Menu of Involvement
Resident involvement is already making a difference and helping to improve services in the ways that tenants want to see. We need your help to improve them even further, so get involved. Just click on the relevant box to find out more about getting involved.
Lighter Bites
There are some really informal ways of getting involved, which take minimal time and some can be done from the comfort of your own home.
| Time Involved | ||
Receiving InformationReceive information about Derwentside Homes by post, read it and find out what is happening and maybe you will want to find out more. |
Minimal | |
SurveysTake part in telephone surveys, respond to postal surveys or talk to our teams carrying out door-to-door surveys to give your views about the services you receive. |
15 minutes every 2 months | |
Neighbourhood VoiceIf there isn’t a resident association in your area, become a neighbourhood voice and tell us about the issues that concern or affect you.
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Approximately 2 hours, 4 times a year to meet with Officers from Derwentside Homes | |
Virtual Information Panel (VIP)
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Approximately 15 minutes once a month | More Information |
ConsultationsGive us your views in consultations through local events or roadshows. |
4 times a year | |
MembershipBecoming a Member of Derwentside Homes will enable you to vote on important matters facing your homes and housing service at Derwentside Homes’ Annual General Meeting and you will also be sent a copy of the corporate accountsevery year. |
2 hours on an annual basis | More Information |
Main Courses
There are more formal ways that you can get involved in shaping and developing services but these do require a more significant time commitment
| Time Involved | ||
Customer PanelsGet involved by looking at new developments and improvements across the full range of services that we provide. |
Two hours a month | More Information |
BoardDerwentside Homes has a Board of Management, which includes five tenant members. They are the ultimate decision-making body for the organisation. Tenants on the Board play a big part in making major decisions about the long-term future of the company, ensuring that promises made to tenants are delivered. |
On average 3 hours every 6 weeks plus training and other committee meetings | More Information |
SoWat? GroupHelp us to improve the look of estates, monitor contracts and service standards. You take on the role of Inspector or mystery shopper and tell us what you think about the quality of services provided. Go out on our regular estate inspections to tell us what needs to be improved in your local area. |
Two hours a month | More Information |
Resident AssociationsJoin a residents’ association in your local area. There are 20 resident associations across Derwentside which you could join or we are always happy to support new groups. |
Depends on the Association and how much you get involved but is approximately one hour a month | More Information |
Tenants ForumThe eyes and ears of the tenants, the forum is open to all tenants and exists to give tenants the opportunity to get involved in reviewing our services. |
Meets every month for 2 hours | More Information |
Scrutiny PanelIf you have an interest in Derwentside Homes and the service it delivers and are looking for an opportunity to get involved and learn new skills then the Scrutiny Panel will give you the opportunity to work with us at a strategic level to make the service improvements that customers want. This is a role where you can really make a difference and get involved within the company, scrutinising all aspects of the company such as customer service, repairs and anti-social behaviour, and not just a quick look, it’s an in-depth scrutiny of all that is involved within the services we provide. |
On average three hours per month | More Information |
Desert
Our final course gives you the opportunity to learn new skills and increase your knowledge of housing and related issues. It’s not a method of involvement as such but training may give you a taste for getting more involved.
| Time Involved | |
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Depends on the course |
| The information on these pages is available in print or to download in our Menu of Involvement |  |
