How can I get involved

At Seven Locks Housing customer involvement is at the heart of all we do. By providing practical help, support and training we actively encourage our customers to get involved in helping us to shape, develop and improve our services.

We recognise that the best way to give our customers the services that they want is to ensure that they all have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the services that we deliver.

Click here to see our customer involvement and empowerment strategy

Our menu of opportunities for involvement has been developed to suit the differing levels of commitment that our customers can make. So no matter what your lifestyle, interests, work pattern or family commitment we will make sure that we can provide you with an opportunity to get involved.

Click here to see our current involvement options and details of the time commitment and the training we offer

Do you want to find out more about the kind of activities SLH customers can get involved?

Click here for useful links to other relevant websites

Would you like to see what Seven Locks Housing have been doing out in the community?

Click here for the photo gallery

If you want to know more about the options for involvement and how you can get involved? Contact Seven Locks Housing’s customer involvement officer Tracey silk on 01858 414519 or mobile 07527 385121 or email tracey.silk@sevenlockshousing.co.uk

Explaining your customer involvement options

Option	Commitment	Training	Location
Board training This is for prospective Seven Locks Housing Board Members. After successful completion of the course you would have the opportunity to stand for vacant tenant board member positions. A nomination and election process would take place and only tenants who have successfully completed the Social Housing Governance Award can be nominated for a vacancy.	The 24 hours of study to cover the course content can be delivered as six sessions of four hours.	Tenants who are interested in becoming a board member are offered a place on the Social Housing Governance Award programme. This is a university accredited professional qualification. Assessment is on the basis of a portfolio of work compiled during the course. People who complete the training are awarded a Certificate in Social Housing Governance, which is a nationally recognised qualification worth 30 credits at level 4.	The delivery options are very flexible. It can be delivered locally
Becoming a board member The Board works with the Executive team to direct the company in accordance with its rules and objectives on behalf of tenants, employees and the community. It sets the values of the organisation and makes the policy and strategy decisions that are behind the day to day work of the organisation. The Board monitors the performance of the organisation, and managers are accountable to the Board for the day to day running of Seven Locks. The Board is made up of representatives of Seven Locks tenants, the District Authority and of independent members who bring particular knowledge and skills to the company.	People usually become board members because they interested in the management and development of the company, they wish to influence the strategic direction of the company, they want to contribute to their community or they have a commitment to the provision of affordable housing All Board members work on an unpaid voluntary basis	After the initial training for the Social Housing Governance Award, Seven Locks Housing provides Board members with ongoing, training, development and support.	Board meetings are held at the Seven Locks Housing office at Anson House in market Harborough
Customer panels Customers are invited to tell us which areas of our service they are interested in. E.g. repairs service. This helps us to target our consultation with customers who have a special interest in the specific area.	No regular meetings and customers Can choose how they wish to be consulted; by phone, email, letter etc.	Although no training is necessary, all of our customers are welcome to attend any training session detailed on our Annual Training Plan which will be developed and publicised	From Home
Mystery shopping Mystery shopping is an excellent way of testing the services that landlords provide to their customers and enables them to identify areas for continuous improvement. Seven Locks housing will use tenants to carry out this exercise to ensure that services meet the needs of the actual users of those services. We will be taking part in the Derbyshire tenants network mystery shopping project which delivers Mystery Shopping throughout the East Midlands. Our customers will test the services of other landlords in the East Midlands and their customers will test ours.	A small amount of spare time is required to take part. After the initial training you will not need to attend regular meetings.	You will be required to take part in a half day training session. No special skills are needed. The training will cover: What is Mystery Shopping? Why do we need Mystery Shopping? The Mystery Shopping Process What Mystery Shopping achieves and who benefits	The Mystery Shopping will be carried out by telephone or email from your home. (phone costs reimbursed) There may also be visits to Landlord’s offices
Void inspections Tenant Void Inspectors inspect a sample of empty properties to ensure that they meet the SLH Lettable Standard. SLH have a pool of inspectors to call on.	You would be required to attend up to 10 inspections per year. You could expect a day’s notice. Each inspection would take about an hour.	You would receive a short training session to familiarise you with the Lettable Standard. You would also have training on filling in the Inspection forms.	The inspections could be anywhere is the Harborough District Your own transport is desirable but we can help if necessary
Corporate newsletter editorial panel We welcome ideas and articles from all customers	About 1-2 editorial meeting per month lasting 2 hours each All customers need to bring ideas for articles and facts and information to the meetings Group members are required to prepare for meetings by reading minutes and agendas	We work closely with specialist communication consultants who can provide advice about article production	Held at Anson House in Market Harborough
One off consultation meeting	These are arranged as and when Seven Locks want customer input about a specific issue However, Customers who have an issue can contact SLH to arrange a consultation meeting if they have a specific issue that they wish to discuss	Not required	Will be held at the most appropriate venue
Annual tenants conference	One day All customers are invited to attend. Will include a variety of Workshops to address specific issues		To be arranged
Focus groups To look at specific issues which affect our customers	Up to 6 meetings per year	Not required	Will be held at the most appropriate location