Vulnerable Wyre Forest residents will benefit from an award winning service

A service which adapts homes for vulnerable and disabled people in Wyre Forest has been recognised by a national body, winning two top awards.

Care & Repair Worcestershire, part of the Festival Housing Group, won the ‘Best approach to commissioning’ and ‘Excellence at delivering a housing options service’ at a ceremony in the House of Lords in London. The awards were organised and presented by Foundations, which is the National body for Home Improvement Agencies.

Care & Repair Worcestershire provides a valuable service which improves people’s lives by adapting their homes to suit their needs. Many people are referred through Worcestershire’s Community Occupational Therapy Service which assesses what adaptations, if any, customers need; stair lifts, level access showers or ramps are some examples. Care & Repair’s other service, Housing Options, helps people find suitable accommodation when they find their circumstances change. Care & Repair also have a Housing Discharge Coordinator based at Worcestershire Royal who helps patients find a home when leaving hospital.

Councillor Julian Phillips, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Place-shaping said,

 “Care & Repair Worcestershire works closely with Wyre Forest District Council and with our support has recently merged with the south Worcestershire service to create a countywide organisation. The funding for Care & Repair service in this district comes from Wyre Forest District Council, and this includes funding for the grants.  The Government’s Supporting People fund also contributes to the service.  The merger has meant more money has been available for the work of Care & Repair so this is good news for vulnerable people in Wyre Forest.”

 Peter Gill, Festival’s Director of Care and Supported Housing commented, “Care and Repair Worcestershire is a shining example of what can be achieved when many organisations work together. What we have achieved in the last twelve months is a countywide service which is consistent and offers customers the highest standards. These awards are recognition of the hard work of the Care & Repair team and all the other agencies involved in its success.”

For more information about Care and Repair visit their website or call 01684 579456.

Date of issue -1st July 2011