Gardens – |
Completed |
| Staff to organise networking open days with the local community groups and individuals (2 open days per year per office) |
24th July 2008 White City Community Engagement Event – 31st October 2008
Estate Action Day – Chelmsford Close August 2008 Estate Action Day – Lancaster Court – July 2009 |
Completed |
| To develop a training toolkit for staff that will provide them with the skills to work with specific community groups | Agreed to develop a Community and Voluntary Sector Directory that staff can access on the intranet and that outlines the purpose of the organisation. List is currently being updated but a number of contacts are available on the website. A Community Sector Involvement Officers post is a resource within the Equality and Diversity Team for staff to access also. | Completed |
| All information to HMS residents to be made available in different formats and languages. ( on request) | All information is available in various formats and HFH translation panel placed on the reverse of all newly produced documents. A notice is available in each office offering this service | Completed |
| Improve all Housing satisfaction survey templates | All satisfaction survey templates have been improved by to ensure that questions are in plain English including carry out telephone surveys and the use of CITAS as and when requested. | Completed |
| Develop and implement an effective statement for the reasons why H&F Homes require the data requested from HMS residents |
An effective statement was developed in November 2008 and circulated with the survey. All staff have the statement publicised in the information held on the intranet to assist them when carrying out telephone calls. Reasons why have also been advertised in the Insider and staff newsletter |
Completed |
| Review the cycle of satisfaction surveys to include other statutory, voluntary and community organisations and explore external commissioning of the survey options | The cycle of surveys have been reviewed and included in the Customer Feedback report to be presented to the Housing Services Committee – July 2009 | Completed |
| Themed discussions on specific equalities and diversity issues must be maintained via team meetings | Themed discussion have taken place in specific service areas, however this needs to be more consistent. | Completed |
| Proposal for a Early Tenancy Housing Support Officer and develop structures for working with vulnerable residents | Early tenancy counselling carried out by the Rent Income Housing Officers | Completed |
| To explore good practice including costing for the implementation of a Help Desk Facility in all area offices | All area offices reception area will provide tenancy information as well as support organisations. During 2008 South Hammersmith Team was relocated to King Street, RVH will be relocated, also 2 ROC’s reduced to 1, therefore this would not have been value for money | Completed |
| Improve access to all H&F Homes area offices including DDA requirements – included in EAP | All offices are not DDA compliant – Awaiting final report from HAFAD | Completed |
| Explore and develop a Best Practice IT Information Folder which is accessible to all staff. | This has been include in the IT Website | Completed |
| Reinstate HAFFTRA meetings and reintroduce Estate Improvement Plans to discuss community wide issues | The CEO and Directors attend monthly meetings with HAFFTRA. HAFFTRA is also actively involved in the Fulham Court and Edward Woods Regeneration programme. | Completed |
| HAFFTRA to proactively encourage the participation of young people and also the wider communities that are currently under-represented on TRA’s | The Residents Involvement strategy was finalised and agreed in April 2009 and developed in conjunction with HAFFTRA and TRA’s, agreed at Board and HAFFTRA meetings and includes this element in the action plan not only for young people but also other groups that are underrepresented | Completed |
| Research into funding channels for community development work to be provided by HMS and/or eternal partners | This area has been devolved through existing structures such as through area office staff. However the Equality and Diversity Manager is tasked with developing a Neighbourhood Inclusion Strategy for 2009 and is currently researching good practice in this field | Completed |
|
Senior managers to nominate staff to attend the ECG meetings on a rota basis |
ECG has representation from all Area offices | Completed |
| Implement an area based timetable to develop focus groups for local organisations. E.g. Mencap, MIND,
Primary Care Trust, Police etc |
Each community has different needs therefore, each area office has tackled this objective by developing or being involved with the following forums
|
Completed |