July/August 2009 - Hounslow Homes

T Brown
Group
We are currently advertising
the following position with
our partnering contractor
T Brown Group, delivering
the gas servicing repairs and
breakdown service for both
our domestic and district
heating systems.
Apprentice Gas
Engineers
Attractive rates and
benefits offered
If you thrive in an
environment which
challenges your multitasking
abilities and
are looking for a new
opportunity within
a successful wellestablished
company,
then please contact us.
We welcome applications
from candidates of
all ages. You must be
eligible to live and work
in the UK.
For an application form
please call 020 8786
1200.
T Brown is an equal
opportunities employer.
Tenant training
Hounslow Homes residents training programme is well under way.
Residents from across the borough have already participated in
sessions, including “Working effectively as a group”, “Being a
Chairperson” and “Treasurer training”
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed
the sessions, stating they felt
relaxed and had gained valuable
information and knowledge
from the course and other
residents they met on the day.
Upcoming sessions to put in your diary
• Secretary skills/minute taking
September 14th
• Managing your money in difficult times
October 10th
• Good communications - learn the art of
negotiating and listening
November 16th
Hounslow Homes remain keen
to offer you a wide range of
training opportunities that we
hope will empower you further
and encourage you to be more
involved with us.
• How to involve more people and keep them
February 8th
• Representing your community
March 29th
All courses are to run in the evening from 6.30 - 9.30
pm at Benson Close, Hounslow. Please phone the
tenant training line on 020 8583 4602 if you
would like to take part or if you have
other suggestions of courses we
could run.
Check out training courses
available through TPAS (Tenant
Participation Advisory Service).
TPAS offers accredited courses
such as Certificate in Community
Action. Visit www.tpas.org.uk to
discover what else they have on offer
or call 0161 868 3500.
Disability matters in
2008/9
Hounslow Homes has continued to strive to meet its obligations
arising from the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, and to actively
promote disability equality for our staff and customers by meeting
best practice and providing excellent services
Key progress made during
2008/9 includes:
• All publicly accessed areas
fully accessible
• Our website is now fully
accessible, with increase of
“self service” options for
customers
• 30 Portable induction loops
purchased and distributed
across Hounslow Homes to
better communicate with
deaf and hard of hearing
customers
• Contract awarded to enforce
blue badge parking spaces
for all council estates
Gas safety - tenants taken to court
Hounslow Homes has taken court action against tenants who refused contractors access to their homes
to carry out an essential free gas safety check
Hounslow Homes has been
running a safety campaign to
ensure tenants are aware of
the potentially deadly threat of
carbon monoxide from faulty
gas appliances and heating.
Hounslow Homes have now
taken the dramatic step of
gaining access warrants for 37
homes across the borough, to
carry out the free service and
safety checks. Some tenants
• All new build properties to
be Lifetime homes
• All leaflets and documents
available in alternative
formats, brailling and audio/
compact disc taping occur
in-house
• Regular use and evaluation
of our use of the “positive
about disability” symbol
on job adverts to increase
disabled job applicants
• All staff offered BSL courses
annually
• Quarterly meeting ongoing
since 2004 for the Disability
Consultative Group
comprising of disabled
had refused repeated requests
to allow contractors T Brown
Group access to their homes.
The warrants allow Hounslow
Homes access to carry out the
free checks. Appointments
are available in the evenings,
weekends, weekday morning
and afternoon slots. We want to
avoid tenants incurring the high
court costs involved by refusing
access.To make an appointment
tenants and leaseholders
• Dedicated Adaptations
team, who arranged up to
400 adaptations (major and
minor) last year
Please contact the Equalities
Team on 020 8583 3762
or email neghet.khan@
hounslowhomes.org.uk if you
have further ideas on how to
achieve disability equality in
Hounslow Homes or would like
more information.
or to find out when your gas
safety check is due contact our
gas contractor T Brown Group
on 0800 634 9434.
Hounslow Homes are now
warning all residents that, apart
from potential danger that they
and their families face, they also
face further court action and
associated costs if they don’t
allow the service to be carried
out.
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