The wheel of involvement

In order to enable as many residents as possible to get involved we have set up a ‘Wheel of Involvement’. The wheel is made up of four stages that require different levels of commitment and time from very little to quite considerable.

The four parts of the wheel cover:

Communication Receiving information through Homelife (our inhouse magazine), being informed of new policies and services. Consultation Giving us your feedback and suggestions. This could be face-to-face, by telephone, post or e-mail. Involvement Being a member of a group recognised by Sandwell Homes or attending specific focus groups and conferences to give us your views. Empowerment Being a member of a formal decision-making group that meets regularly. You may also represent the views of tenants at these meetings.

You can get involved in a number of ways

• Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) – TRAs are local groups where tenants and residents come together to discuss issues that effect their community and engage with Sandwell Homes and other agencies in order to resolve those issues. If there isn't a TRA in your area would you be interested in starting one? Sandwell Home can provide financial and officer support to get your group off the ground
• Housing Service Panels – These are town based panels are made up of local tenants and residents who come together four times a year (March, June, September, December) to discuss the issues that effect their town, please check our events calendar for details of your panels next meeting
• Tenant Inspectors Project – Do you want to be involved in inspecting the housing services? This voluntary scheme enables tenants to carry out spot checks on the services Sandwell Homes delivers

These are just a few examples of the many ways you can influence the service.

For more information see our Quick Guide to Community Involvement leaflet.

Who can I contact?

Your Community Involvement Officer will provide you with more details.

Tenants Inspectorate Project

The tenant inspectorate project is made up of tenants who inspect the services delivered to tenants by Sandwell Homes.

A volunteer tenant inspector can be involved in:

• Conducting face to face interviews
• Mystery shopping
• Conducting telephone surveys

• Choice Based Lettings
• Decent Homes
• Gas Servicing
• Janitorial and Cleaning
• Responsive Repairs
• Anti-social Behaviour
• Customer Care

Below are some links you may find useful:

SCIPS (Sandwell Community Information and Participation Service)	TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service)	TSA (Tenant Services Authortiy)	TAROE (Tenants and Residents Organisations of England)
Homes and Communities Agency