Ongoing Consultation 2010



You may remember all the activity prior to the board meeting in September 2009 when we conducted surveys, drop in sessions and focus groups to get your views on the shape of the new service.

It may seem that things have gone a bit quiet since then but that’s not the case. We have been working on the Communication and Involvement plan from March to July 2010, and this was submitted to the YHN Board for approval on 13 July 2010.  This plan sets out how we intend to get your views on changes and keep people informed of progress in as many ways as possible. This will include:

  • internet updates
  • paper documents
  • focus groups of customers and staff
  • surveys when needed
  • as much personal contact with residents’ groups as can be achieved.

This plan was drawn up with the help of the Newcastle Tenants’ Federation. Newcastle Tenants' Federation has also assisted by arranging a separate group of YHN customers to consult on service review plans and feedback to their own tenants and residents associations. Also, a number of key staff groups within YHN whose services would be affected by the changes will be represented as part of the working group for the same reasons.

The first stage is finding out what services customers would want from us, in addition to the services we already provide. We have a number of ideas from the Newcastle Tenants’ Federation, and staff suggestions will be gathered via focus groups during September 2010.

Work is also progressing well around drafting a specification for the control room (locations are yet to be decided). A report was submitted to YHN Management Team outlining a complex list of items and control room functions that may be need to be included in the control room specification based on necessity and cost balance. Management Team then approved a list of what elements were essential and this is now being used to form the specification to enable companies to tender in due course.

In addition, other YHN teams are busy working with their elements of the review. These involve

  • Technical and Maintenance - who would be responsible for any repairs after the first year
  • IT - who need to make sure that all the systems are capable of linking together
  • Human Resources - who will assist in making a smooth transition for the staff who may be affected.

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For more information

We will continue to provide updates via the website, but if you would like any further details or to pass on a comment please feel free to contact Dominic Connor, Concierge Service Co-ordinator, on 0191 278 8688 or email dominic.connor@yhn.org.uk