Be Involved
April 2015
Wednesday 8 April 2015 – TSG
Organised by: Anna de Souza, Resident Involvement Manager
What was it about? I Regular meeting of the group
What happened?
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The group welcomed two new elected members, Amir Vata and Vaniche Sweeney who
were warmly received by members.
Jide Ogunro, Employment and Training Advisor, provided the group with a presentation
highlighting the aims of the Employment and Training programme, key achievements to
date, and how they could support residents back into work and provide further training to
upskill residents.
TSG members provided suggestions regarding how to promote the project by publicising
the service in the newsletter, attaching a flyer to rent statements, ensuring posters went
out on noticeboards and by attending resident events.
Jacky Eimermann, Planning and Procurement Manager, presented the cyclical works
programme to the group advising that Octavia aims to survey and carry out cyclical works
to all properties once every seven years. Jacky ran through key achievements over the
year and what Octavia has been doing to make properties more energy efficient during the
process including the possibility of draught proofing windows and installing loft insulation.
Elizabeth Rowland, Neighbourhood Manager provided the group with an update on new
ASB legal remedies ranging from civil injunctions and closure powers to the community
remedy and community trigger.
Residents had queries regarding injunctions and why they were not used more often.
Residents were advised that civil remedies such as mediation would be explored in the
first instance and a case would require a lot of evidence and multi-agency intervention for
an injunction to be granted.
The group were provided with an update on residents completed actions following the TSG
AGM in September 2014.
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Tuesday 14 April 2015 - Illumina House Drop In Surgery
Organised by: Daoud Hussain, Neighbourhood Officer
What was it about? I Resident involvement exercise
What happened?
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Daoud Hussain, Neighbourhood Officer, Hilary Prescod, Estate Services Officer, George
Rutherford, Senior Surveyor (pictured below) and Anna de Souza, Resident Involvement
Manager held a drop in surgery at one of the new developments, Illumina House in
Wandsworth.
The drop in surgery, using a more informal involvement approach, proved successful and
staff were able to speak to over half of the block, by speaking to residents in the communal
entrance.
George visited residents in their home to assess their repairs matters and Hilary updated
residents regarding use of the communal bin store which is currently being shared with the
adjoining private block.
The surgery was a good example of meeting residents in their local space to address
individual and communal concerns effectively.
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Monday 27 April 2015 - Cochrane Street Resident Drop In
Organised by: Enrica Anzaldo, Resident Liaison Officer
What was it about? I Resident Surgery
What happened?
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Mears and Octavia held a drop in surgery with residents to speak to them about the
upcoming cyclical decorations and windows repairs works.
Joe Byrne, Project Manager explained that certain replacements could not be justified due
to the condition of the existing windows. Octavia and Mears staff reassured residents that
the refurbishment of the windows would help with draught and opening issues.
The works have since been put on hold due to a resident petition received on Friday 1st
May.
Wednesday 29 April 2015 - Southwark Residents Meeting
Organised by: Carla Nhariwa, Neighbourhood Officer
What was it about? I Resident Meeting
What happened?
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Carla Nhariwa, Neighbourhood Officer, Mark Tinsley, Senior Surveyor, Pat O’Brien,
Caretaker and Anna de Souza, Resident Involvement Manager attended a resident
meeting covering the Southwark patch held at Charles Dickins School.
Mark Tinsley made a number of follow up appointments to visit residents at their home.
Anna de Souza publicised the forthcoming Your Space resident fun day and also
encouraged residents to bring any old Octavia related photos of their building or of
memories of growing up to Your Space in honour of the 150th anniversary book.
Thursday 30 April 2015 – SSP
Organised by: Quentina Layne, Administration/PA Officer
What was it about? I Quarterly meeting of the group
What happened?
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Anna de Souza, Resident Involvement Manager provided an update on the draft Resident
Involvement Strategy, 2015/18. Anna ran through some of the successes and challenges
of the current resident involvement structure and then, using the findings from resident
and staff consultation, proposed some new ideas to get more residents involved.
In terms of developing the strategy some news ideas included more face to face contact,
offering flexible involvement options, using digital technology and using a more informal
style of engagement at local events. The group liked the idea of valuing and investing in
residents by providing training. The strategy will be presented to Directors in June and the
Board in July.
The group received an update from Annie Lathaen, Board Member, regarding the SSP
communicating with residents in blocks project including the outcomes of several door
knocking exercises and an extensive survey monkey consultation with residents.
