In House Training

Unipol training provides an in house training facility for HEIs and private sector housing suppliers. This service enables users to put together their own training from 25 modules, covering general trends, using the private sector, a variety of housing management techniques and health and safety matters. Users can "pick and mix" a one day or half day course which can then be given at a venue of their choice.

The modules can be geared to your specific needs and are, of course, confidential to your own staff. All training involves participation from delegates and some involve group work and role play. All training is on specific themes, customer focussed and is designed to inform and motivate staff. Many use in house training as part of their team building so that staff who rarely meet each other can do so in a focussed and interesting event.

Different modules play to different levels and strengths of staff. Some are for newly arrived staff, others are for experienced or senior staff and may give you an opportunity to take an overview, or a sideways look, at your existing systems and views.

This modular training system complements Unipol's existing central training programme which concentrates on new issues and larger events where networking with other institutions is important.

The Training Team

Martin Blakey, an experienced trainer, speaker and writer in matters relating to student accommodation, its development and on-going management.

Simon Kemp, deals with the Code of Standards in Leeds and Bradford and is Administrator for the Code of Standards for Larger Developments Nationally. Prior to becoming the Code of Standards Officer he worked as the housing and social policy researcher for the NUS.

Sarah McDonald, Tenacy Relations Officer, is responsible for direct pastoral care as well as referral throughout the organisation's student portfolio and she has a keen interest in resolving conflict.

John Martin, Barrister, has wide experience of litigation on disrepair, harassment and illegal eviction, housing rights and the right to education, including actions in further and higher education.

Philip Moxon, an independant Environmental Health Officer. Has worked closely with Local Authorities, the Fire Authorities and the National Consumenr Council to broaden understanding of the importance of property standards.

Where additional specialist input is required other trainers will be used. All trainers have hands on experience of student housing, development, management, standards, the legislative framework and health and safety routines.

Special Modules

Specialist modules can be developed to fit your ownexact needs. Simply get in touch with us with what you are interested in and we will do our best to help. Please bear in mind that legal training is based on daily charge out rates from specialist solicitors with a national reputation and will always be more costly than other training.

Cost

Those using the service need to take the following decision:

• length of module (any time from half a day to 2 days)
• venue required (if provided by the user or bought in)
• on site catering requirements (Unipol training requires a lunch for networking/discussion and regular supplies of tea and coffee)
• travel or overnight stays for trainers
• plus the cost of the actual training.

It is possible that users will want to collaborate with other nearby institutions to share costs, or could plan to undertake training on consecutive days to reduce travel or overnight costs. Unipol will provide data projectors and other audio visual aids but requires extension leads, black out facilities and flipcharts to be provided by the venue.

Unipol has developed a questionnaire that can be completed by users and we will get back to you within 48 working hours with a precise cost which should include everything you require.

Conclusion

This new service allows you to put together your own local training, in your own local environment, reduce delegate travel costs and tailor training to your own specific needs. We will guarantee you a pleasant, well-crafted and rewarding event, complete with the usual high standards associated with Unipol Training.

For further information contact

Charlie Bartlett, Unipol Training, 155-157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 3ED

Telephone: 0113 243 0169 (option 4)

Fax: 0113 234 3549

E-mail: conferences@unipol.leeds.ac.uk

TENANTS

Module 1 - What's It All About

Students as a special tenant group
Students and parents
The needs of first year students
Presentation and discussion. Time: 70 minutes

Module 2 - I Want to Leave

Negative reactions
When to intervene in tenancy disputes
Round table work or groups with summarising
short talk. Time: 60 minutes

Module 3 - Dealing with Disputes

How to make involvement positive
Lifestyle issues
Mediation
Using external agencies
Group work and role play with summarising

discussion. Time: 70 minutes

Module 4 - The Changing Rooms Generation

What students want
I can't afford it v nothing but the best
Likes and dislikes
Recognising individuality
Presentation with large number of photos and
round table discussion. Time: 80 minutes

INFORMATION

Module 5 - Managing Institutional Accommodation and Private Halls: Information and its Delivery

