Agenda item - Field Officers

A Field Officer will attend the meeting to give an update on their work.

59.1       Annie Sparks, Regulatory Services Manager, introduced two of the new Field Officers (FOs), James Barr and Dario Saracini. She stated that the team had launched in December 2018 and they had already worked with a number of services, including Housing and had started to take on larger cases. She stated that they had successfully begun their tasks of evidence gathering, information sharing, service referrals and providing community reassurance during unsociable hours. FOs would be leading the remodelling of the estate inspections by working with residents to identify the improvements they want to see in their neighbourhoods.

59.2       In response to residents, officers stated that the FOs role was securely funded from existing services by transferring vacancies to provide an encompassing role that would benefit multiple services.

59.3       In response to residents asking to be provided with resources that explained the role of the FOs in order to distribute to tenant and resident associations, officers stated that there was information on the website and an article would be published in the next edition of Homing in.

59.4       Residents raised concern for elderly tenants being unaware and unfamiliar of the service and FOs themselves calling to their homes, particularly on evening visits. They asked what support the Field officers could provide that residents could not access themselves.

59.5       Officers responded that as the FO’s work developed the benefits of the service would become clear to residents and associations; they can attend meetings of association to discuss their work in more detail, if invited.

59.6       In response to the Chair, officers stated that there were seven FO operating city wide and that data would be gathered to make sure each service would receive the right resources and attention from the FO to provide an objective taskforce.

59.7       In response to residents who raised concern for vulnerable tenants being presented with a FO on their doorstep, officers stated that FOs had had previous job experience in working with vulnerable people and in specific situations Housing Officers would inform them of sensitivities.

59.8       In response to residents asking how the FOs were finding the job so far, FOs stated that it had been challenging, diverse, interesting and an opportunity to learn a lot.

59.9       RESOLVED: That the Panel agree to note the update.