Top Marks for Community Gateway's Supported Housing Team

Community Gateway Association’s (CGA) supported housing team are celebrating with sheltered housing tenants, as the organisation has successfully achieved an excellent result in its latest Supported People Service review assessment.

The Supporting People programme was introduced by Central Government in 2003 to ensure quality and demonstrate continuous improvement within Supported Housing and this is managed in Lancashire by Lancashire County Council. Within the programme all providers of Supported Housing service must undertake a Service Review where they are assessed against the Quality Assessment Framework. The assessment is on a scale from D-A (A being excellent) and CGA have been accredited as delivering a level B service.

The review commented that since the last assessment in 2005 when the service was rated C, it has transformed itself and is providing quality services to tenants and customers.

During the assessment, tenants made the following comments about the service.

“I am hoping to stay here for the rest of my life”
“”The safest place in Preston”
“Your family are happy that you are in a good place”
“The scheme manager gets things done straight away”
“We can’t fault the flats – the kitchens and the bathrooms are lovely”
“The scheme manager is very supportive”
“We have great support from the scheme manager, who provides us with the security and reassurance we desire”
“The input which you give to our Dad is often above and beyond the call of duty”

Diane Bellinger, Chief Executive at CGA said “The result of this review reinforces our commitment to providing quality services to customers across Preston. Our Supported Housing team have worked incredibly hard to achieve this level and have listened to the needs of our customers”.

In addition to improving services CGA have an ongoing 5-year property improvement programme taking place across the city and the sheltered schemes have been part of this work. At Maudland House a complete refurbishment of the communal areas has created a fantastic living area and it is planned to roll this programme out to Alexandra House and Almelo House in 2010.

Please visit www.communitygateway.co.uk if you would like to know more about the supported housing services CGA deliver to our customers.