Your consultation space: Shape the future

Freebridge Community Housing (FCH) aims to demonstrate adherence to a safety-first culture, maintaining high standards of health and safety for residents who live in our homes or use our buildings, as well as employees and contractors who work for us. 

Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Abuse or Neglect Policy and Safeguarding Children & Young People Policy:

Freebridge is committed to helping keep residents safe.

Safeguarding means protecting people from abuse, neglect or exploitation and making sure that people who may be vulnerable receive the support they need.

As a housing provider, we may sometimes become aware that someone living in or visiting our homes may be at risk of harm. This could include:

• abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult
• domestic abuse
• financial exploitation or scams
• criminal activity targeting vulnerable residents
• concerns about the safety or wellbeing of children.

While we are not responsible for investigating safeguarding concerns ourselves, we work closely with the relevant agencies such as local authorities, social care services and the police to make sure concerns are reported and addressed.

Our staff are trained to recognise signs that someone may be at risk and to report concerns so that appropriate support can be provided.

Residents can also raise safeguarding concerns with us if they are worried about someone’s safety.

If we believe someone may be at risk of serious harm, we may need to share information with safeguarding agencies so that appropriate action can be taken.

Our safeguarding policies set out:

• how staff identify and report safeguarding concerns
• how we work with safeguarding agencies
• how we support residents where safeguarding concerns arise
  
  

Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Abuse or Neglect Policy and Safeguarding Children & Young People Policy:

Freebridge is committed to helping keep residents safe.

Safeguarding means protecting people from abuse, neglect or exploitation and making sure that people who may be vulnerable receive the support they need.

As a housing provider, we may sometimes become aware that someone living in or visiting our homes may be at risk of harm. 

This could include:

• abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult
• domestic abuse
• financial exploitation or scams
• criminal activity targeting vulnerable residents
• concerns about the safety or wellbeing of children

While we are not responsible for investigating safeguarding concerns ourselves, we work closely with the relevant agencies such as local authorities, social care services and the police to make sure concerns are reported and addressed.

Our staff are trained to recognise signs that someone may be at risk and to report concerns so that appropriate support can be provided.

Residents can also raise safeguarding concerns with us if they are worried about someone’s safety.

If we believe someone may be at risk of serious harm, we may need to share information with safeguarding agencies so that appropriate action can be taken.

Our safeguarding policies set out:

• how staff identify and report safeguarding concerns
• how we work with safeguarding agencies
• how we support residents where safeguarding concerns arise
  
  
  

Tenancy Policy

Our Tenancy Policy explains the different types of tenancies we offer and what you can expect from us as your landlord.

It sets out how we make tenancy decisions, how we support you to maintain a safe and secure home, and how we make sure our approach is fair, transparent and inclusive. We are committed to treating all customers with dignity and respect, explaining your rights and responsibilities clearly, and offering advice and support to help you sustain your tenancy wherever possible.

Our Tenancy Support Fund is a discretionary fund designed to provide short‑term help to tenants who are experiencing financial hardship and are struggling to sustain their tenancy. 

The fund is intended to offer targeted, temporary support in exceptional circumstances, rather than ongoing financial assistance. 

Each application is considered individually, taking account of a customer’s circumstances, whether other support options have been explored, and whether the assistance requested will help stabilise the tenancy. 

There is no automatic entitlement to the fund, and decisions are made based on need, available resources and the aim of supporting sustainable tenancies.

We want to ask you for your feedback on our Reasonable Adjustments Policy! Please have a read of the policy, and then answer our questions. 

Freebridge Community Housing commit to ensuring that all our services and sites are as inclusive and accessible as possible for all residents, and that we support any reasonable adjustments required so that residents receive the assistance they need to maintain their tenancy and homes. The aim is to help residents to live as long as possible in their homes by making reasonable adjustments where it is practical and safe to do so.

We want to ask you for your feedback on our new Tree Management & Maintenance Policy! Please have a read of the policy, and then answer our three questions. 

This new policy is designed to make sure that we provide a tree management and maintenance service that is cost effective, efficient, and timely. 

Our goal is to keep homes and communal areas safe and well-maintained, as well as protecting the environment.

This new policy is intended to set out our commitment to providing meaningful ways for customers to engage and influence the organisation’s strategies, policies and services.

Rechargeable Works

This new policy explains when we might charge customers for work on their homes. It explains that we will charge if Freebridge does tasks that are usually the tenant's responsibility or if repairs are needed because of damage caused by the tenant.

This new policy is intended to set out our commitment to supporting customers to sustain their tenancies and the ways in which we do this.

The purpose of this policy is to allow customers to challenge important decisions made by Freebridge that directly affect them, when there is no legal option to appeal.   For example, if Freebridge takes action against a customer due to rent arrears, this can be appealed in court and is therefore not covered by this policy.

The purpose of this policy is to prevent misuse of our complaints process and to protect our staff.

The complaints process, including how to challenge decisions made on complaints, is explained in the Complaints Policy. Customers can involve the Housing Ombudsman if they feel we have wrongly refused a complaint.

We’ve got just six quick questions for you, and your feedback could help shape real change! This should take no more than 15 minutes—including time to read the policy.

That’s faster than brewing a pot of coffee, waiting for your phone to fully charge, or queuing for your morning takeaway! ☕🔋

Take a moment, have your say, and help make a difference.

This policy outlines how Freebridge protects vulnerable adults from abuse or neglect. Freebridge has a duty to ensure everyone's safety and well-being.

The policy is based on the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board's model, so many parts cannot be changed.

We’ve got just two quick questions for you, and your feedback could help shape real change! This should take no more than 10 minutes—including time to read the policy.

That’s less time than it takes to fold a load of laundry, wait for your bus to arrive, or water your plants! 🌱

Take a moment, have your say, and make a difference.

This policy outlines how Freebridge protects children and young people from abuse or neglect. Freebridge has a duty to ensure everyone's safety and well-being.

The policy is based on the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership, so many parts cannot be changed.

We’ve got just two quick questions for you, and your feedback could make a real impact! It’ll take no more than 10 minutes—including time to read the policy.

That’s quicker than watching an episode of your favourite show, heating up a frozen pizza, or finding something decent to watch on Netflix! 📺🍕

Take a moment, share your thoughts, and help shape the future