Strengthening and involving customers and communities
Origin's work has a pressing social dimension. We are working with people to build social cohesion and develop a real sense of community.
Our expanding Community Development team (see www.sph.org.uk) is working with tenants associations and other resident groups to develop locally agreed action plans, so customers can identify what matters to them and their neighbourhood.
Our award winning youth services team is working with young people to develop valuable skills for the workplace and do activities not possible in their neighbourhoods.
The Care & Support team of member SPH Housing is busy engaging service users and tenants to ensure they are involved in decisions affecting their lives, such as involvement in recruitment of our staff, and area tenant groups to discuss wider issues of policy, procedures etc.
Older residents are also encouraged to play a more active role in the management of their retirement housing, through scheme and area panels.
Our floating support services with partner local authorities gives greater independence and confidence to tenants with learning disabilities, mental health problems or other support needs, encouraging them to stay longer in their homes.
Care & repair services also sustain independence by identifying funds and carrying out essential adaptations and repairs for older or disabled residents in Camden and Islington.
Diversity
We have a robust equal opportunities and diversity policy, which we expect our staff, board members and partners to adopt and promote.
We are also working to promote social cohesion amongst different racial, ethnic and religious groups by working with peole to address issues of racism, by providing services thatare tailored to customers cultural and religious needs and by ensuring equal access to our services is possible to a diverse range of customers.
Dignity and independence is promoted amongst all customers, but especially ouru retirement and supported housing tenants and service users. We are working with younger and older people to build bridges across the generations, which has already cultivated better understanding in Ashton Court, Camden and Blakeney House in Stevenage.
But we also develop workplace and organising skills with younger people to ensure they are recognised by others - and themselves - as valuable members of the community. Activities include forums, sports projects and youth work.
Involvement
Origin Group and its members are committed to involving tenants, residents and other customers to:
- Develop individual and group skills and participation
- Improve local areas and influence how it is run
- Influence how SPH Housing is run
Activities include:
- Tenant Advisory Panels and forums
- Local groups and opportunities
- Recruitment of SPH Housing staff
- Neighbourhood newsletters
- Mystery shoppers
- Tenant drop-ins
- Tenant / Service User Surveys
- Feedback Questionnaires and Exit Interviews
- Annual Service User visits
Photo caption
Older retirement housing tenants at Blakeney House, Stevenage and young local residents came together as part of a gardening project. This is part of a wider drive to cultivate better relations between generations in the community.