Comments for The Tim Burness Blog http://timburness.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:42:08 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by wally0163 http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2218 wally0163 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:42:08 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2218 well I am on the front line and regularly have experienced poor management of upper managers coercement of middle managers, no duty of care, I am blown away that a company can and does get away with this treatment with no come back at all well I am on the front line and regularly have experienced poor management of upper managers coercement of middle managers, no duty of care, I am blown away that a company can and does get away with this treatment with no come back at all

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by timburness http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2217 timburness Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:51:20 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2217 Hi Wally, they really are unbelievable aren't they? Sanctuary Group are very positive about having met the "Investors In People" standard since 1997:- "Investors In People was praised as a tool to help the organization to improve key areas of the business including employee morale." Hmmmm. According to their own website, Investors in People is "a flexible and easy to use standard which helps organisations transform their business performance. Our frameworks are outcome focused..." <em><strong>Going by all the above on this blog, the Sanctuary Housing Group "outcome" seems to be pretty clear...</strong></em> <em><strong>They don't care about anyone!</strong></em> <em><strong>Rather strange for a charitable organization supporting vulnerable people?</strong></em> Hi Wally, they really are unbelievable aren’t they?

Sanctuary Group are very positive about having met the “Investors In People” standard since 1997:- “Investors In People was praised as a tool to help the organization to improve key areas of the business including employee morale.” Hmmmm.

According to their own website, Investors in People is “a flexible and easy to use standard which helps organisations transform their business performance. Our frameworks are outcome focused…”

Going by all the above on this blog, the Sanctuary Housing Group “outcome” seems to be pretty clear…

They don’t care about anyone!

Rather strange for a charitable organization supporting vulnerable people?

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by wally0163 http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2216 wally0163 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:14:15 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2216 Hi Tim Thought I would leave a post following our chat. Sanctuary on its web site claims to be an "investor in people". I have worked with them sometime on the front line, taking all the abuse and crap from upper managers who regularly coerce middle managers into closing ranks. Their staff like myself are intimidated bullyied and treated like robots, frightened to open their mouths for fear of losing there homes. They have absolutely no duty of care to their staff, sad in todays world. One of my tenants was even threatened with his own tenancy on Friday of last week because he chose to support me,and he is classified as being vulnerable, the very people we are supposed to protect..... Hi Tim
Thought I would leave a post following our chat. Sanctuary on its web site claims to be an “investor in people”. I have worked with them sometime on the front line, taking all the abuse and crap from upper managers who regularly coerce middle managers into closing ranks.
Their staff like myself are intimidated bullyied and treated like robots, frightened to open their mouths for fear of losing there homes.
They have absolutely no duty of care to their staff, sad in todays world.
One of my tenants was even threatened with his own tenancy on Friday of last week because he chose to support me,and he is classified as being vulnerable, the very people we are supposed to protect…..

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by timburness http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2215 timburness Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:26:03 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2215 Interesting to hear Home Secretary Alan Johnson's recent comments on antisocial behaviour, following the suicide mother Fiona Pilkington case. He has told the police to do more. The police and others say that "local authorities" must also play their part. Presumably, housing associations with not-so-local-managers are counted as "local authorities"? More on what George Galloway MP has called "the perversely named Sanctuary Housing Association", from an ex-employee in Sheffield:- "Sanctuary staff have a lot to cope with - the management is pants - the general staff are bullied pressurised and belittled on a daily basis - the sickness record is unbelievable 24 staff including 3 senior managers and 7 line managers leaving 14 general workers of which 12 have been off work with work related stress and depression speaks volumes! A lot of the departments are managed by people in hull or leeds that dont understand shiregreens <em>(estate in Sheffield)</em> problems or needs and often tie shiregreens staffs hands in dealing with people..." Ah yes, that will all be part of Sanctuary Group being "committed to excellence", this covers everything, right down to the abusive treatment of their own front-line staff. <em><strong>Don't forget folks, Chief Executive David Bennett is on £288,000 of tax-payers money per year!</strong></em> Interesting to hear Home Secretary Alan Johnson’s recent comments on antisocial behaviour, following the suicide mother Fiona Pilkington case. He has told the police to do more. The police and others say that “local authorities” must also play their part. Presumably, housing associations with not-so-local-managers are counted as “local authorities”?

