Warrington Housing Association has set up a colleague forum to maintain our Investors in People gold standards and it couldn’t come at a more appropriate time than during the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
One of the first things our forum will be tackling is how to combat staff stress, not only during a global pandemic but day-to-day business strain in the future.
The team is putting in plans to train mental health ‘first aiders’ to signpost colleagues who may be struggling to cope to get the help they need.
Our forum members, who were all involved in preparing for the Investors in People assessment at the end of last year, are drawn from all areas of the organisation.
Business support manager Jackie Lawton said: “We wanted to keep the expertise of the team and keep momentum going. IIP come back every year so we don’t want to rest on our laurels after we were awarded gold.”
The plan is for the forum to meet quarterly at the least to keep a close eye on matters such health and safety, equality, and management training and development.
They are also working on an 18-month diversity action plan as part of our commitment as a disability confident employer.
Areas for development are fed into the senior leadership team’s action plan for our business plan.
Such value is put on the forum that our CEO David Cummins and the executive team attended the first forum in support.
Jackie said: “It is early days but the forum a great way for us to grow as an organisation. Staff engagement and involving colleagues in analysing how everything is working is now the new norm for WHA culture.
“We encourage people to make the suggestions and show we are listening. The team is making it work and I think it is great.”
Our current members go out into their departments and the wider business then report back to the forum. The plan is for them to volunteer for a year then nominate a colleague to take their place to benefit from a full range of talents and insights.
