EBuzz - April 2017

April 2017

John’s Briefing Pop-up Business school Medina Building Services Family Tree Ray's Gardening Tips AND MUCH MORE!

REMEMBER...

EBuzz is put together following John’s briefings every other month. This is your newsletter and it would be great to hear some of your stories!

If you have anything you want to share, please get in touch with Louise Davies via In House, 01495 761104 or email: louise.davies@ monmouthshirehousing.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you and hope you enjoy this edition.

John’s Briefing Rent Bug

Cally and Alison reminded staff of the rent first culture that the ‘Rent Bug’ campaign is representing, which starts within the organisation on the 4th April. It is so that we are able to identify and help tenants, particularly those who we struggle to have contact with.

There are posters up around the building with key facts ready for the ‘Catch the Bug’ quiz next week – the more correct answers, the more raffle tickets, the better the chances of winning a prize!

Data Protection Week

Mared explained that next week there will be posters, quizzes, blogs, hints and tips all in relation to data protection. Each member of staff has been asked to spend half a day within the next week deleting old emails, old documents etc. to ensure that we are complying with data protection legislation and holding data correctly.

At the end of the week all staff will be asked to sign a Data Protection Pledge.

Mared highlighted in particular the number of stored emails on our system, many dating back years that

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could be deleted. All staff were urged to delete emails in their deleted and sent folders to reduce this occurrence and risk.

Communal Cleaning Service

Lauren explained that after consulting with tenants and leaseholders, we have successfully appointed a cleaning company (Crystal) for scheduled cleaning of communal areas to commence in April. Lauren explained the different charges depending on the frequency of cleaning and the number of people within the block, but stated that it would be no more than £2.50 per week per tenancy.

Before and after photos will shortly be published on In House. The hope is that by improving tenants’ perception of their environment, we can start to change their behaviours and improve their aspirations and maintain a good image of MHA properties. Currently Crystal are engaged in completing a deep clean of all the blocks which will not be charged to tenants before the service gets underway, the results are very encouraging to date.

Health and Safety

Mary explained that the main doors will be fixed by Monday and the works are still ongoing with the bollards, as well as a brief update in relation to PVs. There are another 20 scheduled to be installed over the next year.

Integrated BS 18001, ISO 14001 and Quality successfully achieved with a minor number of observations.

Summary from the assessor was that over the past 2 years they have seen good progression. Sue thanked all staff for complying with the policies in place. Sue informed staff that a new Health and Safety Standard has been introduced that we have achieved a year early!

Civica Update

Clayton explained that work is still underway for the new Civica system.

The new release last week resolved 32 out of 80+ queries. MHA staff are now working with the developers to resolve the outstanding issues and confirm a timetable for completion, but without deterring from the requirements of the end user, ensuring a better and more flexible system than the one we currently use. John

reminded staff that although picking Civica as an early adopter was always a risk we felt it was right on balance, as they also gave a commitment to develop a web enabled repairs system as well that would link to our housing management and asset management systems and this had proven to be very tempting. All going well we would seek to go live at beginning of October this year but have been disappointed before and we're saying this as much in hope as expectation.

Customer Excellence Accreditation

Lorna thanked all staff involved in the submission. We had a new assessor this year who had indicated early on that we would struggle to maintain the compliance pluses that we previously achieved, indicating that there was a strong likelihood that we would have some demoted to standard compliances. However, happy to report that we have actually maintained all compliance pluses, including an extra one! This is the most compliance pluses they have awarded to date! Confirmation from G4S to be received over the next week and will be emailed around to staff as well as any comments from the assessor.

(As a matter of interest we had 23 compliance pluses out of a possible 57, so a remarkable score – well done everyone!)

Most recent Board Meeting

• Corporate Plan agreed.

• Extensive development programme approved for the next year with an approximate spend of £16.5m.

• VAT shelter due to expire soon. John explained that as the properties were initially owned by the council they have been excluded from VAT on works that should have been completed then. This will soon expire, however there is an argument that there are still works that need to be done so discussions with HMRC around extending the VAT shelter are underway. In the meantime, to mitigate the risk of this not being extended, the work to planned programme has been

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doubled for completion before end of January 2018 when the VAT would start to be added on.

Board keen to ensure that money spent is VFM. Lettings, demolishing of Oakley Way were examples given of how we have used the information we hold, consulted with tenants to ensure that we are spending money where we need to and this in turn is improving satisfaction levels and reducing costs elsewhere in the business.

Capsel have been busy selling and buying properties. John pleased to report that we are currently buying approximately 2.5 properties for every 1 that we sell.

New Housing Development policy agreed at Board. The aim is for one Asset Management policy with three arms: 1. Increasing supply 2. Maintaining properties 3. Maximizing performance – either by redesigning, demolishing / selling or by refurbishing Board outcome presented this quarter was ‘people’. Our tenant surveys, the staff survey etc. all form part of evidencing how we have achieved LEEP.

New property types

We have already re-designated and demolished lots of older person’s accommodation but this still doesn’t resolve the problem we have with older persons not wanting to move, as we don’t have, in many cases, anything they want. Our bungalows are easy to let but we really struggle with apartments, the issue with bungalows are they are expensive to develop and use a lot of land making it difficult to recover investment through the rent. Therefore we are working with Cardiff University to create a new type of older person accommodation i.e. bungalows at a much higher density than would normally be the case. These need to be densely built enough to stack up against apartments that would have been

built in their place, and can fit on the ends of corner plots of land that MHA owns. We would be looking to consult with tenants via focus groups and carry out in depth market research.

Karen Tarbox will submit development plans by the end of this year.

Q3 performance

Q3 performance reported to Board and is good: sickness was down, repairs performing well, voids are efficient and to a better standard.

Becky explained that properties are now having a full decoration, plastering (where required) and carpets in flats. This is so tenants are able to move in and set up home from the offset. The budget for voids has therefore been increased. Over the coming months we will need to monitor satisfaction, void turnover and whether tenants are maintaining and / or redecorating to ensure that this spend is valuable. The ultimate goal is to be competitive with the private rental market so that people choose to be an MHA tenant because of the standard of our properties.

Regulation Update

Pam Lucas is our new regulator from the Welsh Regulation Office and she will be coming in to the office shortly.

It’s important for staff to be honest and open with her. If you don’t know an answer, that’s ok - but you should be able to point the regulator in the direction of someone who does!

Board member recruitment

Kate explained that there is a period of disruption as 7/12 Board members are changing mainly due to the local elections or coming to the end of their term.

9 applicants are currently going through the recruitment process.

We are also looking to reduce the number of council Board members to 2, with 2 additional independent members. Kate will keep staff updated and John confirmed that there will be a tenant election.

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A high-sugar diet increases risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.

Cut back on sugary snacks by swapping cakes, biscuits, chocolate and sweets for fruit, plain rice cakes, toast with lower-fat spread, fruited teacakes or a bagel.

