CASE STUDY H9 UNDERTAKING EMERGENCY OUT OF HOURS SERVICES

33 -131 CANTERBURY PLACE SE17   CLIENT: London Borough of Southwark

CONTRACT: Back up Contractor to the Main Contractor for the Estate Communal Lighting and Responsive Repairs

BCS Ltd were appointed the position of becoming the backup electrical contractor to the main termed electrical that held the position for many years.  We are still the backup contractor to date and have successful completed many jobs out of hours in all conditions to strive to deliver a competitive service with a high success rate of achieving the requirement in the first visit without recalls.  BCS relocated their offices to Bermondsey in order to carry out this role.

Not only was our services recognised for the Out of Hours Estate Lighting Service and Responsive Repairs contract. We were also nominated and appointed the role of back up contractor to the Repair and Maintenance (R&M) Dept of Southwark Council.

 QUALITY CONTROL

BCS ltd Limited is fully accredited to ISO 9001, EXOR, CHAS, NICEIC and Construction Line and staff are constantly monitored on an ongoing basis and their training reviewed to ensure competence.  All of these accreditation required independent auditing. Management structures to ensure suitable quality control measures are in place. This required the implementation of applicable key performance indicators to ensure quality control targets have been met. Prior to work commencing, the works site was be subjected to a comprehensive survey identifying all work aspects, risks and hazards.

Our contract supervisors are registered with the Joint Industry Board (JIB) and NICEIC to ensure competent in their chosen discipline. During the initial mobilisation period BCS ltd employees are made aware of the exact requirement and the expectation of all stakeholders.  Supervisors and Project Managers are instructed to carry out random spot checks on all work in progress to quickly identify poor standards and make immediate improvements. Throughout the duration of this contract and on completion of all work, testing of the installation is carried out to ensure good workmanship and a fully compliant installation to BS 5266 and BS 7671 was achieved.

BCS ltd ensured housekeeping was of the highest standard throughout this contact; records were always kept up to date, paperwork was readily available for the client.  Invoicing was carried out in line with the request of the client and information was always up to date and available for the client.

EXAMPLES OF COLLABORATIVE WORKING WITH CLIENT AND RESIDENTS

The initial contract meeting was used as an introduction to all parties so that all key stakeholders could engage effectively.

We ensured a relationship was formed from the offset, utilising our Resident Liaison Officer to make us aware of any vulnerable residents that would require special assistance if we called out to the premises out of hours. Our Resident Liaison Officer was given the duty of identify and assessing all the residents special needs this allowed BCS to tailor their working programme to minimise disruption and inconvenience to tenants.  Our RLO identified a multi-lingual resident base and ensured the relevant communication channels were covered; this resulted in notices and signage throughout the block drafted in several languages.

Communication was essential in order for this project to run effectively.  As we would be working Out of Hours and Unsociable times a structured process has to be established from the off set to plan for the unexpected. We achieved this by arranging frequent site meetings and tenant and residents meetings.

To plan for the unexpected a meeting was scheduled when we first was awarded this contract.  This was to enable us to run through and agree how BCS ltd would undertake the process, causing minimum disruption but also attending the site in a timely manner, assuring we cater for the residents needs and also achieve Southwark Councils goal of a one site visit. As we work in partnership with Southwark Council and to achieve this goal we relocated our offices and business to Bermondsey.

Once we have undertaken an Out of Hours job we communicate back to Southwark via I-World.  We also feed back any lessons learned to Southwark and suggest improvements so that we can continuously improve our processes working collaboratively with LBS.

DETAILS OF DAY TO DAY MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION

For the duration of this contract planning for unforeseen circumstances was required.  Processes were set up so that Out of Hours call outs ran to a structured process.  The contract manager reviewed the processes after each Call Out to carry out the following:

Review BCS ltd bespoke computer software that tracks all works and orders raised.

Replace any materials that have been used to replenish stock for further Out of Hour Works.

Collate the customer satisfaction sheets that the resident has signed for the works carried out to offer us as a company feedback on our operative’s performance.

Updates of I World for feedback to the client to assure them work have been completed to a high standard.

Ensures Southwark Council requirements for a one visit rectification of the work has been achieved.

Provide the adequate supervision for employees and contractors when they were called out for this contract.

Oversaw Waste Management on Site and that Waste Transfer Notes were obtained where required.

Ensured materials and chemicals are suitably identified and stored

Ensured materials had been procured in line with the programme of works.

Requested COSHH/E information if this was not provided and ensured advice was followed.

Coordinate Planned Arrangements for any Emergency Situations that occurred.

Reported instances of non-conformance and any near misses identified during the operation of this contract.

Site Attendance Records were carried out on a daily basis to audit safe access and egress to and from site.

The site manager also carried out checks to ensure the programme of works had been adhered too.

RESOURCE STRUCTURE

For this contract the management team had been set up to manage, supervise and co-ordinate staff as follows:

Directors

Endorse implementation of Quality Management Systems through application of the quality policy statement and routine involvement.

Ensure adequate resources are made available.

 Contract Manager

The contract manager ensured the adequate supervision of both employees and contractors.  Their major role was to make sure the project ran to schedule, and met the required standard.  The contract manager was also heavily involved in the Health and Safety Management of the site.  Ensures the standard of vehicles is road worthy and maintained, fully equipped with Out of Hours plant and tools are fit for purpose.

Resident Liaison Officer

The RLO was the communication hub between residents, housing officers and contractor.  Follow up call / visit to the tenant to verify satisfaction has been achieved with minimum disruption.

Site Supervisor

Monitored the labour workforce, and ensured the programme was met within the deadline set.  A major role of the site supervisor was also to ensure safe working practices at all times.

Electricians

The electricians maintained the installation to the client specification. They were fully aware of the requirement and stakeholders before they entered the site.  They were also aware of how to contact the relevant site staff if they had any problems or issues that needed to be addressed.

Health and Safety Officer

Monitored on site activity and ensured compliance with health and safety legislation.  Ran tool box talk’s to contractors before they were allowed on site.  Carried our regular site reviews and inspections from a H&S perspective.

Administrative / Co-ordinator

Collate all on-site documentation generated throughout the duration of the project.  Ensured communication and continuity channels were maintained to deliver a successful service.