To view this newsletter online, visit EBHT.ORG.UK click Staff Login and follow the link
November 2023 Starters and Leavers Christmas meal £40 for you! Christmas opening times Aster Group Strategic Priorities Customer Service is our priority Perkbox Festive Discounts Wellbeing and Learn December
EAST BORO
As we move into December
it’s all about Christmas!!! www.ebht.org.uk PA R T O F
East Boro Housing Trust is a Charitable Registered Society under the Co operative and Community Benefits Societies Act 2014 No. 16946R
news Welcome & Farewell Starters No starters Leavers Hilary Bourke Support Worker SL (West)
2024 /2025
Aster Group Strategic Priorities
We would like to share with all Colleagues the now priority aims of the Group for the 2024/2025 year. There are six priorities which focus on services and standards for our customers, delivery of more homes, and the transformation plan for the Enham Trust. The priorities (in no particular order) are:
•
Transform maintenance service
•
Invest in our homes/set an Aster standard
•
Improve customer experience/tailor services to local needs
I’m always happy to include your birthdays, anniversaries, births and good news stories.
•
Deliver a range of tenures with 80% affordable homes
•
If you would like to contribute to YOUR staff newsletter in any way please contact me, sue.hole@aster.co.uk
Transform Enham to create a vibrant and sustainable community
•
Enable customers to influence and shape service delivery.
East Boro staff newsletter
The season of giving... and receiving A reminder that should individuals, teams or offices receive any gifts from tenants, tenant’s relatives, contractors, suppliers or any other third parties, please can you advise me of the following information for each item so that it can be recorded in the Gifts and Hospitality register. Information to be supplied: Date received. Who the gift was from and what their relationship is to the Trust, e.g. tenant’s full name and address. Name and job title of recipient or team. Description of item. Estimated value.
Thankyou from East Boro This year East Boro has increased your Christmas meal contribution to £40 per person. Colleagues can organise your own events with a minimum of two or more colleagues at whatever venue you choose. Events must be held between 1 December 2023 and 21 January 2024 and receipts must be submitted to Cara Lewis by the cut off date of 22 January 2024. Any receipts received after that date will not be accepted.
1
Cara Lewis
Support Services Manager & Executive Assistant to Chief Executive
Office Opening Times Christmas and New Year Monday 25 December (Bank Holiday) Closed Tuesday 26 December (Bank Holiday) Closed Wednesday 27 December 9am to 5pm Thursday 28 December 9am to 5pm Friday 29 December 9am to 5pm Monday 1 January 2024 (Bank Holiday) Closed Tuesday 2 January 9am to 5pm
news
Good Customer Service at the heart of East Boro Good two-way communication always helps to ensure that our tenants expectations are met even if on occasion we are not able to provide what was originally asked for. As colleagues everything we do each day needs to focus on customer service. We must meet customer expectations and minimise the need for the customer to feel that their only option is to submit a formal complaint. Please see below, the Government’s “Make Things Right “ Campaign. It demonstrates the amount of money, advertising and approach to be applied in promoting tenants who are not satisfied with their home and landlords services to complain to the landlord and then to the ombudsman.
Key Points of the ‘Make Things Right’ Campaign: On October 9 2023, the UK government officially launched the ‘Make Things Right’ campaign, encouraging tenants in social housing to take action to improve their living conditions. Social housing residents are strongly encouraged to report any issues or make complaints regarding hazardous conditions in their homes. This campaign marks the next phase of an England-wide advertising effort The government’s objective is to empower tenants to challenge unacceptable living conditions and notify their landlords when issues arise. The campaign is designed to inform tenants of their rights and emphasize the importance of escalating complaints to the Housing Ombudsman if concerns are not resolved swiftly and appropriately With a budget of £2 million, the ‘Make Things Right’ campaign includes advertising across radio and social media channels to ensure widespread awareness. The campaign also highlights the responsibility of landlords to take action when complaints are made. Support will be available to landlords to assist them in supporting their residents effectively This campaign follows a revelation that 10% of social homes failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard last year. This is a clear call to action for landlords to provide safe and decent homes for their residents. Housing Secretary, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP said: “Social landlords who fail their residents time and time again must be held to account.”
2
•
Aster Group complaints are up 25.4%
•
One in four progresses to phase 2
•
86% progress to compliance.
•
The majority of complaints are regarding maintenance and repairs.
news
Wellbeing and Learn for December 2023
what’s on
Book early to secure your place
EEandOL @ aster.co.uk
Date
Time
04/12/2023
14:00-16:00
Introduction to Mental Health
05/12/2023
11:00-13:00
Keeping colleagues well - managing sickness absence
05/12/2023
14:30-15:30
Beating Imposter Syndrome with seven easy steps
13/12/2023
10:00-12:00
Introduction to Mental Health
21/12/2023
08:00-10:00
Increasing Emotional Resilience
What’s on
Book early to secure your place
EEandOL @ aster.co.uk
3
05/12/2023
13:30-14:30
Getting ready to build performance
06/12/2023
09:30-13:30
Introduction to restorative practice
06/12/2023
10:00-12:00
Anti - Racism session
07/12/2023
09:30-13:00
Aster Welcome Day
12/12/2023
14:00-15:00
Home contents insurance
13/12/2023
09:30-12:00
Coaching as a leadership style session
13/12/2023
10:00-12:00
Introduction to Social Housing
13/12/2023
10:00-12:00
Managing poor performance
13/12/2023
14:00-15:30
Aster’s money advice tool webinar
14/12/2023
10:00-13:00
Introduction to Customer Service
news
Don’t miss out on your Perkbox Christmas discounts The home of Aster’s discounts, recognition and wellness hub, Perkbox, is where you will find your flexi points. Every month you have been allocated flexi points into your Perkbox wallet to spend on a range of perks at no cost to you. I’m sure many of you have saved them up over a number of months for perks that cost that little bit more. Feedback from the colleague survey told us that not all colleagues valued the free perks provided by Perkbox, such as the Café Nero and cinema vouchers. We hope that the replacement of predefined free perks with the flexi points will give you greater choice, so you can pick the things that mean the most to you, especially at Christmas and in the January sales. Christmas can be an expensive time of year, from the presents to the Christmas dinner. Top money saving tip: always check Perkbox before making a purchase – no matter how big or small. Whether you’re looking to save on that big Christmas shop, a gift for someone special or a festive meal out there are savings available for you. It has been noted that some East Boro colleagues have had a problem accessing their perks so we are repeating the steps required to do so. You will need to access Perkbox via
https://aster.perkbox.com/ and enter your username and password to log in, or use the Perkbox app and enter the domain name: Aster. The FAQs are on the East Boro staff intranet on the Perkbox page. If you have any questions after reviewing the FAQs or need further assistance, please contact
reward@aster.co.uk.
Wellbeing Keep learning. Keep growing.
1:1 video therapy
Chat therapy
Wellbeing courses
Guided meditations
The festive season can be a testing time for many due to financial pressures, social pressures and family politics. Explore a wide range of therapist-led online courses for various aspects of life. Access through MS Teams.
4
Plumm app is now available on iPads and tablets!