Mears Home Improvements Dorset has won the 'Excellence in Delivering Housing Options' award at the Home Improvement Agency Awards hosted at the House of Lords last week.The annual awards which are organised by Foundations - the national body for Home Improvement Agencies - recognise excellence across a range of services, and Mears are thrilled to win this award which recognises the innovative work they have done around providing housing advice and the depth of their service.Mears delivers a well-established, innovative Housing Options service across Dorset and is commissioned by Dorset County Council and Bournemouth Borough Council. The project supports older local people who have expressed wishes to consider moving from their current home for whatever reason.
Caseworkers provide advice, support, information and advocacy on behalf of older people to enable each of our customers to make an informed decision on their preferred future accommodation needs. The service is free and individuals are supported throughout the process.
Through the development of this service, Dorset residents have benefitted from support to gain more suitable accommodation, advice and signposting to other agencies that can help for example with maximising benefit take-up or debt write-offs, and the project has helped prevent some residents becoming homeless.
David Rubick, Branch Manager, Mears said "On behalf of my team, I am extremely proud of the recognition awarded for this service that makes a real and lasting difference to the health, well-being and independence of local people"Andrew Cattaway, Cabinet member for adult social care at Dorset County Council, said:"I am extremely pleased that Mears Home Improvement has been recognised nationally for the excellent work they do and the difference it makes to the quality of life for older people in Dorset."This award recognises the work done by all the staff and is testament to the dedication of everyone involved with the agency."