This month looking at assessments and feeding back from the DFG Assessment Summit.
The achievements of council teams, charities and inspirational frontline staff in supporting independent living have been celebrated at the National Healthy Housing Awards.
This year’s awards highlight how those working to ensure homes are safe and accessible have been at the forefront of supporting vulnerable people through the pandemic.
Organised by Foundations, the Government-funded national body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), the awards – now in their third year – honour pioneering organisations and individuals who support people with disabilities and long-term conditions to live safely at home.
Judges assessed entries from all over England across ten categories.
This year’s winners were announced at the National Football Museum in Manchester with the awards sponsored by wet room and adapted bathroom specialist PROCare.
Manchester Care & Repair has been crowned Home Improvement Agency of the Year for delivering a range of innovative services with consistently high levels of customer satisfaction and a dynamic approach to supporting discharge from hospital for people experiencing mental ill health.
Lancaster Home Improvement Agency has scooped the title of DFG Home Adaptation Service of the Year for its proactive approach shortening delivery times of DFGs and minor adaptations and eradicated waiting lists ensuring people get health and wellbeing risks addressed early. The HIA has integrated the delivery of major adaptations, minor adaptations and aids and equipment into one team, placing the client at the centre of the adaptation process.
Ravinder Kaur, Care & Repair Leeds has been crowned Caseworker of the Year in recognition of her ability to transform people’s lives and for her skills in identifying different ways of working for the benefit of her team and for the organisation.
Recognised for Outstanding Achievement Sharon Ingram of Spotless Cleaning Services was awarded for providing an outstanding exemplar de-clutter, clearance and deep cleaning service for vulnerable adults who are self-neglecting their home environment for many reasons.
Emma Carter won Housing Occupational Therapist of the Year and was described as professional, proactive, and conscientious and an excellent communicator, all of which make her an exceptional ambassador for both occupational therapy and the Dorset Home Improvement Agency.
The title of Social Housing Adaptations Service of the Year has gone to Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) who provide accommodation for over one third of the Wakefield Districts population and goes beyond just contributing to the delivery of adaptations by committing £1m per year to do so, including major works up to £25k.
Invisible Creations were awarded the Excellence in Design trophy for attractive, dual-purpose home adaptations that support mobility and retain dignity.
Martin Greaves won Contractor of the Year for excelling this year during the Covid pandemic. He has continued to complete complex adaptation and repairs projects in record time despite the national challenges of delayed and reduced material supplies.
Handyperson Prevention Service – Care and Repair – King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council took the title of Handyperson Service of the Year. They were recognised for providing help to prevent major adaptation needs and avoid hospital admissions, keeping people safe within their home and providing value for money for the authority.
Paul Fisher, Rochdale HIA has been named Technical Officer of the Year. Paul showed commitment to ensure a holistic view of a property was taken, not only of the client’s needs and desires but also considering costs, ensuring that the Home Improvement Agency could provide the very best value for money.
Paul Smith, Director of Foundations, said: “From running hospital discharge services to carrying out vital adaptations, this year’s winners highlight the way in which organisations continue to innovate and strive for improvement in partnership with colleagues across health, housing and social care.
“But what is also striking is the way in which they have proved themselves ideally equipped to help shield some of the most vulnerable people in society from the effects of the pandemic.”
The National Healthy Housing Awards build on the success of the annual HIA Awards, which were organised by Foundations from 2001 to 2018. The new awards, launched in 2019, continue to champion the work of Home Improvement Agencies but also celebrate a wider range of individuals and organisations across England that enable people to live independent lives.
National Healthy Housing Awards 2020: Full list of winners and commendations
Home Improvement Agency of the Year
Winner: Manchester Care and Repair
DFG Home Adaptation Service of the Year
Winner: Lancaster Home Improvement Agency
Caseworker of the Year
Winner: Ravinder Kaur, Care & Repair Leeds
Commended: Sally Brock, Millbrook Healthcare
Outstanding Achievement
Winner: Sharon Ingram, Spotless Cleaning Services
Commended: Lee Battye, Kirklees Council
Contractor of the Year
Winner: Martin Greaves
Excellence in Design
Winner: Invisible Creations
Handyperson Service of the Year
Winner: Handyperson Prevention Service – Care and Repair – King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council
Housing Occupational Therapist of the Year
Winner: Emma Carter, Dorset Home Improvement Agency
Foundations Independent Living Trust
Winner: Happy Energy
Social Housing Adaptations Service of the Year
Winner: Wakefield and District Council (WDH)
Commended: Stevenage Borough Council (SBC)
Technical Officer of the Year
Winner: Paul Fisher, Rochdale Home Improvement Agency
Commended: Phil Entwistle, Peabody South East HIA
For more information on the National Healthy Housing Awards see the link below.