More on what George Galloway MP has called “the perversely named Sanctuary Housing Association”, from an ex-employee in Sheffield:-

“Sanctuary staff have a lot to cope with – the management is pants – the general staff are bullied pressurised and belittled on a daily basis – the sickness record is unbelievable 24 staff including 3 senior managers and 7 line managers leaving 14 general workers of which 12 have been off work with work related stress and depression speaks volumes! A lot of the departments are managed by people in hull or leeds that dont understand shiregreens (estate in Sheffield) problems or needs and often tie shiregreens staffs hands in dealing with people…”

Ah yes, that will all be part of Sanctuary Group being “committed to excellence”, this covers everything, right down to the abusive treatment of their own front-line staff.

Don’t forget folks, Chief Executive David Bennett is on £288,000 of tax-payers money per year!

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by timburness http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2209 timburness Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:18:08 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2209 I hope they ring you back Zoe, you never know your luck!? Good luck from me too Ian, I am very interested in the final result! TB I hope they ring you back Zoe, you never know your luck!? Good luck from me too Ian, I am very interested in the final result! TB

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by Zoe http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2206 Zoe Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:51:39 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2206 Thanks tim have already phoned them several times just waiting for responses now. Someone who works there has ovbiously tampered. Alot of strange things go on with that company I swear, there are alot of people in the wrong job........... Not at all surprised to see what Ian just wrote!! Good Luck! Sure you won't need it. Thanks tim have already phoned them several times just waiting for responses now. Someone who works there has ovbiously tampered. Alot of strange things go on with that company I swear, there are alot of people in the wrong job……….. Not at all surprised to see what Ian just wrote!! Good Luck! Sure you won’t need it.

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by Ian Roberts http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2205 Ian Roberts Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:33:24 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2205 Just thought you might be interested in an update on my issue with Sanctuary....... As you know i have been waiting for a judicial review to happen, which has been a long and stressful process. The Equality and Human Rights Commission suggested one last attempt at opening a dialog with Sanctuary, They suggested they would act as a mediator in concilliation talks. I was quite happy for this to be put to sanctuary, unfortunately and typically Sanctuary didn`t even bother to reply to The Equality and Human Rights Commision communication. In the mean time i have recieved Pre-court papers from sanctuary accusing me of harassment, making 280 phone calls in 4 days and an alleged threat to harm an unamed member of their staff. This was 5 weeks ago, and i have still not had any official court papers in relation to this matter...... I wonder why? Because it is all fabricated and intended to try and intimadate me to withdrawing my case against them. They do not have a shred of evidence to back up their wild claims, as it is all untrue........ Lying is all they know when it comes to resolving issues that they know they are at fault, definately smacks of deja vu here! Will keep you updated! Just thought you might be interested in an update on my issue with Sanctuary…….

As you know i have been waiting for a judicial review to happen, which has been a long and stressful process.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission suggested one last attempt at opening a dialog with Sanctuary, They suggested they would act as a mediator in concilliation talks.
I was quite happy for this to be put to sanctuary, unfortunately and typically Sanctuary didn`t even bother to reply to The Equality and Human Rights Commision communication.

In the mean time i have recieved Pre-court papers from sanctuary accusing me of harassment, making 280 phone calls in 4 days and an alleged threat to harm an unamed member of their staff.

This was 5 weeks ago, and i have still not had any official court papers in relation to this matter……

I wonder why?

Because it is all fabricated and intended to try and intimadate me to withdrawing my case against them.

They do not have a shred of evidence to back up their wild claims, as it is all untrue……..

Lying is all they know when it comes to resolving issues that they know they are at fault, definately smacks of deja vu here!

Will keep you updated!