Instead of bringing in sugary cakes on your birthday, why not swap the cake for fruit and nuts, or make a donation to MHA’s chosen charity instead.

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News In Brief MHA’s Chosen Charity 2017

Following a staff vote, the Silver Line Helpline received the greatest number of votes and will be MHA’s Chosen Charity for 2017.

Elderly people in Monmouthshire are among Wales’ most lonely, according to research by a charity helpline. The Silver Line Helpline (SLH), for isolated older people in Wales, has named Monmouthshire as one of its top three ‘loneliness hotspots’ after looking at data from over one million calls.

For more information about the charity visit www.thesilverline.org.uk

Pension Contribution The following pay ranges and employee contribution rates will apply to the LGPS in England and Wales from 1 April 2017.

Contribution table 2017/18 Actual pensionable Contribution rate for that Band pay for an employment employment Main Section 50/50 Section 1

Up to £13,700

5.5%

2.75%

2

£13,701 to £21,400

5.8%

2.9%

3

£21,401 to £34,700

6.5%

3.25%

4

£34,701 to £43,900

6.8%

3.4%

5

£43,901 to £61,300

8.5%

4.25%

6

£61,301 to £86,800

9.9%

4.95%

7

£86,801 to £102,200

10.5%

5.25%

8

£102,201 to £153,300

11.4%

5.7%

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£153,301 or more

??.?%

6.25%

Walk & Work Competition Our winning walker is Domini Barnes with a total of 46.7 miles, which to the nearest town gets her as far as Hullavington, near Chippenham in Wiltshire!

Well done Domini! A basket of fruity goodies is on its way to you!

Happy Birthday Lester Happy 60 birthday to Lester Parry (22nd March), he forget because of his age!

From the planned Maintenance Team

Here are a selection of “Pickles” that you have awarded to your colleagues recently: Tania O’Neil has ‘pickled’ Leigh Price for... "racing out to investigate a flood in Little Mill when a tenant called into the contact centre. He dropped everything to run to the property to assess the damage. MHA hero!”

John Frost has ‘pickled’ Peter Thomas for... "thinking outside the box by exploring potential opportunities for internal door procurement.”

Emma Parry has ‘pickled’ Emma Gallo for... "not only covering the Homesearch phones last Wednesday, but helping out at the very last minute and doing this with a smile.”

Stacey White has ‘pickled’ Mared Dafydd for... "all of the Welsh translations for social media! Thank you.”

Domini Barnes has ‘pickled’ Adrian Evans for… "being such a good guy. Last week an elderly lady drove her car off the side of the road. Adrian stayed with the lady calling her family for her to make sure she was ok. Great Job Adrian!”

Do you think your colleagues should be recognised for their additional work efforts? Going above and beyond customer expectation and showing a good service. Then award them a pickle via In House.

A prize will be awarded to the employee with the most deserved pickles during the quarter.

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BEFORE 6

AFTER

COMPLIMENTS

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring!

Spring is usually the time of year we start noticing the jobs that need doing around the house. Perhaps the paintwork is starting to look a bit drab, the bathroom could do with a makeover or you need a new floor?

Many of us will be looking to redecorate and give our homes a fresh look ready for the warmer months ahead.

Capsel offers the highest standard of workmanship to rejuvenate your property – from a lick of paint to a full bathroom installation.

We offer fair and transparent pricing options and we’re happy to provide a free, no obligation quote. Call us on 0333 207 9000 or email info@capsel.co.uk to book an appointment.

Mrs Doddridge would like to thank Adrian Evans and Glenn Neil for... ”attending to fit a fence, they have done an absolutely amazing job. Mrs Doddridge usually gets nervous when people attend her property but they were brilliant.”

Mrs Myers would like to thank Karen Summers and Tyrone Morgan for... ”logging an emergency repair. Tyrone was there very quickly and diagnosed the problem with my boiler and soon had the heating and hot water working again. I am very pleased with the service I received, thank you!”

Mr Thomas would like to thank Anna White for... ”her help with sorting the boiler and getting it repaired by Gloworm. They said the boiler was not under warranty but it was. Anna waited while they phoned the tenant and now booked in for 9th February. Mr Thomas was very grateful and appreciated Anna’s help.”

Mrs Teague would like to thank Pat Doughton for... ”arranging for a contractor to attend to the stairlift. It was dealt with on the same day. Mrs Teague is most grateful for her help.”

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Toni Neil

Kyle

Neil’s long held passion has been for cooking and chillies. By the time he’d attended the full two week course with Pop Up Business School (PUBS) he’d come up with a novel way to combine them.

He’d first become involved with the Work & Skills Wise service two years ago as a result of being affected by the bedroom tax and then being transferred to Universal Credit. Initially he was helped by Cath Murray who loaned Neil a laptop to help him complete a computer course and then got him a place on a food hygiene course. Neil now has Level 2 Food Hygiene and was runner up in the Adult Learner of 2016 in the Making a Difference Awards.

After having contact with Jess from the Income team, Kyle was referred to Cath in Work & Skills Wise as he was out of work and was looking to work for himself.

Cath helped Kyle bring his CV up to date and gained him a place on the Pop Up Business School course this March.

Having spent a fortnight learning about what it takes to run a business, Neil’s come away with a lot more confidence; “It’s been interesting and I’ve learned a lot – I know a lot more about tax than I did before and I feel more confident in being able to run my own business.”

Kyle’s thrilled with the support he’s received so far; “Everything that Cath said she’d do, she’s done.” Kyle is now looking forward to setting up his own DJ business, teaching local young people how to mix music and encourage them to become interested in music. “Pop Up Business School helped make ideas more real and I feel much more confident in pushing my ideas now.”

Toni responded to a text from Cath about places on Pop Up Business School as she wanted to develop her husband’s taxi business – through the two weeks at PUBS she grew her idea into wedding planning and learned a great deal about building a business through social media; “I didn’t realise you could make an impact and build up a business using online contacts. PUBS helped me believe that anything is possible.”

Liz PUBS hasn’t just inspired our tenants, Liz also found her place on the course as a result of working with Gemma Gajic whose work is also connected with the DWP. Liz has trained in holistic therapies and attended the course to help with her goal to be employed by the time her youngest child reaches five.

She’ll be working in Abergavenny Market from the spring and is excited about the prospect of doing something she loves and is grateful for the support she’s received; “ I’m really grateful to MHA for their support: it does make a difference.”

Neil is currently putting together an exciting range of chilli-related products including chilli sausage rolls, barbeque pasties and chilli chocolates.

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Medina

By Farida Aslam

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You may be aware that I took a long trip to Saudi Arabia in the latter part of last year and during January to perform a mini pilgrimage to Mecca called the Umrah. Some of you may be familiar with the term Hajj or may have watched millions of Muslims circle a black cube like structure with golden Arabic writing across the top of it.

