Chief Exec Blog

We are a team with a very flat structure; all but two of our senior managers have risen from within the Trust and, with coaching and support, delivered our amazing turnaround, but more than that, ask any colleague to describe us and you will hear, ‘friendly’, ‘supportive’, ‘we share the same vision’, ‘we know why we come to work’, ‘we know what we have to do and how to do it’, and we know how to laugh, learn and celebrate.

We are an open organisation; no colleague is inaccessible to another or not encouraged to challenge to find better ways of delivering service. Our offices are open plan and that includes the CEO who promotes and expects cooperation between all colleagues.

We have an inspiring future; there is not one aspect of our Corporate Plan that we have not progressed: for example we are employing more people from the communities we serve, we are reducing homelessness, we are building more homes, we are delivering innovative cutting-edge regeneration in our communities and truly ‘creating opportunity’ in everything we do.

We take corporate responsibility seriously and will take it beyond Chester as we deliver a skills exchange programme in Uganda as part of building The Mountains of the Moon University.

Our success is about being a team; there is warmth and a sense of purpose that is tangible when you walk through the front-door. We always deliver; we want to learn and change and we are happy to share with anyone whose customers and colleagues could benefit from our success.

Lots more to do

Cheers, john.

With the Annual General Meeting next week for the Trust’s board, I have used the opportunity this week to prepare for this. I’ve looked at how we’ve done over the last 12 months, what we have achieved and if we could do any better on anything. There is always something! I’m also working with colleagues on a plan to take the organisation to 2013; setting out some goals and ground rules.

It is nice when we are recognised for our success but even better when people want to talk to us about how we can help them. The Minister for Health was in Chester last week and Andy Burnham MP spent sometime chatting to us about his plans for care and what CDHT is doing with ChesterCare and telehealth.

With the nights drawing in and the temperatures dropping, everyone is becoming more aware of costs and saving energy when they turn on the heating. I’m pleased to see the progress on our energy efficiency programme with the new condensing boilers last year, energy efficient light bulbs for everyone and the solar panel trials . More to report soon on this.

Well done to everyone involved with the gardening competitions. There were some really fantastic gardens, window boxes, and superb efforts by everyone to make it all happen. Our neighbourhood services and grounds maintenance colleagues have also really helped, in particular with the Bache Community Allotments and eco-garden off Bridgeman Road in Blacon. Everything shows a real sense of pride and desire to make our communities better places to work, rest and play! I’m all for that!

After months of meetings and training our new Residents Board takes over responsibility for major decisions on repairs and maintenance for the Trust. The twelve democratically elected members will receive regular reports from repairs and maintenance colleagues. If this pilot is successful, other decisions may follow. Our Annual Report gives more details which you can request a copy of or see on the web site.

We are for the third year running in the Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For and are really honoured to be Cheshire West & Chester Council’s Employer of the Year 2009. It is fantastic to see so many new apprentices and recruits gain confidence and new skills through our Pathways to Work programme and Future Jobs Funding. We are on target with one of the largest schemes in the North West.

Trust HomeChoice also launched across Ellesmere Port, following Vale Royal. It makes sure our customers have an even greater choice of property, location and landlord stretching right across Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford, Northwich and of course all the areas in between.

Development plans are firmly in place to see more new homes of the highest standards to respond to the ever increasing demand for our properties. Chester Point has been a big success, Crownfields shared ownership houses are all sold and work has started at Hoole House.

With the better weather, it is just as important to look after our neighbours. I would urge you all to knock on a door nearby to make sure our elderly and vulnerable customers see a friendly face. Perhaps you could check to ensure they’ve received a copy of the latest edition of Trust News? The Summer edition comes out soon.

And talking of Summer, don’t forget to enter the gardening competition back by popular demand again this Summer.