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There are many different ways that residents can get involved and these need different amounts of commitment.
Suggestion cards
Commitment:
Short term – occasionally Suggestion cards are a good option if you don’t have much free time. You can collect comment or suggestion cards from reception; or we sometimes send them out to get feedback to improve a specific service, i.e. repairs. Commitment:
Short term – throughout the year If you only have a little bit of time to spare, taking part in a survey is a good way of giving us useful information. If you tell us you are happy to fill in surveys we will put your details on our database. We might ask you to fill in small surveys on specific topics or our annual survey; or sometimes phone, text or email you if you have told us that we can. You can also tell us if there are particular topics (for example repairs) that you are interested in. Commitment:
Short term – walkabout takes about 30 minutes We hold neighbourhood walkabouts in your area every quarter. You can find out when the next one is by looking in HOME magazine, on our website, or by contacting us. You are welcome to come along to meet your local neighbourhood housing officer and talk to them about any issues in the area and what needs to be improved. This could lead to you forming a local group or an estate agreement.
Latest walkabouts Village
voice or street representative Commitment:
Short term – when it’s convenient for you If you live in an area that is too small for a formal tenant and resident group, or your neighbours do not want to take part, you can still get involved by becoming a Village Voice or Street Rep. This means that you talk to your neighbours and pass their views on to your neighbourhood housing officer. You could do this as part of the neighbourhood walkabouts, which might encourage more people to be involved in a bigger group. Commitment:
Short term – once a year Why not come along to the residents’ conference we hold every year? We agree the theme with the District Forum - but the Neighbourhood Involvement team are always looking for new ideas, so please get in touch. A conference is a great way to meet other residents, guest speakers and our staff in an informal setting. Commitment:
Short term – one to three meetings Sometimes we want to look at a specific topic in more detail, and might ask if you want to join a focus group to give us your views. This is a group of people who might be particularly relevant to the subject (for example, older people if we were discussing sheltered accommodation). Commitment: Short term – send in an article; give feedback and contribute ideas/articles when you like Degree of influence:
Consultation and decision-making Community
events Commitment:
Medium term – depending on how many events you choose to attend We have the following
specialist forums. These groups are very popular. Different guest
speakers give presentations to the groups on things that interest
them, and people who attend can tell us what they think about our
services and how we can improve them. Commitment:
Medium term – One to three sessions per year Mystery shoppers are residents who check the quality of service we are offering. As a ‘shopper’ you will take part in training and from then on you will be working from home. We ask mystery shoppers to phone the offices, using ‘scenarios’ provided by us, and then provide feedback on how your enquiry was dealt with by staff. People enjoy being mystery shoppers because they can get actively involved in improving services, they can take part at home at a time that suits them and they receive ‘payment’ through shopping vouchers. Commitment:
Medium term – one to three meetings a year Sometimes we want to look at a topic in a different way to a focus group. For example, we might set up a group to look at anti-social behaviour, by finding out about local people’s views; meeting the police or other agencies; or researching how other landlords deal with this. We look for volunteers who have an interest in the topic and are willing to give up some time to explore it further. Commitment:
Medium term – depending on events you attend ‘WestLearn’ is the learning programme for residents. We hold different events throughout the year to support those of you who are involved in different activities with Westlea or in your neighbourhood. Topics vary each year depending on the need. We have workshops that focus on particular skills you may need for group work, e.g. presenting information, speaking with confidence, negotiating, chairing a meeting or being a Secretary or Treasurer for a committee. Some involvement activities need an understanding of different subjects and we have organised information sessions on being a board member; the disability discrimination legislation; and recruiting and working with contractors. We also run courses that are more focused on everyday living, e.g accessing the internet, cooking and budgeting. Some of these sessions may last a couple of hours while others take place over 6 or 7 weeks. Commitment:
Medium term – up to six meetings a year; or This group champions continuous improvement and excellent services at Westlea. They look at feedback from residents and evidence from around the organisation to decide which services need improving. Each year, they set the service review programme for the next 12 months and check progress on it throughout the year. The group can also decide to set up ‘sub-groups’ to look at specific issues (grounds maintenance, for example). These groups meet regularly, or just once or twice. We will advertise details of the groups in our magazines and newsletters. Commitment:
Medium term – working group The Residents’ Business Plan is part of Westlea’s business planning process and gathers information on residents’ views and needs so they can be fed into Westlea’s corporate business plan, prior to it being submitted to the Board of Management. You will have an opportunity to express your views by a process of open meetings and surveys and a working group that takes account of everyone’s input and ensure that residents are heard. Targets are agreed with staff on how best to achieve residents’ priorities. How well these targets are being met is reported back each quarter to the District Forum. Commitment:
Medium term – 2 hours a month The Disability
Steering Group works with Westlea to plan and facilitate the Disability
Forum. The members use the information provided by residents through
surveys and discussions to ensure that the Forum focuses on issues
that are relevant to people with disabilities. Commitment:
Medium term; minimum of 2 hours per month If you would like
to represent your local town then the Town Groups Steering Group is
for you. The steering group consists of two residents representing
each of our market towns and meets once a month. Once a year the Town Group Steering Group commission the market research team to carry out a survey of randomly selected residents in each of our market towns to identify areas of concern; the results are used to implement any actions. Commitment:
Medium term - 2 hours per month (less as improvements take place) An estate agreement is a partnership agreement which explains how different agencies (for example, schools, health visitors, police and waste disposal companies) will work together to improve your neighbourhood. The first step is for you, your neighbours and your neighbourhood housing officer to decide what needs improving in the local area and which agencies should be involved. The next step is to talk to the agencies themselves, and develop an action plan for improvement. This can be linked with estate inspections and local residents’ groups. Commitment:
Medium term There may already be a residents’ group in your area. If not, your neighbourhood housing officer can help you set one up. These groups can have a dramatic effect in improving neighbourhoods and community spirit. You can invite residents of other landlords and local homeowners as well. The groups usually have a constitution (a document that explains who you are, what you want to achieve and how you will do this) and have named members who run them. If you have a constitution and have had training to run a group successfully you can apply for a start-up grant of £200 to help the group get going. Your neighbourhood housing officer will help you get set up. Your neighbourhood housing officer will help you develop terms of reference (a less detailed version of a constitution). You can become a more formal group at a later date if you want. We can put you in touch with other organisations for further support. If this seems too formal and you just want to get together with a few friends and your neighbourhood housing officer to solve local problems, and you don’t need funding, then you can do this too. Commitment:
Long term – minimum of ten meetings a year The District Forum is a decision-making panel, with 18 tenant and resident members who, at the moment, serve for three years. You can elect new members at the Annual General Meeting which is part of our resident conference. The District Forum focuses on policy and strategy, and makes sure we consult you on important decisions. They look at Board papers, consider major decisions and can attend Board meetings to give their comments. They can recommend more extensive consultation before commenting themselves. The role of the Forum is to:
You can attend a District Forum meeting as an observer. To do this or find out more about the work of the District Forum, please contact the Neighbourhood Involvement team. Commitment:
Long term The role of a
resident inspector is to inspect and get feedback from other residents
on the services provided by Westlea and feedback to staff on what
needs to improve and then check that these improvements happen. People
of all ages can get involved in being a resident inspector –
we are committed to improving our services and this will be helped
by a wide range of residents becoming involved. Full training is provided.
Commitment:
Long term The Resident Scrutiny Panel exists to examine the work of Westlea and Oxford Citizens housing associations, Oakus and GreenSquare. There are a maximum of 11 members, with representatives from each organisation who currently serve for a period of three years and meet five times a year. Membership is open to all residents through a defined recruitment process. The role/duties of the Scrutiny Panel are:
Anyone can apply to be a Resident Scrutiny Panel member. If you would like to know more about this or would like an application form, please contact Corporate Services. Commitment:
Long term – a minimum of ten meetings a year You can become a member of the Board of Management. A selection panel recommends who can become a Board member, and shareholders vote on this at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Board works together to make major decisions on how to run Westlea. This includes the approving the business plan and budget and all our major strategies. Anyone can apply to be a shareholder. If you would like to know more about this or would like an application form, please contact Corporate Services. The Board decide who will be accepted. They look for applicants who have an interest in how Westlea is run. If you are accepted, you have to pay £1 for your “share” but there is no other cost involved.
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