As a young person I remember looking at these images in awe and wondered why so many people were circling the Kabah? I would look to my parents for answers - I often would have the reply, “they’re Muslims and they are all worshipping God" and "it’s every Muslims duty to go and perform the Hajj.” I would get excited and think my gosh, one day even I’m going to go there! How lucky was I, being amongst millions and millions of people, would I get lost? Where would we sleep? Would we have to keep on walking around and around? Would I not get dizzy?”

There were just so many questions and answers I wanted but, as my family weren’t really that religious and never forced us to practice, these questions would surface and would be put to bed again.

Nevertheless as I grew older and had my own child who often asked me similar questions and with the events of September 11th and the ongoing terrorism threat issues I really began to question what being a Muslim was - I wanted to learn more about not only my religion but the black box Kabah, what Hajj was and why and how I would perform this journey.

Since the start of 2014 I really seriously started to invest my time in finding out more about my faith - I realised gradually that many figures referred to in my faith are also referred to in Christianity and Judaism. I would often get confused by the complexity of religion and would dip in and out of this. I realised that finding out more was a journey that I wanted to go on.

Umrah seemed like the ideal opportunity, I felt I would see faith in action whilst at the pilgrimage and I would start beginning to understand.

Although I had been reading about performing Umrah and the things we had to do on the pilgrimage - I was feeling a little out of my depth, confused, slightly undeserving and not worthy of performing my Umrah as there was so so much I still didn’t know!

One major obstacle was the hijab, (that’s the covering of the head with a head scarf ), I’ve never really worn a head scarf only when we used to attend mosque as young

children with my siblings and since then I’d developed a claustrophobic feeling, which I’ve never been able to shake off.

From as long as I can remember I was unable to wear anything closely around my neck, but I realised I had no choice but to cover my head whilst performing the Umrah - I dreaded this more than anything else. But to my surprise I wore this throughout my pilgrimage and whilst the first couple of days were really difficult, I eventually got used to it and even texted colleagues back in MHA saying actually it feels like it’s becoming part of me and I may actually start to wear it on a daily basis on my return! I shocked myself by saying this... But needless to say it didn’t actually materialise.

Saudi Arabia I had heard so many stories about Saudi Arabia, classed 'the Kingdom'. I was expecting great things; it was an oil rich nation and people to me in images always look so beautiful and elegant - after all it was the birth place of the Muslim religion which is supposed to be full of peace and tolerance - my expectations were high!

These quickly shattered on arrival to Jeddah Airport, a very simple structure with only the bare necessities. What was even more shocking was the failure to acknowledge any other languages other than Arabic. If you spoke they would only answer you in Arabic regardless of whether you understood or not! I found lack of eye contact with men really strange it almost felt like men didn’t think women were worth having a conversation with. I guess what I was beginning to realise was this is the reality of what women face here: chaperoned by a man; the man to take the lead; this for me was hard! It all made sense now more so than before why we had to travel with a male chaperon. I was glad to have my dad with me: my first impressions were these people were not accommodating, but rather rude and obstructive!

I expected to see deserts and lots of golden sand, but what we actually saw on our travels from Jeddah to Makkah where Kabah is - was lots of mountains, grey or brick red in colour and vast amounts of barren land. You would see a number of houses built on huge mountains, they just looked and felt out of place as if they’d been dropped there. We arrived in Makah and saw the famous Quran like structured bridge but again, lots of mountains and in between this shops and hotels. What I was expecting to see was Mecca to be in the middle of nowhere, that was not the case, Makah was situated in the middle of a deeply populated place. (continued overleaf)

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The Pilgrimage The aim of the pilgrimage is to follow in the footsteps of Prophet Mohammed and think of the sacrifices that took place by Prophets gone before him. Muslims believe that Mecca is in effect the centre of the earth and all Muslims pray towards the Kabah. The first foundational stones for God’s house on earth (the Kabah) were laid by Abraham - the Kabah over millennia was destroyed and was rebuilt and restored by Mohammed decades later.

In preaching and in trying to take the message of Islam to the people of Mecca, Mohammed was forced out of Mecca and went to Medina. All pilgrims take this journey from Mecca to Medina to experience what the Prophet would have gone through. As you take forward the rituals of the pilgrimage you are offered guides to talk about the stories of the Prophet’s time and the difficulties that he faced - passionately talking about where various battles took place, the birth place of various key people and so on. It all becomes alive and real, you can’t escape the fact there is history and there is real evidence.

The actual rituals include: Preparing and cleansing oneself both physically and mentally is a key prerequisite for performing Umrah.

Mentally making the intension to perform Umrah and physically washing cleaning and purifying yourself before going to the house of the lord needs to be done.

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All men would wear 2 pieces of white cloth to signify all are equal in the eye of the lord and women also wear simple clothing. Although colour is not stipulated for women, it tends to be black gowns - covering from head to toe as a mark of respect.

• Pilgrims would circle the Kabah in 7 rounds • Pray behind the Station of Abraham where the foundations stones were laid by Abraham • Walk the length of two famous mountains, Safah and Marwah - 7 times and ask Allah (God) for whatever they wished - whether that’s seeking forgiveness or guidance for the future • Women would cut their hair slightly and men would shave their heads On completing these rituals and performing Umrah - it is considered the pilgrim in effect is being born again.

Having wiped the slate clean, having no sins left and through the perseverance of the journey you begin to adopt better manners and have increased patience.

Umrah and Hajj also states that it helps to overcome poverty as Muslims believe that poverty and wealth is a blessing from God. After completion of the Umrah pilgrims then go on to visit Mohammed’s resting place in Medina. I found Medina to be an exceptionally peaceful place whilst Mecca to me was quite overwhelming and emotional.

What strikes me still to this day was, there were thousands of people from all different parts of the world: black, white, Indian, Chinese, Somali, African - all there to seek forgiveness and direction.

In Saudi Arabia prayers were called 5 times a day and everything stops so you can pray: the country comes to a standstill. Early morning prayers were at 5am. People rushed to the mosques as they were so focused on getting as much worship as they could, this was truly overwhelming. Something I won’t forget, each person was helping another, this was true community spirt in action. It left me inspired to learn more about my religion.

Going to Umrah I thought would give me answers, peace on matters and really give me a good understanding of what it is like to be a good Muslim, what I should and shouldn’t be doing. I found a strange sense of peace, a feeling of love and no need to worry, a kind of its ok, I’ve got your back feeling. I felt I had just started to tread on the path that I so wanted to understand.

So where am I now having performed my Umrah?

Umrah gave me the insight I needed which was the reality that, I have only just started my journey towards embracing Islam. I realised that being born a Muslim I had taken things for granted and I really needed to understand what this means being a practicing Muslim in today’s era. I was inspired by the Muslim converts who have made a conscious decision to become Muslims. I now question everything with a grown up “why” and I’m beginning to look and search for the answers myself.

