UNDER ONE ROOF The newsletter for customers of Nehemiah May 2017 You might already have seen the friendly Novus team out and about. To get to know them a little better, we asked Matt Rolnik, operations manager at Novus, to tell you more. “As a well-established family business, Novus prides itself on its strong family values so you can be sure you will be well looked after and our work will be of a high quality. One of our offices is centrally located in Smethwick so the team are always on hand to help. Having worked closely with lots of housing associations, we know how important it is to create and maintain good relationships with customers. GETTING TO KNOW NOVUS We are always keen to get involved with community activities.” What does this mean for you? The important message is that all repairs are being carried out for you as before. The only change you should notice is that they are being done in an even better way. The Novus team now runs the Nehemiah Repair Line so just call the same number to report any day-to-day repairs you need doing: freephone 0800 849 1400 or from a mobile 03030 30 1000. The team will log your repair and arrange for one of its experienced operatives to visit you to carry out the work. Response times have not changed so you can still expect someone to come out to you within 24 hours in an emergency, 5 working days for an urgent repair or 14 working days for a more minor job. As Novus now deals with all repairs at our properties, they keep a full record of your calls and the repairs to your home. This is aimed at making the service you receive more streamlined and efficient. Plus, the Novus team will deal with different repairs needed in the same visit – helping to get the jobs done quicker and saving you valuable time. We will continue to inspect a sample range of repairs, as well as asking for your feedback in a new telephone survey starting later this year. We’d like to introduce you to Novus Property Solutions – the contractor we have chosen to deliver our repairs and maintenance service to all our homes. 1
Transcript
UNDER ONE ROOFThe newsletter for customers of Nehemiah
May 2017
You might already have seen the friendly Novus team out and about. To get to know them a little better, we asked Matt Rolnik, operations manager at Novus, to tell you more.
“As a well-established family business, Novus prides itself on its strong family values so you can be sure you will be well looked after and our work will be of a high quality.
One of our offices is centrally located in Smethwick so the team are always on hand to help.
Having worked closely with lots of housing associations, we know how important it is to create and maintain good relationships with customers.
GETTING TO KNOW NOVUS
We are always keen to get involved with community activities.”
What does this mean for you?The important message is that all repairs are being carried out for you as before. The only change you should notice is that they are being done in an even better way.
The Novus team now runs the Nehemiah Repair Line so just call the same number to report any day-to-day repairs you need doing: freephone 0800 849 1400 or from a mobile 03030 30 1000.
The team will log your repair and arrange for one of its experienced operatives to visit you to carry out the work. Response times have not changed so you can still expect someone to come out to
you within 24 hours in an emergency, 5 working days for an urgent repair or 14 working days for a more minor job.
As Novus now deals with all repairs at our properties, they keep a full record of your calls and the repairs to your home. This is aimed at making the service you receive more streamlined and efficient.
Plus, the Novus team will deal with different repairs needed in the same visit – helping to get the jobs done quicker and saving you valuable time.
We will continue to inspect a sample range of repairs, as well as asking for your feedback in a new telephone survey starting later this year.
We’d like to introduce you to Novus Property Solutions – the contractor we have chosen to deliver our repairs and maintenance service to all our homes.
SQUARE DEAL OF SUPPORTNehemiah’s experience in helping young families who need a bit of extra support is being put to further good use in Wolverhampton, where we have taken over the running of the Vine Square housing scheme.Couples or individuals with a child can live for up to two years at this supported scheme of nine two-bedroom flats.
During their stay, families receive a range of support from our staff and other agencies. This includes help to maintain a tenancy, budget and manage bills, plus support to look at future education and employment options.
Vine Square is similar to our Seacole Court scheme, also located in Wolverhampton.
“We give young families the safe and supportive environment they need to take stock and make good choices for their future,” says our support manager Lorna McKetty.
“Our aim is to equip them with a ‘kit bag’ of skills, so that when they leave here they feel independent and ready to thrive in the community.”
Ten years on and Paul is an active resident of Plummer House, our retirement living scheme in Aston.
He likes the independence of having his own flat, with the security of support and social activities on offer. Barbecues, visits from entertainers and a trip to the seaside are just some of the plans in the pipeline which Paul is helping to organise.
And far from being retired, Paul has recently gone back to work after redundancy from his long-standing employer.
DON’T STOP ME NOW!
MAKE NEW MOVES Wanting to move within Birmingham? If you are looking for property managed by Nehemiah, other housing associations or the council, you will need to apply through the Birmingham Choice scheme run by Birmingham City Council.
This online choice-based lettings scheme has recently been updated. Anyone who applied for housing before 19 April 2017 had to re-register by this date to keep their original application date. If you did not re-register, you will have been taken off the list and you will need to make a new application. He now works as a reservations clerk
for a hotel chain.
