Sandwell Homes scoops national award for best social care team

Sunday 20th September 2009

Sandwell Homes has won a prestigious national award in recognition of its Tenancy Support Service.

The organisation won through against strong competition from seven other service providers in the ‘Best Social Care Team’ category at the coveted Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) awards ceremony in Cardiff.

The service is now five years old and since 2004 has supported nearly 1000 people to achieve independence.

Sandwell Homes was also represented by the Sandwell Decent Homes Partnership - a worthy finalist in the best Public/Private partnership working category.

Chief Executive, Brian Oakley, said of the success: “Once again Sandwell Homes has been successful at a national awards ceremony. This latest achievement is testament to the hard work of Tenancy Support who provide short term support to vulnerable people in their own homes in each of the six towns of Sandwell. Fantastic news.

"It is also encouraging to see the Sandwell Decent Homes Partnership continuing to receive recognition for its work in bringing Sandwell’s housing stock up to a decent standard. Well done Sandwell Homes and our Partners.”

Between them, Sandwell Homes and Sandwell Council projects notched up five finalist places and two overall wins with the council also being a finalist in the overall ‘Council of the Year in Service Delivery’ category.

The other three council finalists were Tibbington Estate, Sandwell's Safer Stronger Communities Fund - Best Housing and Regeneration Initiative; Let's Make Sandwell Sparkle - Best Environmental Initiative; and Find it in Sandwell, which won the Best Information and Communication Technology Initiative.

The awards not only recognise and promote individual achievement, but also provide an invaluable opportunity for information to be shared with other authorities and bodies that recognise the hard work and dedication involved in delivering continuous improvement.

Posted by Kim for Sandwell Homes