Annual Report for Residents
2015
you said
we did
Welcome Welcome to your Annual Report for Residents 2015. In this report we look at the results of the annual satisfaction survey. Key management staff have looked closely at the results and read all of your comments. For each question we show what you said and tell you some of the actions Derventio Housing Trust is taking to improve. This is the third year we have carried out this survey. This means it is easy to compare the results to previous years, and we have done this throughout the report.
This year was our best response rate ever, with 38% of all Derventio residents filling in a survey! Thank you so much if you took the time to complete the survey. Your answers will help to improve the service for you and others. I hope you find this report useful. Please let us know what you think of it. Happy reading!
Sarah Hernandez Managing Director
Inside Our Services
3
Your Comments
18
Resident Involvement & Empowerment
4
Your Neighbourhood & Community
19
Your Home
6
Value for Money
20
Your Tenancy & Support
12
Plans for the Future
22
Our Services Derventio Housing Trust provides stable accommodation and support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We also deliver a range of services to help people make positive changes to their health, wellbeing, skills and employability.
Shared supported housing in the private rented sector. Last year we housed 998 individuals.
Growing Lives provides learning and skill-building opportunities to help people to build their confidence, resilience and employability.
Healthy Futures Hospital discharge support to help homeless patients find suitable accommodation and use health services in a planned way.
Talent Match Young and Successful Mentoring and support to help unemployed 18 to 24 year-olds to access training and employment.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
3
Resident Involvement & Empowerment The more residents get involved, the more you get to shape the service so it works better for you Do you feel you have enough opportunity to express your views about the service? 88%
Yes No
13%
I’m kept informed well on any problem & situation Do you feel any problems, complaints or disputes you’ve had were dealt with effectively? Yes
37%
Some were, some weren’t
17%
No
17%
I haven’t had any
4
I am always positive about Derventio and the services provided
30%
How good or bad do you think Derventio is at keeping you informed about things that might affect you as a resident? Very good
50% 43%
Good Poor Very poor
5% 2%
Are always informed about anything that affects us e.g. Maintenance, new housemates Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Resident Involvement & Empowerment
Problems & complaints You Said... Nearly a third of you who responded said that you have not had any problems or complaints. This is an improvement on the last two years. Of the people who did, 37% said that your problem was dealt with effectively. However 34% said that your issue was not dealt with or only some were.
We Did... Comments and suggestions, both positive and negative, are very important to us. They help us to make sure we are delivering a good service and help us to make continuous improvements. We passed on all your comments to the right manager. Complaints can be made in person, by phone or in writing. Please ask a staff member if you would like to request a complaints form.
Expressing your views You Said... Almost 9 in 10 of everyone who responded feel that you have enough opportunity to express your views about the service. This is 4% more than last year.
We Did... We are pleased that most of you feel that you have enough chance to express your views. You can speak to staff at any time. You can also fill in the Comments, Compliments & Complaints form for a quick way to tell us what you think.
Keeping informed You Said... A very positive 93% of you feel that you are kept well-informed. This is a big improvement from last year’s 85%.
We Did... We aim to keep residents informed through house meetings, appointments, letters, phone calls and texts. If you ever feel that you don’t understand something, or if things have changed and you weren’t told about it, please tell a staff member about your concerns. Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
5
Your Home We want to make sure that where you live is safe and feels like home How happy or unhappy are you with the quality of your house or flat? 41%
Very happy
47%
Happy 9%
Unhappy Very unhappy
It is a very nice flat in a good location for city centre. We have good transport coming into town. In need of redecorating
3%
Lovely area, and beautiful home
I feel safe and at home here Strongly agree
68% 23%
Tend to agree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
6
4% 5%
House needs modernising
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Your Home
The quality of your home You Said... Slightly fewer of you said you are happy with the quality of your house or flat this year (88%) compared with last year (91%).
We Did... We know that the quality of your home matters, and we have put a lot of work into improving all of Derventio’s properties. See the box to the right. These changes will make a big difference to the quality of your home.
Staying safe You Said... Most of you (91%) said that you feel safe and at home in your Derventio property.
