Housing Hartlepool achieves Silver Better Health at Work Award
NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF HOUSING HARTLEPOOL, PART OF THE VELA GROUP
Housing Hartlepool, part of The Vela Group, has been officially recognised for promoting better health at work.
The housing company has been presented with the Silver standard ‘Better Health at Work Award’ which is a significant achievement in improving on the initial work already embedded to create a healthy workplace. Several campaigns were undertaken to promote health in the work place, including;
• Pay Day Pamper Day sessions
• Weight management classes
• Stress and wellbeing advice
• Embracing work-life balance policies including flexible working hours
• Offering staff flu vaccines
• Supporting No Smoking Day
• Encouraging physical exercise
• High health and safety standards
The award, supported by the NHS, recognises and celebrates the hard work and commitment of organisations that are improving the health of their employees.
Housing Hartlepool will now work towards achieving the Gold Level.
A main focus for Housing Hartlepool throughout 2012 is to support staff in improving their emotional and physical wellbeing as it recognises that sometimes employees may be suffering with issues that may impact on their working lives.
Helping people to deal with the pressures in their lives is one of the best investments an employer can make. Christine Paul, at Clarity Wellbeing, is working with Housing Hartlepool to provide a common sense approach to all staff, delivering face-to-face counselling and training services. This helps to ensure the wellbeing of all staff and helps to foster a positive management culture.
Bernadette Stainsby, Head of HR for the Vela Group, said: “It is important to look after our staff as they are our biggest asset.
“Caring about our workers’ wellbeing is embedded in our policies and procedures including initiatives designed to improve health and awareness in the workplace.
“As well as having an impact on sickness levels, the programmes we have put into practice also benefit our employees’ general welfare and quality of life.
“It is gratifying that our efforts have been independently recognised with Silver in the Better Health at Work Awards.”
ENDS
Pic caption: Christine Paul, of Clarity Wellbeing, who is working with Housing Hartlepool as part of its scheme to improve the wellbeing of and health awareness among its staff.
Contact Helen Logan on 01325 363436
Notes to editors: Housing Hartlepool is the largest housing association in Hartlepool.
It was set up in March 2004 to take over the ownership and management of the Council's rented housing stock following a positive ballot by tenants. It is a "not for profit" charitable organisation.
Housing Hartlepool is run by a voluntary board that consists of four tenant members, four council nominees and four independent people.
The company manages 7,000 properties throughout the Hartlepool area and surrounding villages. These range from five-bedroom family houses to flats for single people. In addition there is a wide range of bungalows and sheltered housing complexes for the elderly.
In addition to its core landlord role Housing Hartlepool is also the main housing regeneration agent in the town and is developing much needed affordable homes in the area.
Housing Hartlepool is part of the Vela Group, which began operating on December 13 2010 and also embraces Stockton-based Tristar Homes.
Tristar and Housing Hartlepool retain their distinct identities and continue to operate as separate landlords in their localities, with local boards made up of local people and experts who care about their future.
There are substantial benefits to operating within a group arrangement including greater buying powers leading to better value for money for tenants.
The group structure also means the organisations can bring together their expertise and share best practice, which means even better services for their tenants.
Vela, through Housing Hartlepool and Tristar Homes, is committed to supporting the regeneration of communities. Working closely with residents and other agencies, the organisations will improve and build homes, and improve the local environment and surrounding neighbourhoods.
A wide range of community-based services, including those seeking to tackle financial exclusion, unemployment and worklessness, also are being delivered.
Housing Hartlepool is responsible for 7,000 homes and Stockton-based Tristar Homes has more than 10,000 properties in its portfolio.
Our Vision Shaping places, Creating Communities and Changing Lives
For more information, go to: www.housinghartlepool.org.uk
or www.velagroup.co.uk
Vela, a major new North East Housing Group was formed in 2010 as a result of a partnering between social landlords Tristar Homes and Housing Hartlepool, which together has over 17,000 homes and 700 employees.
The majority of our homes are for rent, but also include shared ownership, right to buy, outright sale and sheltered care schemes.
Our vision of shaping places, creating communities and changing lives is embedded throughout our corporate culture as we aim to become the leading social landlord in the North East.
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Christine Paul, of Clarity Wellbeing, who is working with Housing Hartlepool as part of its scheme to improve the wellbeing of and health awareness among its staff.
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