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by timburness http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2204 timburness Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:41:08 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2204 I found the following from an internet forum last year, discussing Sanctuary's newly-acquired (it was previously council housing) Shiregreen Estate in Sheffield:- "I wrote to Dave Bennett, chief exec of sanctuary twice and these problems are now to be sorted out (yeh! right) but since, i have had not only a vist but also a phone call wanting to know why, wait for it, i owe less than £10 rent. When i had stop laughing went and paid £20. Seems complaints are not tolerated at Sanctuary Housing... i just think it was a not so subtle way on their part of saying, <em>if you complain we will harrass you...</em>" (my italics) I found the following from an internet forum last year, discussing Sanctuary’s newly-acquired (it was previously council housing) Shiregreen Estate in Sheffield:-

“I wrote to Dave Bennett, chief exec of sanctuary twice and these problems are now to be sorted out (yeh! right) but since, i have had not only a vist but also a phone call wanting to know why, wait for it, i owe less than £10 rent. When i had stop laughing went and paid £20. Seems complaints are not tolerated at Sanctuary Housing… i just think it was a not so subtle way on their part of saying, if you complain we will harrass you…” (my italics)

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by timburness http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2201 timburness Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:08:16 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2201 Hi Zoe. Obviously it's up to you and I'm no legal expert - but if the situation is as clear-cut as you describe, I strongly advise against paying up. There is plenty you can do! Try writing to Sanctuary regional manager Wendy Fletcher in Littlehampton (Google for the address) who may be sympathetic if you can present your case clearly and reasonably - it's important not to get too angry, they can use that against you! Alternatively, you could first go to the Citizens Advice Bureau who can help you with any letter-writing to the debt collectors and Sanctuary. I also strongly recommend an appointment with Tim Loughton MP (again you can Google his site and contact) who is well aware of Sanctuary's bullying tactics. If you have a genuine case, he will be on your side. Best wishes, Tim. Hi Zoe. Obviously it’s up to you and I’m no legal expert – but if the situation is as clear-cut as you describe, I strongly advise against paying up. There is plenty you can do! Try writing to Sanctuary regional manager Wendy Fletcher in Littlehampton (Google for the address) who may be sympathetic if you can present your case clearly and reasonably – it’s important not to get too angry, they can use that against you! Alternatively, you could first go to the Citizens Advice Bureau who can help you with any letter-writing to the debt collectors and Sanctuary. I also strongly recommend an appointment with Tim Loughton MP (again you can Google his site and contact) who is well aware of Sanctuary’s bullying tactics. If you have a genuine case, he will be on your side. Best wishes, Tim.

]]> Comment on Are Sanctuary Housing above the law? by Zoe http://timburness.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-housing-associations-above-the-law/#comment-2200 Zoe Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:50:13 +0000 http://timburness.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-2200 I used to live in a sanctuary housing hostel in lancing. I was thrown out due to a member of staff making up a couple of things which i'm fine with now as my life is sorted now days. This was all 3 years ago. The last contact I had with them was a couple of years ago because I went to stay with a friend who lived there for a night but couldn't stay unless i paid my debt from when i was there before of £7.00 so i paid it upfront and stayed the night. NOW 2 YEARS LATER AT MY GRANDPARENTS ADDRESS A LETTER OF £45.25 IS BEING DEMANDED FROM A DEBT COLLECTING AGENCY FROM ME AND THREATNING COURT ACTION IF I DON'T. The dead line is Monday and i just don't understand why i shuold have to pay something that I don't owe surely records of me should have been deleted when i paid my actual debt of £7.oo oh well as usual i'll be f***ed and won't be anything i can do other than ending up paying even more money i don't even have.................... I used to live in a sanctuary housing hostel in lancing. I was thrown out due to a member of staff making up a couple of things which i’m fine with now as my life is sorted now days. This was all 3 years ago. The last contact I had with them was a couple of years ago because I went to stay with a friend who lived there for a night but couldn’t stay unless i paid my debt from when i was there before of £7.00 so i paid it upfront and stayed the night. NOW 2 YEARS LATER AT MY GRANDPARENTS ADDRESS A LETTER OF £45.25 IS BEING DEMANDED FROM A DEBT COLLECTING AGENCY FROM ME AND THREATNING COURT ACTION IF I DON’T. The dead line is Monday and i just don’t understand why i shuold have to pay something that I don’t owe surely records of me should have been deleted when i paid my actual debt of £7.oo oh well as usual i’ll be f***ed and won’t be anything i can do other than ending up paying even more money i don’t even have………………..

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