I want to learn more about my faith and other faiths too, the more closer I am coming to faith, the more free and happier I’m feeling, being happy and at peace with what I have or haven’t got. Believe it or not I’m no longer getting a kick from the retail therapy I used to rely on so much and this is saying something! I guess faith is about that wider outlook and bigger meaning, being content with what you have and being selfless.

I think religion is a very private matter (and having been asked to write this article I was really reluctant initially), sadly in the case of Muslims, religion has been brought right to the forefront for very negative reasons. I guess for me that outward manifestation of the faith of wearing a hijab scarf on my head, is something I’m not ready for yet (my daughter and some of my close friends wear hijab) and I respect them so much for this. But! As I have started my journey of discovery you never know one day I may walk in with my hijab.

There are some other personal challenges alongside the hijab such as reading my 5 times prayers on time... which I don't do on time - but I now really feel an urge to do so. I do feel the need to submit a GEMS suggestion for a faith/ non-faith or quiet reflection room where you can go and have 5 minutes away from the rat race and the hassle and bustle - when I had this time aside in Saudi and when I do use the time at home, I believe it does wonders for your mental health and wellbeing. So if you do see me praying please don't feel I’m turning into a fanatic! But rather looking for peace within me, God and keeping the faith alive.

Me with mum & dad 13

Why not say hello to all the new starters on

Scott Thomas Project Manager Construction and Major Works I have had a variety of jobs including, Site Agent, Quantity Surveyor and most recently a Police Sergeant with Gwent Police. I have 12 year old twin girls Millie and Olivia and a put upon partner Catherine – she won’t get married and I am fed up of asking. Thankfully I have some male company at home in the form of a blind Jack Russell terrier called Mack.

I like music, comedy, reading, films, rugby, football and motorsport – two wheels only. Favourite day of the week is Sunday and the ideal day would be a walk up the Sugar Loaf with the family – including Mack, followed by a Sunday dinner and then a Merseyside Derby with a 4-0 score line to my beloved toffees – clearly I am living in fantasy land but I live in hope!

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

I would like to be stuck in a lift with Helen Mirren for the stimulating conversation obviously. If Helen Mirren is not available then a lift engineer would be fine.

Darren Archer Project Manager Construction and Major Works My name is Darren Archer, I have been working in the construction industry for over 20 years. I ran my own building company for half of that time until I relocated to Wales to be near family, this led to me actively seeking new challenges and experiences. I am currently studying a HNC Construction and the Built Environment and I am enjoying my new role as Project Manager with MHA.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

If I was stuck in a lift with someone then it would have to be Richard Branson, so I could find out what has inspired him and driven him to the success he has today.

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Chris Kinsey Trainee Development Surveyor Having been a Housing Officer in Merthyr over the last five or so years, I look forward to a new challenge in Development. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their warm MHA welcome. I have been asked to provide some words about myself but I find the best way to get to know one another is through stories. If you have a funny story I am more than happy to share a funnier one so look forward to sharing some with you soon.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

If I could be stuck in a lift with someone, it would probably be Morgan Freeman.

Something about his voice makes any topic of conversation sound interesting.

Lee Mayo Housing Support & Resettlement Officer My Name is Lee Mayo I’m the Housing Support & Resettlement Officer.

In my previous job I spent 10 years working in a homeless young person’s accommodation in Torfaen. Clients were mainly 16-24 year olds.

I run a junior football club in Blaenavon, which was formed in 2015 - age groups we currently run are u7 & u11. Teams play in the Torfaen Junior League.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

Can only be one person – My wife! - Sensible Answer!

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Continued

Louise Stone Finance and Administration Officer I started with Capsel at the end of November on an agency contract and I’m now on a six month fixed term and deal with the finance and administration along with my new colleague Ceri. My role covers anything from booking in jobs for the engineers, to chasing payment of our invoices with many varied tasks in between.

I love to socialise and go on holiday and have recently bought a 30 year old purple VW Campervan so can’t wait for the summer! In my spare time I love listening to music and have quite a varied taste (from The Beatles to Slipknot) and really enjoy dress-making when time permits.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

I’d really like to be stuck in a lift with Hugh Jackman (for as long as possible) and I don’t think I need to explain why!

Hayley Brading Senior Lettings & Sales Negotiator My Name is Hayley Brading. I’m married with two children and Cooper the family dog. I’ve recently come from a Sales background so looking forward to a new exciting career with Capsel.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

We’ll I was going to say Daniel Craig but Sarah kindly informed me that was her choice. So then...sorry thought about it, there’s no one else who could get me out of the lift! Its Daniel I’m afraid.

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Ceri-Anne Lewis Finance and Administration Officer I’m Ceri and joined Capsel at the beginning of Feb as Finance and Admin officer. I previously worked as a Financial Administrator for Hafod Care Association which is part of the Hendre Group. I have two children, Noah who is four and Megan who is is 14.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

If I had to choose someone to be stuck in a lift with, it would be a lift repair man!

Connor Stokes Painter Hi, I'm Connor, I'm a painter working for Capsel and my hobbies are rugby and fishing.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

If I had to be stuck in a lift with anybody it would be Seth Rogen. I find him interesting and he makes me laugh.

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We wish them the best for the future

Neil Price Carpenter

Hayni John Facilities & Compliance Officer

Liana Bryant Cleaning & Hygiene Officer

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g

C

R e e h n t t h B c t u a

Rent is everyone’s responsibility: if you become aware of a tenant’s change in: Household circumstances Employment Behaviour Support needs Report the change to the Income team – we can help!

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Building Servic Peter Thomas

Head of Building Services

Graham Collard Deputy Head of Building Services

Leigh Price

Reactive and Voids Manager

Electrical Services Manager

I transferred across from MCC to MHA in 2008. I have worked with Building Services for approx. 11 years.

I transferred across from MCC to MHA in 2008. I have worked with Building Services for 25 years.

I started as a plumber with MCC covering responsive repairs before moving over to the heating department covering Service, Repairs, and boiler installations. Since September 2017 I have been covering the Responsive Repairs Managers Position. My role is to oversee and manage this team.

Since January 2017 I have also taken on covering the Voids Team, again I oversee and manage the team to ensure the quality of our voids going back for rental are to the high standard we expect for our tenants.

My role is to manage our Electrical & Solar PV Works and act as Technical Manager for NICEIC and MCS Schemes.

Becky Oliver

Deputy Head of Building Services (Performance) I transferred across from MCC to MHA in 2008. I have worked with Building Services for approx. 16 years.

My role is to oversee the management of our Responsive Repairs, Voids, all performance and monitor costs.

I love working in Building Services – every day is different, every day is challenging but at the same time rewarding.

Mike Herring

Rhiannon Taylor

Adrian Simmonds Heating Team Manager

I transferred across from MCC to MHA with all the other heating engineers in 2008 working with all the engineers for the last 18 years, covering all aspects of heating installations, repairs and servicing on gas, oil, solid fuel and renewable. The job is very challenging but also rewarding.