We Did... There are some things Derventio can do to keep you safe in your home, including making sure the house is secure, completing fire, gas and electric safety checks and carrying out a risk assessment for all residents. Please remember that some things are your responsibility, such as keeping windows and doors locked at night and when the house is empty. Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Improving our property standards In 2014 we identified that conditions in the 400 properties we manage were becoming an issue. To help improve the standards of all Derventio housing, we have made these changes: XX Created a property procurement team to find good properties that are right for the service XX Defined a Property Standard that all properties will eventually meet. While some properties are not there yet we also have minimum standards that all homes must meet in the meantime XX Coached staff to know what to look for when visiting properties so they can spot problems and give tips and advice to residents - such as opening windows to reduce condensation XX Housing staff now carry out simple health and safety checks when visiting residents, to catch problems at an early stage XX Started carrying out regular property checks to make sure standards are being maintained
7
Your Home
I get along with my housemates
Your housemates
Strongly agree
66% 31%
Tend to agree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
My housemates respect each other Strongly agree
2% 0%
63% 32%
Tend to agree Tend to disagree
3%
Strongly disagree
3%
My housemates abide by the rules Strongly agree
56% 31%
Tend to agree 12%
Tend to disagree
You Said...
Strongly disagree
1%
A brilliant 97% of you get along with your housemates, and 95% agree that your housemates respect each other.
We Did... We know that who you live with makes a big difference. That is why we do our best to match residents up with suitable housemates. You should always speak to a staff member if you are having problems with someone in your home. They are there to help. 8
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Your Home
Repairs & maintenance Bedroom door very secure which means a lot to me, and mouse traps were put in my room. Thank you!
Have you reported any repairs in the past year? 88%
Yes No
13%
It depends how long you have to wait for a new cooker or something else
Were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the standard of work? 33%
Very satisfied
43%
Satisfied
Were you satisfied or dissatisfied with how long it took to get the repairs done?
5%
Very unsatisfied
24%
Very satisfied
38%
Satisfied 26%
Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied
20%
Unsatisfied
12%
In general, do you think the repairs service is: 36%
Very good
40%
Good 19%
Poor
The man is extremely helpful, friendly and well-informed with advice if something went wrong or in explaining what the problem is Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Very poor
5%
The results on this page do not include those from the South West, as that area does not use Derventio’s maintenance team.
9
Your Home
Reporting repairs You Said... More than 80% said you have reported a repair in the last year, 6% more than last year.
We Did... You may have noticed that housing staff now ask you if there are any repairs during visits. This is so issues can be picked up quickly without waiting for them to be reported. This is all part of our aim to improve property standards.
Quality of repairs You Said... Slightly more than three quarters of you are satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of repairs that have been carried out in your home. This is lower than last year, which was 84%. The same number are satisfied with the repairs service overall, describing it as good or very good.
We Did... Our maintenance team has grown over the last couple of years, and they have a wide a range of skills including joinery, plumbing and electrics. They have a big task of bringing all properties up to an agreed standard, and we hope you will notice a difference. We recognised that there was a lack of communication between some of the different areas. We have resolved this by improving communication and coordinating all of the maintenance works from our head office in Derby.
Maintenance staff are friendly, positive and always explain the procedures they are performing
10
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Your Home
Speed of repairs You Said... 62% of people who responded to the survey said they are very satisfied or satisfied with how long it took to get the repairs done. This is slightly less than last year which was 64%.
We Did... As with last year, this is still one of your main concerns with the repairs service, and is an area we are always trying to improve. The chart below shows the timescales we aim for to deal with each type of repair, along with some examples of the work we carry out under each category. Some repairs are the responsibility of the property owner and not Derventio. These are not in our control and so sometimes might take longer.
Emergency Repairs
Urgent Repairs
Routine Repairs
Dealt with:
Dealt with:
Dealt with:
Within 24 hours
Within 7 working days
Within 1 month
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Boiler broken - no hot water Front door not secure Broken window Gas leak Water leak
Light bulbs Void turnaround Damaged interior door Broken cooker Broken fridge Broken shower
Broken washing machine Plastering walls Decor Cleaning carpets Broken furniture Gardens Rubbish removal
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
11
Your Tenancy & Support We aim to provide suitable tenancies and give you the support you need My life has been better since I moved here
91%
Living here has helped me to make positive changes to my life
87%
I am gaining the skills I need to avoid being homeless in the future
90%
I am doing positive things with my life
94%
Living here has helped me to feel more confident in myself
86%
Your support You Said... Most of you who responded feel that things are getting better in your life, whether that’s making positive changes, gaining new skills or feeling more confident. You also told us how staff have supported you. Help with benefits, identifying needs and goals and coming up with a plan were all chosen by more than three quarters of you. 12
We Did... We have restructured our housing and support service so that each area has its own housing management staff. Link Support Workers are on hand to provide additional support where it is needed. We are also looking for funding for specialist staff so we can give more support to people with drug, alcohol or mental health issues. Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Your Tenancy
Staff have helped me to... Identify my needs and goals for the future Come up with a plan to move towards my goals Claim benefits (such as Housing Benefit) and filling in forms Manage my money and debts (budgeting, paying rent and bills)
80% 76% 94% 72% 57%
Improve my household skills Shop, cook and eat healthily
43%
Access services (e.g. housing, health or substance use services) Look for education, training, volunteering and work
65% 48%
Manage my drug use
29%
Manage my alcohol use
29%
Reduce my offending Improve my physical health (e.g. signing up to a GP)
40%
Manage my mental health
45%
Improve my ability to communicate and get on with others
46%
Improve my personal relationships
42%
Lead a healthier lifestyle
42%
Improve my overall happiness
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
I now have a job I got myself and life’s looking good!
