Scrutiny team takes shape at Derwent Living

A group of four residents have just completed training to become part of a new scrutiny team for Derwent Living.

As part of the Tenant Services Authority’s (TSA) new regulatory framework, which came into effect from April 2010, residents must be given the opportunity to have greater involvement in the regulation of their landlord.

Now that training is complete, the will work with the board and executive team to look at Derwent Living’s performance, ensuring that objectives are met, and services are shaped around the needs of the organisation’s residents.

Mitch Allseybrook, community development manager at Derwent Living said: “We are pleased that our residents were so keen to become a part of a scrutiny team. It is valuable for us to have input from residents at all levels as we look to continually improve as a housing provider and maintain our high standards. We are all really looking forward to working with the group.”

Maureen Corkery of Alvaston, Derby, took part in the training, she said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it to be very interesting. We learnt all about the background to landlords, going back to the origins of social housing which can be traced back to Almshouses in the 10th century, right up to the present day.

“Derwent Living is very keen for residents to become more involved, and we are very happy to oblige. The whole team is really eager to get going now, having done the training, we are keen to work with the Derwent Living board, and put into practise what we have learnt.”

One of the team’s first priorities will be working on Derwent Living’s customer report which is due out in early October – they will be helping to determine how the information is displayed and what should be included.