Cosmopolitan Housing Association : Getting involved : Statement of intent

Cosmopolitan Housing Association : UK registered social landlord

Getting involved : Statement of intent

INTRODUCTION
This statement describes how Cosmopolitan will encourage and diversify resident involvement throughout the organisation. It outlines our aims, the opportunities for involvement, summary of our achievements and the priorities in terms of actions for 2006 / 2007.

The Statement has been written and agreed by Board members, staff employees’ resident members of Cosmopolitan’s Forum and individual residents. It reflects the direction and belief of the Association in informing and involving residents in our decision making, and performance.

We use the terms ‘resident’ to describe anyone living in one of our homes or receiving one of our services: this includes tenants, leaseholders and shared owners.

Cosmopolitan will review this statement each year in partnership with our residents to make sure it continues to be meaningful and to ensure that we are meeting our priorities.

AIMS OF THE STATEMENT
To provide a clear and explicit account of the achievements that resident involvement has brought over the past year and to demonstrate the positiveimpact that our resident involvement work is having on the people and communities we serve.

To state our intentions for the forthcoming year in terms of resident involvement as set out in our resident involvement strategy.

To provide a framework for monitoring the impact of our approach to resident involvement.

WHY WE NEED RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT
The Association believes that resident involvement should be at the centre of everything we do and we want to develop a culture of involvement that underpins all of our work. This enables us to support communities and strive for excellence.

This approach will help us achieve our vision to deliver high quality, sustainable housing and services in the neighbourhoods we operate in.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT
To ensure we can involve as many of our residents as possible, we provide a broad range of opportunities for residents to comment, influence and participate in ways that are suitable for all. The opportunities are:

The Forum	Repairs and Maintenance
Focus groups	Rent arrears
Resident groups or associations	Service charges
Surveys and questionnaires	Anti – social - behaviour
Residents’ Day	Resident Involvement
Area inspections	Allocating of properties
Estate surgeries	Customer service
Mystery shopping	Equality and Diversity issues
Board of Management	The development of new housing
	Leaseholders
	Complaints

SUMMARY OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2005/06

Re-structure of the Housing Services Department to provide more responsive services, following consultation and feedback from our residents
Launch of a Responsive Repairs Charter which outlines the responsibilities of all parties in the delivery of a quality repair service
Introduction of a range of involvement choices for residents designed to increase participation with the Association
Development of a database of residents to aid the valuation and monitoring of involvement choices
Provided resident involvement training for staff, residents and Board members in order to demonstrate the positive impact of involvement
Established measurable targets and aims for staff to deliver effective resident involvement in the form of a Delivery Plan.
Introduced opportunities for black and minority ethnic groups to have equal participation in resident involvement
Assessment and review of the 2005/06 Resident Involvement Statement

ACTION PLAN FOR 2006/07

Introduce a system for measuring, monitoring and benchmarking outcomes for resident involvement
Develop a system for tracking the costs of resident involvement and measuring value for money
Provide and deliver ongoing resident involvement training for staff, residents and Board members
Establish additional mechanisms to increase the opportunities for resident involvement with black and minority ethnic groups
Review the Resident Involvement Statement for 2007/08
Review of Allocations & Lettings Policy, Void Policy, and Planned/Cyclical Maintenance Policy

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