27%
42%
13
Your Tenancy
Getting in touch How easy or difficult is it to contact Derventio staff? I can always get in touch
68% 29%
I can usually get in touch It’s not easy to get in touch It’s difficult to get in touch
3%
There has never been any problems for myself. It is an excellent service.
0%
Not always got money or credit to contact them
How do you usually get in touch with Derventio staff?
Sometimes it might take one or two attempts. This is probably due to them attending priority situations
Phone call 54%
Text message Email
4% 84%
Drop in to the office I wait for house meetings/support Other
14
84%
33% 44%
0%
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Your Tenancy
We Did...
You Said... Most of you get in touch with us through phone calls, text messages and house meetings / support sessions. A much bigger proportion than last year chose phone calls (up 20%) and text messages (up 10%). Almost 70% of you said you can always get in touch, 4% more than last year. Nobody said that it’s difficult to get in touch.
Many of you understand that staff are busy and can’t always respond to your calls straight away. They will always get back you as soon as they can. If you don’t want to use the credit on your phone you can leave a missed call and staff will call you back. If you sometimes find it hard to get in touch please tell us so we can sort it out.
What do you think about your weekly house meetings? They are a good place to talk about household issues
56%
They are a good chance to see staff They give me a chance to catch up with my housemates They are a waste of time
You Said... Most of the people who responded were positive about house meetings. Slightly more people than last year said that you don’t find them useful.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
41% 6% 10%
We Did... We know that house meetings are useful and are reviewing how we can make them more effective. We tried a different system but now we are going back to set days, so your meetings will be held on the same day and time each week. 15
Your Tenancy
Quality of staff How would you describe our staff? Approachable
93% 90%
Well-informed
92%
Trustworthy Reliable
84%
All staff I’ve met have been top class Our support is very hands on and very valuable, without it we would be lost.
You Said... You were mostly positive about staff, with more of you describing them as approachable and well-informed than last year (up 2% and 7%). Some people from Staffordshire and Shropshire commented that there are not many staff in that area.
16
84%
Staff are very good and were there for me when I was ill and helped me through family problems and still are. Thank you I love you. The Swindon staff are amazing
We Did... We will soon be recruiting a new staff member in the Staffordshire/Shropshire area so there will be more support in that area. Some of you commented on the reliability of gardeners and cleaners. Please remember that window cleaning and gardening only takes place between March and September.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Your Tenancy
Emergency on-call service What do you think of the out-of-hours emergency phone number? I have used it and staff were able to help me I have used it but staff were not able to help me
24% 11%
I haven’t needed to use it but I’m glad it’s there if I do I haven’t needed to use it, and I don’t think it’s useful
59% 6%
When to use the Emergency On-Call Service
You Said... As with last year, the majority of you are happy that the emergency on-call service is there, although you haven’t had to use it yourself (59%). Almost a quarter of you have used it successfully. However 11% said that staff were not able to help and 6% don’t think it’s useful.
We Did... The emergency on-call service is a key part of your service and we are pleased that most of you find it helpful and reassuring. Check the guide on the right to make sure you know when you should and shouldn’t use the on-call service.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Available after 5pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday
DO call:
DON’T call:
99 When there is no lighting in the property
88 If there is no gas in the property
99 When physical abuse is occurring
88 To report that your food has been stolen
99 When the front door is not secure
88 To report minor antisocial behaviour
99 When you think a tenant is self-harming, or you have thoughts of self-harming
88 To report other residents’ sexual activity
99 When there is a fire
Instead, please tell us about things like this the next working day.
17
Your Comments We asked what the best thing about your time with Derventio has been. This is what you said. “I can’t thank Derventio enough “I am still alive for all you have done for me. I lost everything before I came here. Thank you!
