Neighbourhood teams signal ‘back to basics’ approach to housing services provision
We’ve launched new Neighbourhood Teams across our operating area to create an even more joined-up service for our customers.
The Neighbourhood Teams are made up of colleagues in roles including Housing Officers, Surveyors, Independent Living Officers and Tenancy Support Officers. Our Community Investment Team will also be incorporated into the teams, to ensure even more integration with the communities and neighbourhoods we serve.
Work is also currently being carried out to develop a searchable functionality on our website to enable customers to find colleagues who are covering their area.
Craig Taylor, Director of Housing and Customer Service, said introducing Neighbourhood Teams was about “going back to basics” and reconnecting with our customers.
He said: “The concept is all about reconnecting with our neighbourhoods and bringing together a cohesive team approach by utilising some of our key frontline services.
“The aim is to know what’s happening behind our customers’ doors – we want to get to know them, and our properties, in much greater depth.
“Neighbourhood Teams will enable us to have positive interventions within the communities we serve and have a positive impact on our customers.
“We’ve introduced this model as it links into our Improving Lives strategy perfectly. Knowing what’s happening in our communities is key to our day-to-day services and this will help us achieve that.
“This is the right thing to do in terms of making sure we know our customers, what’s going on behind their door and also making sure our properties are in the condition they need to be in.”
Craig added that Neighbourhood Teams would have lots of positives for customers and colleagues. He said: “Customers will get to know their Neighbourhood Team and who’s in it.
“We recognise that we’re a geographically spread out organisation and making sure we’ve got that communication and that connection to our customers is important.
“We really want to get back to that connectivity with our customers and their neighbourhoods. Our colleagues will also have a clear idea of who does what and who to speak to about different issues.
“Ultimately, it’ll create a quicker, more efficient process for colleagues as they’ll know who they need to speak to, and they’ll be able to get in touch with them pretty much instantaneously.”
We’ll bring you more information in a future edition about the searchable function on our website, as well as the full make-up of the Neighbourhood Teams.