Business Support Manager

I have worked for MHA (& formerly MCC) for 10 ½ years within the Building Services department. I manage the administration & scheduling team, I carry out the administration for DFGs and Care & Repair, complete productivity reports, payment of invoices and run performance KPIs, etc.

James Burton Cost Surveyor

Worked for MHA for 2.5 years. Price tenders and produce quotes for all new build contracts / private contracts including DFG’s, refurbs etc. Control construction costs, contract administration, organise and arrange subcontractors.

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ces Family Tree Elaine Sollis Repairs Software Developer & Office Administration Assistant

I’ve worked for MHA since Sept 2013 (I’ll leave you to do the maths). I’m responsible for the software admin within Building Services. This currently includes “TOTAL Repairs”, “TM5 WebAdmin” and “SimplyPats7”. It will soon also include the admin of M3 Locater plus and the implementation of a new piece of repairs software.

Jane Williams

Building Services Administrator I have worked for MHA & also MCC for 16 ½ years.

I schedule the work for plumbers, electricians and carpentry south area. I also give work to contractors such as Aqua Drain and Carreg Fawr.

Kelly Jones Louise Grady Planned Maintenance/Invoice Assistant

I have worked for MHA for nearly 11 years, which started within MCC. I look after all the planned projects – such as Kitchens & Bathrooms, Roofing and Newbuild works, whilst co-ordinating with the project managers on site. I also pay all the invoices that relate to this along with the other work streams in the department.

Building Services Administrator

Agency worker, been here since September 2016.

Scheduling works for periodical electrical tests and PV meter repairs, satisfaction surveys, matching delivery notes with invoices and administration works for voids. Really enjoy my role and work alongside a lovely team.

Anna White Building Services Administrator

I have been working for MHA since July 2015. I am responsible for scheduling 10 heating engineers for responsive repairs/boiler installs. It is a very busy role but I enjoy my job as no one day is ever the same plus I am lucky to work with such a great team!

Domini Barnes

Building Services Administrator Worked with MHA 5 years within Building Services.

Firstly on administration with regards to the Solar PV project. Now schedule works for; Roofers, Glazing, Fences, Concrete paths, Brickwork, Plaster, Works and Decorations. Currently schedule 9 men’s workloads and manage the scaffolding register and dehumidifier.

Suzanne Powell

Building Services Administrator I came to MHA 9 ½ years ago as a maintenance officer.

I now schedule carpentry work in the north and look after the statutory works and sub contractor forms. I am known as the technical adviser due to my extensive knowledge.

Natasha Cavender

Building Services Administrator I have been working for MHA Building Services since June 2015. My main task is Gas Servicing which includes scheduling yearly appointments and ensuring these are completed before expiry. I also schedule waste collections, periodical electrical tests, CO alarms, administration for void works and the updating of any concern cards received from the engineers.

21

Corporate Plan, Vision & Objectives New Strapline Great Homes, Great Services, Great Location

Vision By 2022 MHA will be the top performing Social Enterprise in Wales providing quality homes and services, transforming peoples’ lives and giving them the confidence and support to realise their ambitions. We will create an environment where people can have a brilliant quality of life, in areas where they aspire to live and work.

New Objectives As a Landlord – By 2022 we will...

• Optimise every opportunity to develop the type of homes and communities where people want to live, maximising the occupancy of our properties.

• Directly support at least 600 (currently 500) tenants each year, where necessary, to improve their quality of life.

• Build 600 (was 540) homes using our own resources, efficient procurement and through s106 and partnership arrangements.

• Develop a form of accommodation specifically for older persons/downsizers.

• Be in the top 25% performers across all key performance indicators.

Economically – By 2022 we will...

• Increase our turnover from diversified activities to £4.0m by 2022, increasing our workforce to 270.

• Maintain financial strength and viability achieving maximum scores from the regulator and covenant compliance from our funders.

• Achieve efficiencies of 10% by maximising our use of technology and ensuring that Value for Money is an embedded principle for driving value.

22

Environmentally – By 2022 we will...

• Seek to maximise existing and new technology to reduce our CO2 footprint by a further 5% (was 10%) from 2017.

• Introduce 2 electric pool cars in year 1 and increase this number so that 10% of all vehicles will be either hybrid of full electric by 2022.

• Purchase low energy equipment using local supply chains, we will reduce our energy usage in our accommodation by 10%.

• Reduce fuel usage in our vehicles by a further 10% on average.

• Spend a further £2m (previous target was £1m) improving the external environment on our estates increasing tenant satisfaction with their neighbourhoods.

People Oriented – By 2022 we will...

• Create 200 (was previously 150) work placements by 2022 helping people into work.

• Concentrate resources on getting tenants into work helping 125 (was 75) into work by 2022.

• Spend £1m transforming lives and ambitions through training and personal development on both staff and tenants, increasing productivity by 10%.

• Focus our resources on ensuring that MHA can quickly become a more flexible organisation adapting to a constantly changing environment.

• Embed a “Don’t walk by policy”, to support the health, wellbeing and safety of tenants.

ABERGAVENNY MONMOUTH CALDICOT CHEPSTOW

MHA's Values

At the Directorate away days, teams were asked 'How do we demonstrate our values?'

Here are just some of the responses received (all responses can be found on In House):

Open...

Flexible...

• We’re honest with tenants about what we can do and do our best to manage their expectations • We involve tenants in the development and review of our services • Accessibility of senior management • No blame culture • Complaints investigated by independent staff

• We tailor services to meet people’s needs, offer support and help tenants access other services • Provision of various payment methods • Agile working • Good work-life balance / working hours • Adaptable approach & appointment system (repairs)

Fair...

Achieving...

• We’re consistent in how we deliver our services to tenants, whilst taking into account their needs • Employment Benefits & Training (Access) - Personal Development • Fair workload distribution (relationship with line manager) • Salary • Sick pay - holiday entitlement

• We build relationships and achieve good outcomes in challenging situations • Helping tenants who are struggling with Universal Credit and getting people back into work • Tenant expectations • Changing tenants' lives through flexible/suitable accommodation • Good reputation/image/brand

Teams were also asked to think about the ways that we recognise our values, motivations and successes...

See the next page for the Staff Recognition Mind Map

23

Appreciati on

2

Return t he Favou r Saying Tha nk You Rewards Make Tea o r Coffee Praise Training Getting to Know Your Co lleagues Promote Tea m Successe s Annivers ary Day s Christmas P arty Pickles

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gether o T g in k r o W Solve a Problem ions in p O g in g n Cha ence Making a Differ Things w e N g in y r T Helping Others w Skills e N g in n r a Le ck Days a B e iv G / y r a t n Volu onment ir v n E d e x Rela Fun Days

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Work g n i t s Intere ve Team i t r o p p u & S Positive eagues l l o C & Friends erence f f i D a Making d Job o o G a g Doin ds Rewar tion a i c e r p p A oard B n o tting e G e l p Peo dback e e F R PD 25

H&C’s

FUTURE LEADER Programme FUTURE LEADER

FUTURE LEADER

APPLY BY 10th APRIL

H&C’s Future Leader Programme Needs You! 26

Do you work in the Housing & Communities directorate? Are you ambitious and looking to develop your leadership and project management skills? If so read on...