Information for parents
Marketing
Communication pre arrival, post arrival and during
the tenancy
Encouraging socialisation
Presentation with large number of photos and
round table discussion. Time: 70 minutes

ON SITE MANAGEMENT

Module 6 - Property Inspections

What are inspections for?
Before the inspection
How to inspect
The visit
Briefing Time: 40 minutes

Module 7 - Property Inspections (2)

Inspecting a room - on site visit
(group work and role play with summarising discussion). Time: 120 minutes

Module 8 - Property Inspections (3) - Follow Up

Identifying problems
Problem tenants
What to do
Round table work or groups with role play and summarising short talk. Time: 50 minutes

Module 9 - Dealing with Repairs

What is a repair?
When will it be done?
Prioritising, monitoring and informing
Presentation and discussion. Time: 60 minutes

Module 10 - Managing Small Houses

Why are they different
A pro-active repair regime
Avoiding neglect
Dealing with dispersed properties
Presentation and discussion. Time: 40 minutes

Module 11 - Managing Small Houses: Inspecting a House

Preparing for the visit
The purpose of the visit
The visit
Follow up
Group work and role play with summarising discussion. Time: 150 minutes

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Module 12 - Health and Safety in a Management Context

Legislative framework
Understanding the terminology: risks and hazards
Why health and safety is important
Verification
Presentation and discussion. Time: 50 minutes

Module 13 - Gas and Electrical Safety

Owners' and tenants' responsibilities
Record keeping
Risk identification in student accommodation
Presentation and discussion. Time: 50 minutes

Module 14 - Understanding Electrical Certification

The NICEIC system
Periodic inspections
Installation certification
Minor works
Introductory briefing followed by round table work or groups with summarising short talk. Time: 60 minutes

Module 15 - Fire Safety: You will have a Fire

Main hazards
Fire safety principles in student accommodation
Detection systems
Monitoring and recording
Presentation and discussion with some group work. Time: 60 minutes

Module 16 - Dealing with Condensation: My room is damp...

What is condensation
How to deal with it and deal with tenants
Recognising penetrating and rising damp
Introductory briefing followed by round table work or groups with summarising short talk. Time: 50 minutes

Module 17 - What is a Safe Environment?

Fitness for occupation
Minimum space requirements
Statutory nuisances
The role of local authorities
Interactive briefing in round table format. Time: 70 minutes

Module 18 - Risk Assessment for Student Accommodation:

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System
Risk issues
Numerical scoring and systematic examination of stock
Interactive briefing in round table format followed by group work. Time: 80 minutes

SECURITY

Module 19- Students and Security

Are students at risk?
Security by design
Use of CCTV
Maintaining and managing a security presence
Tenant information
Dealing with Incidents
Using the police
Presentation and discussion with some group work. Time: 70 minutes

KEY PRINCIPLES IN STUDENT HOUSING

All these modules work on an interactive round table and discussion format with delegates being encouraged to intervene within the context of a structured discussion/presentation

Module 20 - What Students Want

Detailed research results on:

• amenity levels
• service standards
• information
• future requirements

Time: 90 minutes

Module 21- Anti Social Behaviour

How anti social behaviour can manifest itself
The nature of the problems
Positive and negative methods of approaching the difficulties
Institutional and External Agencies involvement
Time: 90 minutes

Module 22 - The Right Student in the Right Room at the Right Price

Consumer and marketing information
Pre and post arrival information
Allocation systems
Charging policies
Time: 90 minutes

Module 23 - Making Student Housing Work

Underlying trends
Demand and Recruitment
Maintaining diversity and choice
Time: 70 minutes

Module 24 - Establishing Ownership Within a Building

What students want
Determining the boundaries between tenant and owner responsibilities
The quest for tenant ownership
Deinstitutionalising the property
Time: 90 minutes

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

Module 25 - Getting the Best from the Private Sector

Deciding what you want
Setting the framework and identifying risk areas
A few myths about product and service delivery
Time: 60 minutes

We will be pleased to answer any further questions you may have. Please contact us at:

Unipol Student Homes, 155-157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 3ED, Telephone: 0113 243 0169, option four for conferences, Fax: 0113 234 3549, Email: conferences@unipol.leeds.ac.uk