Published: Wednesday, 29th November 2023
A borough council scheme helping people to stay at home safely has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards.
The council’s Care and Repair team have been shortlisted for Handyperson Prevention Service at the National Healthy Housing Awards for the third year in a row. They also nominated a contractor who helps them deliver the service, and that has resulted in a shortlisting for Contractor of the Year.
Cllr Jo Rust, cabinet member for People and Communities, said:
“The Care and Repair team’s track record speaks for itself. They provide a really important service that makes a tangible difference to people’s lives.
“I’m delighted that they have been shortlisted for an award once again, and I wish them all the best for the announcement of the winners.”
Handyperson Prevention is a funded service for West Norfolk residents who have a disability or health condition. It provides free, low-level prevention measures at home to reduce the likelihood of falls and assist with day-to-day living.
One of the main reasons Care and Repair was shortlisted was the additional benefits it offers to residents, which come from the council’s strong relationships with partners. These relationships help the Care and Repair service to tailor its offering to meet changing needs over time, and help it to identify new clients that might benefit from the support given.
As well as strong relationships with partners, the council’s relationship with one of its contractors has supported an entry for a second award.
Chas D Allflatt Ltd (CDA) is one of the council’s framework contractors, helping to deliver both handyperson prevention and major adaptations work.
The council has been particularly impressed by the way in which the company has worked in the homes of vulnerable clients.
Having seen the way in which CDA completed more than 2,000 falls prevention works and more than 1,300 major adaptations, the council has noticed how they demonstrate a clear understanding of every client having varying needs.
As a result, the council nominated the company as a contender for Contractor of the Year and have been delighted to see that this has resulted in them becoming a finalist in that category.
The award ceremony takes place on 5th December at the National Football Museum in Manchester.