26
Jun
The Association is thrilled to be able to share that it has won the prestigious TPAS award for Involving Tenants in shaping or scrutinising services. The basis of which is the work done collectively by SMT, Housing Services, and HR, involving tenants and staff leading to the incredibly successful launch of Independent Living across the region.
Mhorag Ewen Housing Services Director said, “To be recognised with this award is a fantastic achievement as the move from Sheltered Housing to Independent Living has been a substantial change for tenants and staff alike. Our tenants welcomed us at their schemes and were open to working with staff to design and implement the best possible service which focuses on them, their needs and their aspirations. We worked hard to involve them as often as possible. Through the feedback received from tenants, our Enhanced Housing Management model was born, and we are delighted to be able to roll out Independent Living.”
Independent Living has replaced our Sheltered Housing with our new form of Enhanced Housing Management. After trialling the service first across Moray, it was successfully rolled out in Aberdeenshire in October 2023 and Aberdeen City earlier this year. These Independent Living Schemes offer housing for older people in a safe and secure property with the reassurance that there is staff on site most days.
Jennifer Soley, Housing Services Manager, Castlehill Housing Association added, “We collaborated with staff and tenants to ensure that their thoughts and needs were carefully woven into the service as we rolled it out. Questionaries were filled in, face to face consultations conducted and we recognised the ever-evolving needs of older people. We have future proofed our new service to ensure that we can meet these needs in the long term.”
Castlehill’s Chief Executive, David Lappin commented:
“Tenants are at the centre of all we do at Castlehill and introducing the change to Independent Living would simply not work without the involvement of those who live there and use the service. Housing for Older People has always been at the heart of what Castlehill is about and the new service aims to ensure that we can continue to meet the changing needs and preferences of tenants, now and in the future. We are proud to have secured this award recognising the efforts of staff but also those tenants who gave up their time to get involved and help shape how the new service will work”.
The TPAS award recognises best practice in Housing and invited entries from RSLs across Scotland.