“I enjoy feeling useful and dealing with customers,” he says. “My colleagues are a young crowd - so, along with living here, I get to have great interactions with both the younger and older generations every day!”
Flats are now available at Plummer House. To find out more, please call scheme manager Beverley Ramhi on 0121 333 5845.
In his own words, Paul Fisher found it a “massive shock” when he had a stroke “before even reaching middle age” which left him reliant on using a wheelchair.
ACADEMY NEWSWe believe in giving people a helping hand to enter the world of work and to develop their careers. Our Nehemiah Academy offers a range of opportunities. For example, our graduate internships supported four young people to start their careers in housing. Rakpinder Basra (top left) has taken up a permanent role with us as a housing officer, while trainee Simone Flowers (top right) is gaining further experience in supported housing.
Our trainee surveyors, Jordon Fearon (bottom left) and Mohi Kazi (bottom right), successfully used the professional qualifications they gained with us as a springboard for promotion into jobs elsewhere.
Looking for a work placement or a housing career? Maybe we could help you or someone you know.
Call Janet Dubidat on 0121 358 0966 or visit our Academy website page.
Danielle is a shining example of the life-changing work of a programme called Talent Match, which supports young people to gain the skills and confidence to be job ready.
It offers a personalised pathway for unemployed young people, by opening up choices and challenging thinking through coaching, volunteering and paid work.
“I found it helpful to bounce ideas off my coach and to discuss my goals,” says Danielle. “I felt proud when I got things done - like my CV, setting up a savings account and doing some voluntary work. I didn’t want to go back to my old routine. So when I got an interview at Nehemiah, I prepared well and was so happy to get the job!”
MATCH RESULTSA year ago, Danielle Gumbley was a stay-at-home mum feeling unmotivated and stuck in a rut. Now she is working as a temporary admin assistant at our head office and feels “like a new person – I’ve just blossomed!”
Through working with us, Danielle has discovered how much she likes office work and helping customers. She is planning to do an online customer service course and eventually to become a top personal assistant.
“Gaining confidence has been my biggest achievement. I’ve gone from literally having none, to knowing what I want to do and how to get it,” beams Danielle. “When you work hard, you see results and feel you can achieve whatever you want. My home life is much better too. I feel independent and able to provide for my son in the way I want to.”
Danielle is keen to inspire others. Her Talent Match coach Joe Allen says: “It’s been a quick turnaround for Danielle.
The support from Nehemiah has really enhanced her experience of working. Danielle told me she couldn’t stop talking about the programme, even to people on the bus! So we asked her to give a speech at a recent Talent Match celebration event, where she also won our ‘Emerging Talent’ award.”
As she prepares to move on from Nehemiah, we wish Danielle the very best for her future. For more information about Talent Match please call 0121 643 4343 or watch this short film about Talent Match.
STAY ABOVE WATERThreat of a water shortage can cause worries for some people. For others, it’s the worry of not being able to pay their water bills. If you are struggling, please ask for help by speaking to your water company about special tariffs or trust funds, or get in touch with a debt advice agency like Birmingham Settlement.
They have helped many people to cut their water bills by up to 90% through Severn Trent’s Big Difference Scheme.
Call Birmingham Settlement on 0121 250 0765 or email [email protected] and let them know you are a Nehemiah customer.
VIEW YOUR RENT ACCOUNT We’ve made it easier for you to manage your rent account, as you can now check your rent statement online at any time.Registering is quick and easy. You will need to know your tenancy reference number and have an email address.
You can find your tenancy reference number at the bottom of your rent payment card under your name. You can also find it at the top of any previous rent statements where is it is called ‘Our Ref’. Please only use the five numbers before the slash (/) symbol. If you are unsure, you can contact your housing officer on 0121 358 0966.
The steps to register are:
1. Go to the My Account page on our website
2. Click on ‘Register’
3. Complete the form and click ‘Register’
That’s it – you’re all set up! Your password will be sent to the email address you have given.
Use your password to easily log in at any time to see all your rent payments and charges, including your account history for the past year.
Information on the system is updated daily, so it is far more up to date than the quarterly rent statements we send you.
In July you will receive your last statement in the post; there will be no more sent after this time, reducing costs and paper waste. If you are unable to go online to see your statement, please get in touch with your housing officer.
Please remember that the best way to pay your rent is by Direct Debit. We can also take payments over the phone, from debit cards only.
HUMAN CITIES Nehemiah’s values have always been rooted in the belief that affordable housing helps tackle inequality and improves the quality of life in our cities.
As well as being a landlord, we try to get involved in the discussions that influence the thinking of policy and decision makers.
The Human City Institute is a research group which promotes the economic and social welfare of neighbourhoods.
We were delighted to sponsor their recent annual lecture about Building Better Cities, which included the launch of a manifesto about ways to achieve greater social equality.
Our chief executive Llewellyn Graham is pictured speaking at the event.