In terms of what Octavia could do to improve communications, residents wanted a prompt
response, more texts and more responses via emails and personal contact as opposed to
impersonal letters. Scheme meetings, better use of notice boards, updates on who to
contact and contact details and information about service charges were other popular
suggestions.
Further resident consultation is being carried out at Crossways and then the SSP subgroup
will present their findings of the project along with their recommendations to the group.
Maeve MacAvock, Director of Housing and Care introduced a report setting out the
methodology and timetable for a review on the current approach to scrutiny. The Chair,
James Dean, resident SSP member Keith Usher, David Wickersham, and Annie Lathaen
agreed to form a sub-group to take the review forward.
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Kam Chung, Head of Service Development presented the group with the draft Customer
Insight and Impact strategy. Group members noted the overall approach to the strategy
which involves gaining feedback from residents by carrying out quality checks, conducting
research and using the findings effectively to improve the service.
And what’s been happening across our care schemes in April?
Breakfast at the Ritz (Miranda House)
Organised by: Miranda House Staff
What was it about? I Resident engagement exercise
What happened?
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Miranda House held a breakfast event in the communal areas. The Miranda House
residents contributed to the breakfast with some bringing bacon, eggs, sausages, hash
brown, mushroom, tomatoes, porridge, orange juice and a selection of fruits.
It was a good way for residents to enjoy a morning together and they all enjoyed this
banquet. Indeed one resident, Mary Harman said “it was like eating breakfast in a 5 star
hotel”.
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Leonora House Easter Party
Organised by: Leonora House Staff
What was it about? I Resident engagement exercise
What happened?
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Leonora House staff held an Easter party for residents as an opportunity to socialise with
one another and enjoy some food and entertainment during the Easter weekend.
Leonora House was decorated to celebrate Easter in style.
Residents enjoyed the opportunity to eat some tasty food and listen to some good music
too!
Easter celebrations: Rah Rah Theatre Group
Organised by: KDC & JHH staff
What was it about? I Theatre Performance and Meal
What happened?
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JHH residents enjoyed a ‘Rock around the clock’, theatre performance by the Rah Rah
theatre company. This was kindly funded by the ‘Friends of the KDC’.
Rock Around The Clock is a musical comedy and a love story, set in the 50’s and
containing all the popular tune of that time. The show has been devised to whisk audiences
back to this memorable era, allowing them to participate and reminisce.
Residents actively participated in the love story, helping the heroine reach her true love
while convincing the father they should be together and even singing and dancing to the
popular music of the 50’s. This was followed by a sumptuous meal and a raffle.
JHH General Meeting
Organised by: JHH Staff
What was it about? I First general meeting
What happened?
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James Hill House held its first annual general meeting this month. The meeting was
organised to give residents and their family members an opportunity to find out about
developments in the schemes and wider development in the sector.
The meeting was attended by families of the residents, care staff and RBKC Adult social
services.
There was a presentation by the Adult Social Services team on the new Care Act which
came into effect from 1 April 2015, which represents the most significant reform of care
and support in more than 60 years, putting people and their carers in control of their care
and support.
There was presentation by Octavia staff including Mohammed Gbadamosi, Scheme
Manager (pictured above) on the plans for how the scheme and service will be enhanced
and improved. The session ended with consultation on the scheduled cyclical works which
will be carried out later this year.
It is expected that JHH will hold one of these open general meeting once a year in addition
to their monthly resident meetings.
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So what next…?
Future activities:
Wednesday 6 May 2015
SSP Door knocking: Crossways
Anna de Souza, Resident Involvement Manager
T 020 8354 5674 E [email protected]
Tuesday 12 May 2015
Peel House Resident Association AGM
Peel House Resident Association Committee
T 020 8354 5674 E [email protected]
Tuesday 19 May 2015
Repairs Focus Group
Anna de Souza, Resident Involvement Manager
T 020 8354 5674 E [email protected]
Tuesday 2 June 2015
ASB and ND Panel
Elizabeth Rowland, Neighbourhood Manager
T 020 8354 5627 E [email protected]
Wednesday 3 June 2015
Walkabout Wednesday
Lavern Ebanks, Customer Services and Lettings Manager
T 020 8354 5645 E [email protected]
Saturday 13 June 2015
Your Space
Anna de Souza, Resident Involvement Manager
T 020 8354 5674 E [email protected]
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