Tenants at the Heart of ng homes Services

A GROUP of tenants are ensuring their landlord ng homes delivers the best possible services to its customers and also highlighting where improvements need to be made.

Tenants Scrutiny Panels are made up of tenants whose aim is to have greater transparency in how Housing Associations operate and to help put tenants at the heart of the organisation. The panel look in detail at the housing services that ng homes deliver to all tenants and they give an independent view of how they perform and how its processes work. This group remains distinct from existing Focus Groups.

ng homes Assistant Director of Housing Operations, Lynne Cooper said: “The members highlight what we as a housing association are doing well and also what we need to improve on.The Panel meet regularly and so far they have been focussing on Central Springburn in terms of estate management but all areas of North Glasgow will benefit from their work.

Working in partnership with the Tenant Participation Advisory Service Scotland (TPAS Scotland) the Panel point out what is good and what could be improved upon in North Glasgow.Colin Cassie, from TPAS Scotland who has been working with the panel said: “At last year's tenants' conference we talked about opportunities for tenants to work with ng homes to scrutinise and assess services.  The estate walkabout is the first step in doing that.  It will lead to the setting of new service standards that tenants can be involved in measuring.  But importantly, it focusses on issues that tenants have told us matter most to them."

Vice-Chairperson of ng homes Bill Rossine, a local tenant and a member of the panel said: “Those on the panel have a genuine interest in assisting ng homes to improve its services to customers and it’s a great opportunity to have your say on the services that we provide.”

To be an effective member of the panel, tenants should have the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Members should be able to understand and analyse reports and information and have good verbal, written and IT skills. Members should be able to express views clearly in meetings and be objective and able to challenge constructively whilst respecting others views. Members of the panel will receive appropriate training.

Springburn resident Cathy Paxton said: “In return for your commitment you get the chance to learn new skills and to be part of shaping the future of services provided by ng homes.”

For more information on ng homes and its services: visit the Association’s Website www.nghomes.net Telephone 0141 560 6000 or email info@nghomes.net

TPAS Scotland is the national tenant and landlord participation advisory service for Scotland. More information can be found on the TPAS Website www.tpasscotland.org.uk