The Future Leader Programme has recently launched and three lucky members of staff from the Housing & Communities Directorate will be chosen to take part in the scheme. Want to know more? Here’s some info about the scheme:

What is the Future Leader Programme?

It’s a brand new and exciting leadership programme specifically for members of staff in the Housing & Communities directorate. The programme will give three lucky members of staff the opportunity to develop their skills further and experience new opportunities, with the support of a mentor, over 12 months.

How will it benefit me?

How do I apply?

To apply you need to fill out a simple expression of interest form which can be found on In House. The form will ask you: 1. Why you’re interested in becoming a member of H&C’s Future Leader Programme 2. Examples of three things you’re proud of achieving in the last year 3. Areas you would like to develop as part of the programme

The Future Leader Programme has the following benefits:

The deadline for applications is 10th April, so be quick to apply!

• You will be allocated a senior mentor from within the Directorate.

• You will be given the opportunity to lead on and develop a specific project within H&C. • You will have the opportunity to attend H&C Managers, SMT and external strategic partnerships.

• You will have the opportunity to job-swap for a week with another organisation.

• You will be supported to develop and complete an individual action plan.

What happens once you’ve applied?

Once you’ve applied you will be invited to an informal chat with Michele Morgan and Cheryl Tracy.

If you’re successful you will receive a mentoring and personal development pack.

If you want to have a chat about the programme or would like to find out more, speak to Cheryl Tracy or Michele Morgan in Housing & Communities.

27

Spring Has Sprung A Brief Sojourn Through March & April Ray Mercer

Here at Cwmrheddyn Gardens our snowdrops, dwarf iris and aconites have now gone over and it’s an ideal time to increase stocks at no cost. Just dig up a clump, gently pull the bulbs apart into smaller parcels and replant wherever you want. They will grow pretty much anywhere, full sun or shade.

Planting like this is known as `in the green’ usually with a 100% success rate, it’s a much more effective way of bulking up.

Camellias are now in full flower and should, weather permitting, last until mid-April. Never put these plants in open areas in early morning sun as they will get hit with frost, bud drop occurs or the flowers will burn from the cold. Also ensure you give the plant copious amounts of water during July – Oct when buds are forming, otherwise flowers will be few and far between next year.

28

Daffodils and tulips are coming into flower some earlies some lates dependent upon the variety, remember to leave the foliage on after flowering to allow nutrients to draw back into the bulb to build for next year, never cut them down until they turn brown and collapse around June.

The head gardener and I now get to grips pruning all the hydrangeas, roses and our collection of clematis.

With hydrangeas cut off all of last year’s flowers and any dead stems, prune down to a good set of buds.

Cut out about one third every couple of years to stimulate fresh growth from the base.

flowered.

Plants such as Sedums and Day Lillies can now be dug up and divided into smaller clumps again to either increase stocks or pass on to friends. By doing so you will also ensure good flowering for the coming summer.

During late March early April you need to keep a look out for the tips of new growth on hostas, this is the ideal time for dividing which you should do every so often as the plant tends to grow outwards with the middle becoming dormant. Just dig the plant up and cut through it with a spade, throw away anything without new shoots and replant the split clumps to the same level as before, water well and they will grow away no problem.

For roses cut away dead and straggly stems and cut down to about a foot above ground, don’t worry the plant will not suffer from such drastic treatment. Always cut at an angle to allow water to run off. Climbers can be cut back by about a third each year and tie in any soft growth horizontally which will make the plant throw up vertical stems, remembering flowers only appear on new growth.

Late flowering clematis such as viticellars should be cut right back to just above ground where new shoots should be visible, don’t worry if the plant is showing new growth higher up just cut it down otherwise all your flowers will be up in the air. Prune mid-season plants to a set of good buds about 12 – 15ins about ground, early flower types such as Montanas just need a tidy up once they have

Our collection of woodland anemonies and dog tooth violets will shortly be in full bloom alongside all of our hellebores providing a profusion of colour before the cornflowers, astillbes, pulmonariars and orchids make their mark. You can now start off your veg seeds indoors if you haven’t a greenhouse, we have runner beans laid out in the conservatory as our greenhouse is rather full of overwintering fuchias, agapanthus, cannas and dahlias which will all require planting shortly.

A new garden year awaits!

29

Corporate Services Directorate - Internal Customer Survey 2017 Thank you to everyone who completed our customer service survey.

Your feedback is important and we wanted to share the results with you and let you know what we are planning to do with your feedback.

8

You said - You would like us to attend more team meetings to better integrate with teams.

We aim to - Attend a team meeting at least once a month on a rota basis. To do this, you need to; • Tell us the date of your team meeting or send us a diary appointment for our outlook planners.

• Make us aware of the agenda so we can prepare.

During the meetings, we can then keep you updated on a little of what we are doing, for example, the Welfare Reform Communications Group. It will also give us a better understanding of each team’s role and challenges.

Q6 - Are there any services you think the Corporate Services Directorate could deliver that we don’t currently provide?

Under 10

10-20

Over 20

Q2 - What have you contacted us about?

24

29

27

22

17

20

20

Complaints

Performance/ Covalent

Tenant Insight

Graphic Design

Marketing

External Comms

Internal Comms

Board/ Governance

13

E

Helpful

TH

41 2

0

Unhelpful

0

Neither

Can't Remember

Q4 - As an internal customer, overall how would you rate our customer service to you?

33 10 Very Satisfied

30

Fairly Satisfied

0

Neither

0

0

Fairly Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied

R •

Q3 - In general, how helpful do you find the Corporate Services Directorate staff?

You said - Advising staff members when letters/ correspondence is sent.

E MBE EM Did you know – ROUND ROBIN you should always let the CSA team know of any big RO UND RO mailings so they know to expect a higher number of calls (even if your direct number is on the letter).

We aim to - create a Round Robin In House so that all staff can update and make people aware of mail drops.

N

Never

BI

8

5

• R

17

16

Q5 - What can we do to improve our customer service?

Scrutiny/STT

Q1 - How often have you contacted a member of the Corporate Services Directorate in the past 6 months?

You said - I think there could be more flexibility in allowing individuals to update/amend/add things on Covalent themselves.

There are some changes you are able to make yourselves. Lorna Selmer is currently writing a hints and tips section that will be coming soon on In House and the home page of Covalent. Remember, if you need a refresher on Covalent, Lorna is happy to help.

Q6 (continued) You said - Provide training on retrieving Tenant Insight data.

On BI Query there is a tenant insight section for standard queries. Claudia Blair and Nathan Cook are also on hand to offer refresher training on an ad-hoc basis.

You said - Help with writing good news stories as there is not always time nor does everyone feel confident writing for internal and external use.

