Neighbourhood Manager
Neighbourhood Management
Like most neighbourhoods, the Balsall Heath where residents live was not recognised by those who delivered statutory services. Those were provided top-down over large administratively defined areas in one-size-fits-all ways and via specialist silos. They were not tailor-made. So, (1) they did not suit the special needs of Balsall Heath, (2) the resident customer could not influence them and (3) they were not joined up and many problems fell between the gaps.
So, for some years, the FOrum has employed a Neighbourhood Manager. His job is to:
- Join services up and make them neighbourhood specific.
- Form a Neighbourhood Strategic Partnership from all the Statutory Players.
- Develop and implement a Neighbourhood Plan.
- Help them to form a neighbourhood budget and invest it in the Forum’s Capacity Building and other work.
On reflection, it is surprising that for so long the area has not been managed at all and not had a budget or a plan.. Little wonder that services were ‘hit & miss’, expensive but not effective. Now they are and the customer can influence them and help them to become even more effective.
The idea has caught on. More and more neighbourhoods now have a manager – another first for Balsall Heath and another complement. For, they say: Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery’!