“They have helped me gain my
confidence again after losing my job because of medical reasons
“Getting off the streets
“Living somewhere and making
“Given me time to sort my health
“Making friends, good standard
“Derventio helped me when I
friends with my housemate
of living, helpful team leader
“I could have been on the street. “Helped me to get my life started
out
was about to be made homeless and took me in, always made welcome and help was there when I needed it
I’ve met some friends, had support
and helped me gain confidence
“Security
can call my own
can not make one fault. It’s been a nice experience for me so far.
“It is so reassuring to know
“Feeling secure about where I
“Not living on a football field anymore
“Having a place to stay and sort out any problems 18
“Having somewhere to live that I when you fall on hard times, that we have organisations such as Derventio to benefit from their service
“During my time with Derventio I
live
“Everything! It has all been amazing.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Your Neighbourhood & Community Your local area should be somewhere that you feel part of and enjoy 414 homes in the Midlands and South West
How do you feel you fit with the local community? I feel like I belong in the community
26%
I fit in quite well Sometimes there are problems I don’t feel part of the community at all
46% 13% 15%
You Said... We are pleased that more of you said that you feel like you belong in the community or that you fit in quite well compared to last year. 3% more than last year say that sometimes there are problems, but 6% less of you say that you don’t feel part of the community at all.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
26
Shropshire
54
Staffordshire
315
Derbyshire
14
Nottinghamshire
32
Wiltshire
We Did... We try to give all residents as much choice as possible when it comes to which area you live in. It does depend on what properties are available at the time. But we also take into account your own preferences and personal situation. If you are unhappy with where you are living please speak to a member of staff. 19
Value for Money It is important that our services do not waste money and are good value for you How satisfied or dissatisfied are you that your rent/service charge provides value for money? 39%
Very satisfied Satisfied Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied
I am privileged to be living in such a good flat and excellent location
46%
Problems are solved efficiently and quickly
8% 6%
Derventio are caring and compassionate and treat everyone as individuals
How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the service on the whole? 49%
Very satisfied
Rent too high to pay it in work
Satisfied 7%
Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied
20
45%
0%
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Value for Money
We Did...
You Said... 85% of those who responded said that you are satisfied or very satisfied that your rent/service charge is value for money. This is lower than last year by 10%. However more of you are satisfied with the service on the whole, 94% this year compared to last year’s 91%.
It is an ongoing problem that people with a job struggle to afford to live in a Derventio home. Unfortunately we cannot change this as it is part of the housing benefit rules. However, we will always give you support to move on to accommodation that is best for you.
Every £1 of your rent goes towards: 13p 13
Every £1 of your bill money goes towards: 21.5 21.5p
10 10p
Rent to the owner Maintenance/Repairs
16.7 16.7p
Furniture/Equipment
38p 38
19 19p
White Goods
22
7.2 7.2p
22p
Utilities Support
Cleaning
Manageme
Property Costs
TV Licence
Management/Admin
4.8 4.8p 14.8 14.8p
Rent to the property owner Maintenance & repairs Furniture & equipment
33p33 White goods Cleaning
Utilities
Management & admin
Property costs
Support
TV license
Management & admin
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
21
Plans for the Future Your feedback will help us to make improvements to the housing and support service Learning & skill-building Would you like to take part in any of the following free activities and skill-building opportunities with Derventio? Arts & crafts
31% 52%
Computer skills Cooking
38%
Cycling / bike repair
37%
Gardening
62%
22
47% 35%
Music
40%
Photography
41%
Walks
37%
The most popular activities you would like to take part in are day trips (62%), computer skills (52%) and DIY (47%).
We Did...
Day trips DIY
You Said...
If you live in Derby or Derbyshire you can take part in many of these activities through our Growing Lives project. Ask a staff member for more information. We were recently awarded funding to deliver cooking and healthy living sessions for residents in Swindon. We will use your suggestions to continue to find funding for Growing Lives and to deliver activities in other areas.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
Plans for the Future
Keeping in touch How much contact would you like with staff? 13%
More OK as it is
80% 7%
Less None
1%
You Said... Only 13% said that you would like more contact with staff, much less than the 26% last year. The majority of you are happy with the amount of contact you get with staff.
Derventio Housing Trust Annual Report for Residents 2015
We Did... We have recently restructured our housing and support teams, and these results indicate that this is working well so far. As well as the usual ways, you can get in touch through our website www.derventiohousing.com
23
Thank you for helping us to improve the service www.derventiohousing.com Derventio Housing Trust, 33 Boyer Street, Derby DE22 3TB Tel: 01332 292 776 | Fax: 01332 209 256 info@derventiohousing.com Derventio Housing Trust is a limited company registered in England and Wales (05886593); Registered office: 33 Boyer Street, Derby DE22 3TB