About Severn Vale Housing

SVHS staff have carried out a MBTI (Myers–Briggs Type Indicator) personality assessment of themselves, giving them a better understanding of their personality type and others. Managers use this information to tailor their approach to one to one’s and to understand team strengths and development opportunities. The organisation has a learning and development approach process for learning events linked to continuing professional development (CPD) and Personal Development Plans (PDPs). SVHS also encourage employees to share their out of work development so they are aware of any additional skills and knowledge. Following employee’s attendance at conferences, workshops and training SVHS encourage them to write a blog about their experience and things they have learnt from the event. This is then shared on the intranet site.

SVHS have 11 trained facilitators across the organisation available to help focus and drive meetings/training sessions to improve communication flow. The company have a number of break-out spaces available to staff who can use the areas to chat to colleagues and have informal meetings. The Creative Room, with bright furniture including a sofa and bean bags, encourages staff to use the space to brain storm, share ideas and be creative in problem solving. SVHS also have large screens in meeting rooms with Apple TV’s to allow easy use of video conferencing software, including staff who are unable to physically attend the meeting with team discussions. Earlier in the year SVHS hosted an all staff event called Future Focus. One of the main objectives of the event was to focus staff on understanding the future direction of the organisation; however the event also aimed to ensure staff were aware and understood the new ways of working and also focused on collaboration. The benefits of the event were highlighting the progress of the organisation to date, re-confirming leadership aims and goals for the organisation. The event allowed SVHS to run a number of activities aimed at encouraging cross-organisational collaboration and team building. These included asking each team to produce a ‘team board’ in advance, being creative to display team success over the past 12 months and also areas which they felt could be improved.

SVHS run a staff recognition scheme called the Lovies (Living our Values), which was created as a fun way to encourage recognition and appreciation of behaviour aligned to the values - caring, creative, purposeful, professional and trustworthy. There are 15 Lovies, three for each value, which are awarded from one colleague to another. Recipients of a Lovie are passed a trophy to display and also a pin badge. Staff will also get recognition of their award on the staff intranet. So far 86 different colleagues have been recognised in varying categories. A total of 135 badges have been handed out. 35 of the 86 colleagues have actually picked up a Lovie for two different values and four colleagues have earned three varying badges. In total 67% of SVHS staff have a Lovie. Separate from the Lovies, staff also use the intranet to recognise and thank staff for going the extra mile. Over the past 12 months these have included helping out at an event, staying late to support colleagues in an event, solving a tricky excel problem and even changing a tyre! SVHS also host an annual awards ceremony allowing staff to nominate one another for awards, together with a CEO special recognition award. Staff are awarded during this special event, attended by all employees and including a three course meal and networking opportunities.