Why do SCH need to know more about me? 

Everyone Matters is a brand-new initiative. By better understanding who lives in our homes and what specific needs you have, we can tailor our services to better suit you, because you matter. We are committed to providing you, and those you live with, a more accessible, personalised and inclusive service tailored to meet your needs. But we can’t do this without your help.

We are asking all our customers to update their personal details through an online form to ensure that we have an up to date understanding of you and your household. By taking part you will help us ensure that the services we provide are fair and accessible. All tenants are different. Rather than treat all our customers as ‘one’ we want to try and connect with the ‘individual’ – the Everyone Matters campaign is designed to help us achieve this.

All the questions are optional – you are not legally required to provide the information and you can tick ‘prefer not to say’ to any questions. However, the more information we receive, the better we can deliver our services.

 

Why do you need to know about other members of my household?

All household members matter. We need to understand the needs of everyone. It’s also helpful to know how many people we are delivering services to, to help plan for future provision etc. Knowing about all family members is especially important if you live in a high rise. If we know this, then in the event of an emergency, we can provide information to the fire service on the number of household members, to ensure you are kept safe.

 

Why do you need to know my age? 

We have tenants of all ages. But some issues are more relevant to individual people depending on how old they are. For example, if we were promoting an apprenticeship scheme, we may prioritise younger customers who have recently left education. If we were supporting a scheme around supported living, such as our Saxon Court facility, we need to focus on our older customers. If we know a customer’s age we can also assess if we need to prioritise them, for example around certain repairs.

 

Why do you need to know my nationality and ethnicity?

If we know where you are from, we will not contact you on a day that may be special to you, such as the Chinese New Year. Having information on your ethnicity means we can ensure that everyone has fair and equal access to all our services at a time that suits their needs.

 

Why do you need to know my religion? 

Different ethnic groups have special days in the calendar that are significant to them.

If we know your religion then we can avoid contacting you when you may be celebrating religious festivals, such as Diwali or Eid.

 

Why do you need to know about my marital status? 

We need to hold accurate records of how many people live in our homes. We understand that people’s circumstances change over time, such as getting married, divorced or widowed and co-habiting. Having correct information can help to make decisions about legal matters such as joint tenancies and succession rights.

Some people living alone may also be interested in joining groups to help make new friends and prevent loneliness. We can help with this if we know your living arrangements.

 

Why do you need to know about my gender?

By knowing a customer’s gender we can ensure that tenants of different genders are being treated equally and have fair access to all our services.

 

Why do you need to know about my job status? 

Knowing about your employment status can help us to offer our added value services such as welfare advice and debt counselling. We also receive lots of useful information about college courses, apprenticeships, training and career opportunities. If we know your situation, we may be able to provide you with useful information. 

 

Why do you need to know if I have any disabilities?

We want to be confident that any customers with disabilities and long-term health conditions have equal access to housing and all our services. If we know this, we can review our service delivery to ensure that it works fairly for you. We can also make reasonable adjustments to the way in which we deliver services, such as

  • Visiting at a time of day to suit you
  • Communicating in a method that meets your needs
  • Using large print to help those who struggle with their eyesight
  • Waiting longer for you to reach the door if we know you have mobility issues

 

Why do you need to know if I am a carer?

We can make any necessary adjustments to accommodate your caregiving responsibilities and signpost you to relevant services.

 

What if English is not my first language?

Some customers will not have English as their first spoken language. In some cases they may struggle to either read or speak English. If we know this – and we know your preferred language for communication – then we can ensure that relevant communications and services are made accessible to you in your first language.

 

Your preferred method of communication

If we know your preferred method of communication it means that we can contact you in that way. Some people prefer traditional letters. For others a quick phone call or email works best. By telling us your choice we can then contact you by that method in the future.

 

I need help to complete the survey

If you will struggle to complete the online form, we can send you a paper copy instead.  We can also assist you to complete either the online form or paper copy.  Just call us on 0121 717 1515 and we will provide you with any assistance you need.

 

Is my information safe?

We will keep the information you share with us safe in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Data Protection legislation including the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find our GDPR statement here.