Corporate Services will support and help you write case studies and stories. Just get in touch with Louise Davies or Emma Assender and provide us with some of the content and background and we’ll be happy to help. We are also happy to read over anything you write before it goes out and offer support and advice.

You said - Investigate complaints centrally don’t delegate this to managers.

Everyone is responsible for informal complaints. If you answer the phone, you are responsible. Stage 2 complaints - we have specific staff to deal with these and they are passed on accordingly. Stage 3 complaints - these go to the Ombudsman. If you need refresher complaints training, it is available on In House or please contact Lorna Selmer or Nathan Cook.

3,195 Followers

Following 610

1,761 Likes

64 Mentions

@Mon_Housing Just a few of our brilliant female staff who also sit on the board of other organisations - high achievers all round #BeBoldForChange #IWD @Mon_Housing New development in Raglan taking shape. 10 2 and 3 bed houses in idyllic location in Raglan

@Mon_Housing We're thrilled to support Rogiet Community Cafe - a fantastic local pop up cafe that's helping the village thrive!

Q7- Are there any services we currently provide that you don’t find valuable?

You said - EBuzz We did - a recent survey of EBuzz on how we can improve it. We will be analysing the data over the next month or so and the results will be available on In House.

3,871 Tweets

@Mon_Housing Great news as Brookside development of 25 homes for @Mon_Housing unanimously approved at @MonmouthshireCC Committee today #housing #planning

You said - Good as Gold Scheme - what is it achieving, could the money be better spent?

Good as Gold is an example of how we praise and encourage our tenants to pay/keep up to date with their rent payments. This was used as an example in our Customer Excellence Accreditation. We will review the scheme later in the year.

We’ve secured funding via #EUfundsCymru to deliver Active Inclusion providing 12 paid work placements @WCVA_AIF Call 01495 745769 for info

Thanks for your feedback!

On Twitter? Follow us @mon_housing

@Mon_Housing

31

A key element of working in housing is being safe when visiting peoples’ homes and having knowledge of any potential risks the visit may pose. At MHA we use a system of advice notes and warning markers on our housing management systems to ensure that staff are protected as well as possible from the risks we may face. We do this by either visiting certain properties in pairs or through being armed with knowledge which may make the interaction with residents easier to conduct.

Visits in pairs to certain properties are essential but are costly and reduce our ability to respond to other calls on time. It’s important therefore that we only visit those properties in pairs where the risk we perceive to our staff, either physical or otherwise, is real and based on fact.

The Community Safety Team have recently carried out a piece of work to review those properties we have only visited in pairs and to put in place a system that ensures that we base our decision to do so in fact and review it regularly. In addition, to ensure that people are told – where appropriate – the reason why they are being visited by more than one member of staff.

There are literally hundreds of individuals in our properties who are subject of an advice note (usually concerning vulnerability or disability) or warning marker, many of these recommending visits in pairs. Following the review of the data we hold, the number of properties where a visit in pairs is recommended now stands at 44. Some 32

of these are qualified, for example ‘no lone females’. Capita and Total have been updated to reflect these changes.

Information on any of the people on the list can be accessed by anyone who needs it by reference to any of the nominated members of staff whose names have been circulated.

We’ll review this annually – a review date is already set for next year. Any request that a new name be added to the list must go through the Community Safety Manager in the form of a factual account detailing the information upon which the request is made.

This work should result in our staff feeling safer, improving response times for repairs and reducing costs.

A process describing the new system can be found as an appendix to the Unacceptable Behaviour Policy & Procedure.

The Money Wise Service

Matt's money-saving savvy came to the Staff Forum last month, giving staff the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of the Money Wise Team.

news What's New?

• Flexible working policy update • • Pics from Becky James' visit in the galleries • • Book the treadmill - It's now on the top floor •

5

Stats for March

members of staff received advice

146

2,534

58%

unique visitors

visits

unique users

Accross 31 departments and 2 companies

58 Here's a run-down of the kind of advice Matt was able to give:

2

Working Tax Credits

1

PIP

1

Carers Allowance

1

Funding for travel to medical appointment

Fewest Visits

Wednesday 8 March th

161

Most Visits

Tuesday 14th March

10 blog posts Top 5 Things You're Searching For: Anti-Social Behaviour Standards = 15 Service Standards = 12 Walking Desk = 12 Bupa = 10 Domestic Abuse = 10 33

New Homes Team The New Homes Team started in May 2016 to support new tenants, helping them stay happy in their homes.

Here's some stats on how they've been doing: % of tenants managed by the New Homes Team 55% June 16

58% July 16

68% Aug 16

79% Sept16

89% Oct 16

90% Nov 16

89% Dec 16

Target Reached

In that time...

...Extensions to starter tenancies reduced by

94% Jan 17

96% Feb 17

41%

75% - 85% 3.7% - 1.6%

...More people's offers are being accepted at 1st offer from

Q1 2015/16

Q3 2016/17

...Rent arrears dropped from

...More people have stayed in their homes

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32

26

8

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

Easter

So is this just a piece of FAKE NEWS?!

We are enjoying the arrival of spring, with the lambs bleating, daffs blooming and nights getting lighter. I love this time of year and the way it speaks of hope and new birth. Switch then to a man dying one of the most brutal deaths known to the human race. A man who was abused, beaten, humiliated and publicly ridiculed.

What could be less about hope and new birth?

I would strongly suggest that this is not fake news and that Jesus did indeed die such a death which we “celebrate” on “Good Friday”. There is plenty of historical evidence to prove that the crucifixion of Jesus did definitely take place but it’s not this that maybe causes us to question the events of that first Easter. No it is clearly whether we believe that HE rose to life again on Easter Sunday or was that an early example of fake news (false news published in the guise of being authentic but in an attempt to mislead people.)

I believe it was these three days that changed the world for ever. It certainly changed my life when at University I accepted Jesus into my life and became a Christian. Please hear me: it’s not about whether I go to church or not but whether I have accepted that Jesus died that death for me and that is very much about hope and new birth. I cannot (and wouldn’t want to) determine what you believe, but is it worth considering those events of the first Easter. The dramatic change in the disciples from people witnessing the death of their friend to people who were prepared to also give their lives and the incredible growth of the church suggest that the cross was not the end of the story but that Jesus was in fact resurrected from the dead.

Fancy a game of football after work?

Every Monday 17:00-18:00 at Cwmbran Stadium.

If you’re interested in joining up with colleagues for a friendly game of 5-a-side, drop Michael Harper or Dewi Parry an email.

You don’t need to be Messi or Ronaldo, all welcome!

Just £3 to play!

Wishing you a very happy and peaceful Easter.

David Morris

35

Send us a pic of your pet!

The pets will be published in the next edition and you could win a £10 High Street Voucher.

Email Louise Davies with a pic of your pet and tell us a little bit about them.

