Mercian recognises that it has the power to reduce the disadvantages that people experience by making its services more responsive to the needs of communities and individuals.
We value the diversity of communities and want our services, facilities and resources to be accessible and useful to everyone. We also recognise that our ability to meet these diverse needs is improved by having a diverse workforce which generally reflects local populations and which has the skills and understanding to achieve our service objectives.
We believe that by valuing equality and recognising diversity we will deliver to everyone:
- Enhanced customer relationships
- Sustainable development and business advantage which will improve our ability to deliver better services
- Effective employment through our people that listen to our customers and involve them in services which recognise and value their diversity
- Innovation, creativity and flexibility in our services to be enable us to be more customer driven.
We are committed to be an organisation that:
- Accepts that everyone has a right to their distinctive and diverse identity
- Has a workforce generally reflecting the communities we serve
- Actively consults with individuals and communities to ensure that the services which we provide are responsive and reflect the diversity of need
- Provides a supportive, open environment where all our people have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our approach is to strive to provide equality of opportunity wherever possible in the homes we provide, the way we deliver services and as an employer. This, together with working hard to develop good relationships based on respect and equality, are all key parts of achieving excellence in all that we do.
Our commitment is to:
- Promote, develop and support equality through our relationships with partner organisations, that are representative of communities where we operate.
- Improve access for minority communities to our new housing and community regeneration initiatives; in particular, we will be sensitive to everybody’s needs in respect of location, design, facilities, services and mix of development projects.
- Ensure that access to our homes fairly meets priority housing needs, whilst sustaining communities which are secure and safe for people to live.
- Take positive action to eliminate harassment and anti-social behaviour, operating a victim-centred approach.
- Ensure equal access to important information repairs, tenancy obligations and how to make a complaint.
- Ensure services are as accessible as possible in terms of our offices and communication methods which can be via telephone, email, and letter and through translators.
- Improve and openly encourage a diverse membership on our Board of Management, in Resident Forum groups, and in shareholder membership.
- Promote equality through the employment, engagement and support of contractors and consultants and only use suppliers with a good employment and customer relations record.
- Enhance and encourage access to training and employment opportunities for our customers and the wider communities where we operate.
- Ensure all our people value equality and diversity at the point of recruitment, and during their employment. Together with operating flexible, diverse, open and accountable non discriminatory employment practices and policies.
- Regularly monitor and review our performance to assist us improve and develop our services.
For further information or help on our services please call 0121 322 7373.
Please note Mercian Housing's change of address. Some leaflets still have our old details. Our new details are:
Gee Business Centre, Holborn Hill, Aston Birmingham, B7 5JR.
Tel: 0121 322 7373
Fax: 0121 328 3468