Culture
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Who are we and how did we get to where we are today?
Maidstone Housing Trust was registered as a local housing company in December 2002 and, following a successful tenant ballot, received the voluntary transfer of 6,400 homes and related assets from Maidstone Borough Council on 2 February 2004.
The Trust owns and manages 6,400 homes, 38 shops and 2,014 garages. Our housing team is responsible for the management of these tenancies on a day to day basis. This includes investigations into allegations of neighbour nuisance, rent arrears management, arranging transfers and tenant liaison.
The Trust’s head office is at Whatman House on the 20/20 Business Park, in Allington, Maidstone where the majority of our colleagues are based.
In addition, we have an area housing office at Shepway which provides decentralised housing management services to tenants locally.
Maidstone Housing Trust is a place where people come first, both within the organisation and in our dealings with our customers.
Our Vision, Values & Culture
Our Vision
“Maidstone Housing Trust exists to provide affordable homes and to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.”
Our Values
We have five key values and behaviours that shape how we work...
Customer Focused – recognises that everyone we deal with is a customer |
Performance Driven – visionary leadership, excellent performance standards, encouraging and celebrating continuous development |
Creative & Enabling – working with colleagues and partners to maintain best practice and actively pursue innovative ideas |
Open – we act with integrity and base everything we do on support, trust and mutual respect, valuing diversity and pro-active in ensuring Health & Safety |
Positive – recognising and valuing individuals, enthusiastic, forward thinking and responding positively to change with a can do, will do, see through attitude |
If you believe that you could work with and to these values then we would really like to talk to you. If you don't feel you could, then you probably won't enjoy the working environment here at Maidstone Housing Trust.
The Corporate Plan
The Trust has a Corporate Plan for the period 2007-2011. Our seven key objectives are
- to complete the post-transfer 5 year stock improvement programme and implement a new asset management strategy
- to work in partnership to achieve our vision
- to provide improving standards and choice of housing
- to secure growth of the business
- to be financially robust and deliver value for money services
- to invest in local communities
- to create a working environment where people feel valued
The summary of the corporate plan is available as a PDF document (this will open in a new window)
Communication
Key to being an open organisation is good communication with colleagues. We encourage regular team meetings and 1:1 s between colleagues and their managers. In addition we have an internal news letter – ‘Trust Matters’, the Friday e-mail from our Chief Executive and regular Company Catch Ups. We also have a Staff Consultation Group who meet on a monthly basis.
Equality and Diversity
The Trust is committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and service delivery. Please read our Equality and Diversity Statement.
The Board
The Board of Maidstone Housing Trust has overall responsibility for managing the homes and delivering a first class housing service. The Board of Management is made up of 15 Board Members; 5 Tenant Board Members; 5 Council Nominees (known as Local Authority Board Members); 5 Independent Members – who are people from the wider community selected because of their particular expertise and experience. More information on our Governance and current board members can be found on our About the Trust pages.
Our Structure
Maidstone Housing Trust provides a range of services to our customers. We recognise that our people are our most important asset in providing the highest level of quality services. As a young organisation our challenge is to grow our corporate culture in which all colleagues understand and share the goals of the organisation. In order to achieve this, we have regular communication with colleagues and ensure that team briefings and adequate training are provided.
The Corporate Team consists of a Chief Executive supported by four Directors covering the functional areas of finance, housing, corporate services and asset management.
The following provides you with a general overview of each team and their role within the Trust’s structure:
Finance
The functions delivered within the Finance team include day-to-day accounting, rent accounting and general treasury management.
Housing
The Housing team is responsible for the Trust’s tenancy and estate management services. They perform a wide variety of functions ranging from rent recovery and welfare benefits advice to community projects and customer involvement as well as leaseholder services. Our supported housing and Lifeline service is also part of this team.
Corporate Services
The Corporate Services team is responsible for the Trust’s continuous improvement programme, policy, marketing and communications, Board support, secretarial and legal services, human resources, policy and performance, Company Secretary, Housing Corporation liaison and information systems management.
Regeneration and Asset Management
Regeneration and Asset Management is responsible for managing the planned maintenance, improvements, adaptations and all aspects of home ownership. This team is also responsible for the Trust’s development strategy, redevelopment and regeneration schemes and new business initiatives. This includes the future housing bid strategies with the Housing Corporation and regional Boards.
What's it really like?
To find out more about what people who work at Maidstone Housing Trust think about working for us think browse through the case studies below….
Wendy Brooker, Support Co-ordinator
Years in Post: 19yrs (previously with Maidstone Borough Council)
Summary of your role
I manage three sheltered schemes contacting the customers daily and enabling them to lead as dignified and independent life as possible.
What I find most fulfilling / interesting about my role
The thing I find most fulfilling about my job is that I can make a difference.
My role is so diverse that it is never boring and I enjoy interrelating to people.
My managers and colleagues are supportive and training for the staff is continuous and varied.
Biva Oliver, PA
Years in Post: 3½ years
Summary of your role
To provide an efficient and proactive support service to the Director and his team
to aid the smooth running of the front line service.
What I find most fulfilling / interesting about my role
Working directly to a member of the senior management team, I am able to see the bigger picture which usually means no two days are ever identical.
Whether I am dealing with routine admin, taking notes at meetings, organizing workload and diaries effectively, dealing with difficult situations in (hopefully) a calm and controlled manner or using my initiative and judgment to take action where necessary, I am afforded the opportunity to liaise and deal with staff and managers, Board members and even our customers, to assist and make a difference.
This is what I love about my job, and I hope that comes across.
date published: 04/07/2008