Resident Involvement code of conduct
Knightstone Housing recognises the valuable contribution that resident volunteers can make to the
organisation. Involved residents choose to accept certain responsibilities which require them to behave in
an appropriate manner at all times.
All involved resident volunteers agree to sign, abide by and adhere to the Resident Involvement code of
conduct.
Whilst taking part in any resident involvement activity resident volunteers should remember always to:
1. Conduct themselves in a reasonable manner, avoiding any behaviour or language that is likely to give
offence to others and/or damage the reputation of the Association
2. Not attend any activity or meeting whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs
3. Be courteous and respectful to all others attending
4. Seek solutions to problems in a positive manner
5. Remember at all times resident volunteers must be ambassadors of Knightstone Housing
6. Always treat staff and visitors with respect
7. Refrain from bringing up personal business
8. Allow each other the opportunity to speak and comment without interruption
9. Declare any conflict of interest or personal involvement if relevant to the subject under discussion
10. Respect other resident volunteers’ confidentiality whether present or not and refrain from mentioning
specific individual cases which may cause embarrassment or identification of an individual
11. Speak one at a time in meetings and at events etc
12. Not to leave meetings/conferences/workshops regularly before the end without a valid reason
13. Be prepared for any meetings by reading all the relevant papers and bringing them to the meeting
14. Members must not abuse their position as involved residents by promoting their own “agenda” eg
membership of a political or social pressure group, trade union officer post or running for local regional or
government office. This list is not exhaustive
15. Involved residents must not speak inappropriately about the Association – especially outside
Knightstone Housing
16. Involved residents should not send any emails or other forms of communication to other residents or
staff which could be damaging to the organisation
17. Not to speak to the media as an involved resident unless trained and authorised to do so by
Knightstone Housing
18. If involved residents have committed to a training programme or series of events they should continue
until the end unless there are exceptional circumstances
19. When attending training, events or activities, courses or sessions residents must complete the
evaluation form along with any other feedback mechanisms and return it/them to the Resident
Involvement Team within the agreed timescales
20. Recognise that the Association is committed to high standards of conduct, honesty and transparency
and will not tolerate theft, fraud, corruption, bribery, money laundering or any other illegal activities.
Involved residents will behave with integrity and uphold the principles, purpose and objectives of the
Association and encourage others to do the same.
1 :: Working together
Involvement is a co-operative process and all parties must be committed to work together to overcome
difficulties. Involvement will not work without the mutual respect and recognition of the validity of different
viewpoints of everyone involved. Likewise, all individuals taking part – whether resident or staff – must
acknowledge that everyone has a right to enjoy their participation without unreasonable demands being
made of their time or patience.
All parties must behave appropriately and not cause distress to other participants or members of staff.
Knightstone Housing reserves the right to exclude resident volunteers from involvement and future
involvement with the organisation through the Resident Volunteer and Review Complaints Procedure.
2 :: Breach of conduct
This Resident Involvement code of conduct will be the trigger for intervention by Knightstone Housing.
Resident volunteers who contravene the code of conduct or the objectives of Knightstone Housing may
be subject to disciplinary action under the Knightstone Housing Resident Volunteer Review and
Complaints Procedure.
Should a disciplinary procedure sanction be applied the resident volunteer cannot apply to be a tenant
Board member, stand for election as a member of Resident Involvement Strategy Group nor be a
member of Equalities Group, Communications Group, Business Improvement Group, Operations Group
and Priorities Group.
3 :: Exclusion from Resident Involvement
Knightstone Housing reserves the right to exclude resident volunteers from resident involvement through
the Resident Volunteer Review and Complaints Procedure. Should a resident volunteer be excluded they
will:
 Be excluded from all resident involvement activity for 6 months
 Be removed from the ‘Get Involved’ database
 Not be able to make a complaint against Knightstone Housing about their exclusion from resident
involvement. Instead they can appeal the decision under the Resident Volunteer Review and
Complaints Procedure.
Excluded resident volunteers will continue to receive all general corporate mailings during the
exclusion period. They will not receive the “Get Involved” newsletter or specific information
normally sent to residents on our “Get Involved” database. Knightstone Housing will maintain full
tenancy rights and excluded residents will continue to be consulted about matters that affect the
services they receive from us.
Should the Resident Volunteer Review recommend that the resident volunteer be permanently excluded
from resident involvement the resident would not be able to reapply for inclusion to Resident Involvement.
Permanently excluded residents will be reviewed annually by the Resident Involvement Strategy
Group. Their annual review decision will be final. Should the exclusion be lifted the resident will
follow the inclusion process below.
4 :: Inclusion in Resident Involvement
Resident volunteers will remain excluded for 6 months.
After 6 months excluded resident volunteers can request to be re-admitted into Resident involvement.
This will involve completing a Resident Involvement application form which will initially be submitted to the
Resident Involvement Team. The Resident Involvement Team will confirm the validity of the application
before it’s discussed at the following meeting of the Resident Involvement Strategy Group. Supporting
information will be provided by the Resident Involvement Team and other staff as necessary as to the
conduct/behaviour of the excluded resident volunteer under the terms of their tenancy agreement during
the 6 month exclusion period.
The Resident Involvement Strategy Group will decide whether or not the resident volunteer can be readmitted into resident involvement.
If the Resident Involvement Strategy Group decide that it’s appropriate for the resident volunteer to be readmitted into resident involvement the following process will apply:
 The resident volunteer’s details will be added to our “Get Involved” database
 The resident volunteer re-admittance to resident involvement will be subject to a 6 month
probationary period
 The resident volunteer will receive specific tenant involvement mailings and “Get Involved” newsletter
 The resident volunteer can take part in resident involvement events, activities and training
 The resident volunteer cannot apply to be a resident Board member nor stand for election to the
Resident Involvement Strategy Group during the 6 month probationary period
 The resident volunteer cannot be a full member of the Equalities Group, Communications Group,
Business Improvement Group, Operations Group or Priorities Group during the 6 month probationary
period
 The resident volunteer may be invited to observe at the Resident Involvement Strategy Group,
Equalities Group, Communications Group, Business Improvement Group, Operations Group and
Priorities Group during the 6 month probationary period
 The resident volunteer will attend up to three review sessions with the Resident Involvement Team
during the 6 month probationary period.
5 :: 6 month probationary period
 At the end of the 6 month probationary period the Resident Involvement Team will submit a report to
the Resident Involvement Strategy Group about the conduct/behaviour and involvement of the
resident volunteer
 The Resident Involvement Strategy Group will make a decision to either extend the probationary
period or allow the resident volunteer back into resident involvement on a full basis. The resident
volunteer will then be free to take part in all Resident Involvement activities, events and training. They
can also apply to be tenant Board members and stand for election on the Resident Involvement
Strategy Group. They can be full members of Equalities Group, Communications Group, Business
Improvement Group, Operations Group or Priorities Group.
If the Resident Involvement Strategy Group decide that it’s not appropriate for the resident volunteer to be
re-admitted into resident involvement the following process will apply:
 Resident Involvement Strategy Group will set a timescale to review the resident’s application.
I adhere to the terms of this code of conduct
Name______________________________________________________________________
Signed_____________________________________________________________________
Date_______________________________________________________________________