Our Scrutiny Panel's 2025
This year has been another successful one for our Scrutiny Panel, whose dedication and hard work have driven meaningful changes for Stonewater customers everywhere.
From conducting service reviews to speaking at events, the Panel has played a critical role in identifying opportunities to improve Stonewater services for everyone.
Take a look at their key highlights this year:
Engagement review
In January, the Panel worked with us to review how we can recruit and retain a diverse range of customers into our engaged groups.
We understand how important it is to make sure customers’ voices are heard and that their feedback helps to improve Stonewater services. The Panel’s recommendations helped Stonewater to increase awareness of engagement opportunities so more people could take part.
Learning and development day
It’s really important for us that the Panel have plenty of opportunity to learn and grow in their roles. In June, the Panel, some senior Stonewater colleagues and the engagement team spent a day together learning about equality, diversity and inclusion and discussing ways to improve their work as a Panel. They also spoke to some local customers about the benefits of getting involved in scrutiny.
Grounds maintenance review
The panel completed their second review of the year on grounds maintenance, focusing on the Somerset area.
Trevor and Dan, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Panel, led their first customer workshop during this review, which gave the Panel deeper insights into how customers were feeling about the service.
The Panel made ten recommendations, and is working closely with Stonewater to implement them. The Panel made ten recommendations, which service leads have already worked on implementing across the whole Grounds Maintenance service.
Scrutiny Panel Chair
After six successful years on the Panel, Scrutiny Panel Chair Gareth Morgan handed over the baton to Trevor Kerby, who has been on the Panel since 2024.
We’re really grateful for Gareth’s dedication over the years and wish him well in his next chapter as a customer representative on Stonewater's Customer Experience Challenge and Assurance Panel, where he’ll continue to positively influence Stonewater services.
Scheme visits
In September, Trevor hosted a lively community day at Dormer Court, joined by colleagues from across Stonewater, including Chief Operating Officer David Ripley.
In November, Panel members Viv and Pat were delighted to welcome Chief Executive Jonathan Layzell to Abbey Lodge and Norfolk House.
Trevor has also recently visited two of Stonewater’s young persons’ schemes to gain insight into how services are delivered there.
What’s next?
The panel have recently completed two Spotlight Reviews looking at mental health support and getting things right for customers. These rapid reviews aim to condense the Scrutiny process and get some useful, actionable recommendations noted to help Stonewater improve a service area. We’ll be sharing the outcome and summary of these reviews in the new year.
Continuing the journey of positive change, the panel is gearing up to complete one more deep-dive review to end the year.
If you’re interested in joining the Scrutiny Panel, please apply via the online form here and we’ll be in touch in the new year.