Visit the ‘Staff Room’ area on

Chunk Shane Kavanagh

This is one of my cats 'Chunk' (named after The Goonies character).

He loves having close up photo shots taken .

He's very daft!

to vote for the cutest pet.

Ralph Terry MacColl

Sebastian Kim Fielding

Milo Jessie O'Connell

'Danios' Ben Hennessy

This is Ralph my gorgeous Welsh Red Collie who just turned 10 months. As you can see he is a very handsome chap and it looks as though butter wouldn’t melt, however, as with most young collies, he’s very mischievous, a little demanding and can be a right terror.

Despite this he is such a lovely pup with a gentle loving nature who loves his cwtches.

Sebastian sadly passed away in 2016. He loved riding around in the back seat of my Land Rover barking at passing cyclists.

Milo is my gorgeous 4 month old Labrador. He loves running round, playing and going on long walks. He likes to eat anything and everything!

We recently set up a tropical freshwater fish tank for our youngest son who requested one for his birthday. Our first introductions were four zebra danios, named after George’s favourite footballers: Diego Costa, Paul Pogba, Deli Ali and, erm, Carl Skuse! They are surprisingly thuggish little fish and generally spend their time harassing the more timid golden minnows.

His favourite past times were sleeping in the back of the Land Rover whilst parked on the drive, walking and enjoying the left overs of my breakfast cereal’s milk lickings.

He is solely missed and will never be replaced.

He is no longer allowed a dog bed because he has eaten every bed we’ve bought him and covered the house with stuffing, but I can never be annoyed as he has the best puppy dog eyes in the world!

Congratulations to Cassie (and her owner Kerris Winter) on winning February’s Pet Corner competition!

36

CuIsine Corner

Welcome to Cuisine Corner! We all love food and it’s always good to get some inspiration from others about what to cook and where to go. Each edition, we want some tantalisingly tasty, tried and tested recipes and reviews to feature in Cuisine Corner.

Restaurant Review Hummingbird Café - By Emma Assender

Halfway between The Secret Garden and The Angel in Abergavenny lies one of Llanover’s best kept secrets: The Hummingbird Café. Blink and you’ll miss it.

Turn in though and you’ll find plenty of parking and delicious food! My last visit was a team affair to wish Stacey White good luck with her impending new arrival – we’ll keep you posted on that one in due course!

The café serves up amazing coffee and a stunning range of baguettes and paninis usually served up with helpings of locally made chutney and vegetable crisps. The specials board includes light alternatives like quiche, too.

There’s also homemade soup if you’re saving yourself for cake.

Do save yourself for cake! If you’re lucky there might be some

specialty Hummingbird cake left – a tropical concoction involving banana, passion fruit, apricots and walnuts in generous slices that will make your day. But there’s consolation in the scones, salted caramel brownies and lemon cake, if not.

The service is great, the staff friendly and helpful – although it will slow down on busy days like lunchtimes and school holidays, but if you’re in a leisurely mood the large comfy sofas will help you settle in and enjoy the rural themed décor and floral arrangements dotted about.

There’s a shop too where you can pick up all sorts of gifts from chocolates to jewellery and soap. You can support local food producers and buy oils, beer and cheese.

RECIPE Beef Bourguignon with Swede Mash • Low calorie cooking spray • 100g back bacon rashers, all visible fat removed, chopped • 400g small shallots 700g stewing beef, all visible fat removed, cut into bite-size pieces • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 150ml red wine • 425ml beef stock • 1 level tbsp tomato purée • A sprig of fresh rosemary • A sprig of fresh thyme • 1 bay leaf • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 700g swede, peeled and cut into large chunks • 50ml vegetable stock • A pinch of grated nutmeg • A small handful of fresh parsley, chopped, to garnish

Method • Preheat your oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas 4. Place a large frying pan sprayed with low calorie cooking spray over a medium heat. Add the bacon and shallots and fry for 3-4 minutes until starting to brown. Add the beef. Stir-fry for 5-7 minutes over a high heat until browned.

• Stir in the garlic, red wine, stock, tomato purée and herbs. Season, bring to the boil and then transfer to a casserole dish. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hours.

• Meanwhile, boil the swede for 12-15 minutes until tender. Drain. Add the stock and nutmeg, then season and mash.

• Divide the bourguignon and mash between 4 plates, garnish with parsley and serve.

See more healthy recipes at: www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes

If you would like to share your ideas with us, then please get in touch with the Corporate Services Team.

37

Capita Clinic - April 2017 Welcome back to Capita Clinic!

Did you know that we record details of employment on Capita? When a tenant tells you that their employment status has changed, you need to update their record. It’s simple to do, here’s how:

Updating Employment Status

Inputting an employer

Enter the record and access the occupants section. Then click on the name of the person whose employment status has changed. This will take you in to the persons record.

To input an employer, click on the employment tab and click on insert row in the top toolbar.

Click in to the circumstances tab.

Input a start date. If you do not know the exact start date input the date that the person told you about their employment.

In the circumstances tab, check if there is already an employment status recorded for the person.

No existing employment status If there is no existing employment status, move straight on to inputting a code.

Existing employment status If there is an existing employment status which needs to be removed, untick the active box and select details changed in the inactive reason drop down.

To add a new employment status you will need to click in to the

Input the employer details. Click in the employer field and then on the green question mark. This brings up the person search screen. Click on contact details and type the name of the employer in the “organisation” box and click “find now”.

This brings up a list of employers to select from. Double click on the relevant employer to select them. If the employer you are looking for is not shown, insert a new one (contact Claudia or Nathan in Corporate Services for guidance).

Select an occupation type from the drop down list. Then type in the number of hours that the person works. Then click insert to insert the row in the employment area.

code area and type in one of the following codes: UNE1 - Unemployed Seeking UNE2 - Unemployed Not Seeking

UNE8 - Employed Greater Than 24 Hours UNE9 - Self Employed

UNE3 - Retired

UN10 - Homemaker

UNE4 - Full Time Education

UN11 - Prefer not to say

UNE5 - Carer Family or Friend

UN12 - Other

UNE6 - Permanent Sick or Disabled

UN13 - Serving in Armed Forces

UNE7 - Employed Less Than 24 Hours

Click on the save icon and your update will be saved. If someone is no longer working, close the employer record in the employment tab by entering an end date. If you are updating the record to say that the person is employed and you know the name of the employer, you can move on to the next step.

38

Click on the save icon and the employment details will be saved.

If you are updating the employment status in a record you should always check the income tab to check if this also needs to be updated. Look out for the next Capita Clinic article in the next edition which will tell you how to do this!

If you would like any help or would like some training on updating information please contact Claudia Blair or Nathan Cook in Corporate Services.

We use employment information to help plan for Welfare Reform and help those affected by it, identify unemployed and low paid workers to help them move on in their careers.

PRESS RELEASES

39

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WS E N E R MO ITING N E V E VIS GET Y B S & VIEWR NEW LOOK YOU USE!

IN HO

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