How can I get involved

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

This is a voluntary role which involves looking very closely at our services and then questioning, listening, analysing the information about our services before producing a report of the groups findings for our Board.

Full support is provided by an independent advisor and by SLH staff.

You will need to be available for a minimum of 6 meetings per year which each last for 2.5 hours.

Meetings are currently held in the mornings but they can be moved to evenings if there is enough interest from our working customers.

There may be additional informal meetings to carry out research.

All members of the panel will be offered free accredited training to help them to understand and take on the role of a Resident Scrutiny panel member.

There are also many other opportunities for free training that will improve your skills and if you are currently a job seeker, your job prospects.

Market Harborough

We will provide free transport or pay a mileage allowance if you have your own transport.

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 have been using tenants to carry out this exercise to ensure that services meet the needs of the actual users of those services.

We have been taking part in The Mystery Shopping Partnership which delivers Mystery Shopping in the South Leicestershire and Northampton area.

Our customers test the services of the other landlords in the partnership and their customers 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 full days training session.

No special skills are needed.

The training will cover:

• What is Mystery Shopping?
• Why do we use Mystery Shopping?
• What does a Mystery Shopper do?
• What Mystery Shopping achieves and who it benefits

The Mystery Shopping will be carried out by telephone, letter or email from your home.

(your phone costs are 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

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 Event

One day

Will include a variety of displays and information

Will include consultations and customer feedback

May include workshops to address specific issues

To be arranged