Resident involvement

The diverse spread of properties at Anchor gives us the scope to continually look for new initiatives and ways to engage with our residents.

Residents are actively encouraged to get involved in any way they can and to improve the performance of services provided to residents by:

• Helping to shape and improve services
• Voice concerns, views and ideas
• Making a difference to residents lives
• Seeing real outcomes
• Helping to shape Policies and Strategies
• Gaining useful experience, developing new skills and building confidence

Resident involvement groups and panels

Independent Customer Complaints Panel

The Independent Customer Complaints Panel is made up of residents from rented and leasehold locations and can provide an impartial view on how a complaint has been handled by Anchor.
Find out more about the Panel here.

LGBT+ Group

Anchor’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Advisory Group (LGBT+) aims to tackle concerns that moving into sheltered housing or a care home as an older LGBT+ person may be a lonely or isolating experience. Find out more about the Group here.

Community Grants Panel

The Community Grants Panel is made up of Anchor residents and colleagues and reviews applications made for grant funding, looking for the ideas and initiatives that demonstrate the greatest opportunity for enhancing the quality of life for residents at our locations. Find out more about Community grants here.

The Scrutiny Panel

The Scrutiny Panel is made up of engaged residents whose role is to ask the questions, review the services and make recommendations to improve the services provided by Anchor. Find out more about the Panel here.

The Residents’ Council

The Residents' Council is made up of 8 residents who work with us collaboratively to improve and develop services and hold Anchor to account. Find out more about the Council here.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Working with Anchor, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion representative monitors the pledges made by Anchor to ensure that they continue to work with their residents and colleagues and comply with the Equality Act 2010. Find out more about diversity at Anchor here.

Communications Group

The Communications Group, formed as part of the Anchor resident involvement strategy, comprises of colleagues from Anchor.

The group is responsible for improving various areas of communication, such as newsletters, handbooks and digitally on the Anchor website. A recent example of their work can be found in the new newsletter format, which is available for download by scheme managers to facilitate a monthly local newsletter to residents.

Value for Money Oversight Committee

The Value for Money Oversight committee ensures that residents pay sensible fee’s that provide the best value for money. This is calculated by looking at the following areas, with the assistance of residents

• Service charges reviewed each year
• Quarterly reviews to analyse current spending. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Report on outliers, trends and separate out cost type such as staff/repairs
  • Funds and contributions
  • Consider the HB  eligible/support split for customers
  • Property elements (this may feedback to the property group)
• Tracking savings from procurement contracts due in the year and identifying how these impact customers
• BeWise service delivery to help residents 
• The management fee review of costs and charges to residents
• Procurement contracts and how they are managed

Health and Wellbeing

Ensuring the health and wellbeing of residents is a high priority to Anchor. This group aims to monitor residents’ physical fitness and mental stability and regularly reviewing Anchor policies and practices to ensure they contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents.

Technology and Innovation

Oversight for technology means looking at the different types of technology available to residents. This can range from equipment to stay connected with family and friends, to equipment needed to stay safe in the home.

Anchor’s Stay Connected initiative allows colleagues to visit locations and work with residents so that they can work virtually online. This support can be anything from online shopping to online banking. Visits are currently being completed virtually.

If you’d like to find out more or becoming involved in resident involvement groups or panels, please email [email protected]