Home Improvement Agency earns Government recognition

Date article online: 16/03/2007

Rochdale Home Improvement Agency has been recognised by the Government as one of the best in the country - the first of more than 270 similar organisations across the country to be given straight A grades in all fourteen assessment categories in gaining a Quality Mark.

The organisation helps vulnerable residents improve and repair their homes.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Housing, said: "This is excellent news for the borough and for the Rochdale Home Improvement Agency.

"The Home Improvement Agency provides a vital service to many vulnerable residents who otherwise might struggle to keep their home in good repair.

"The Quality Mark and the Charter Mark are in recognition of the exceptional service provided by the agency and of the hard work and dedication of its staff."

Home Improvement Agencies are not-for-profit organisations that help some elderly people, people with disabilities or people on low incomes to repair, improve, maintain and adapt their homes, whether they are homeowners or private tenants. The Rochdale Home Improvement Agency is run by the Council's Strategic Housing Service.

By providing this service, the Rochdale Home Improvement Agency helps people to remain in their homes in greater comfort and security, so enhancing their quality of life.

The agency provides more that just a repair and improvement service, however. It can also help with:

• Advice and advocacy: helping people identify and look at solving the problems in their home.
• Finance: ensuring that people receive the right kind of financial advice and offering practical help such as filling in forms or checking they are getting all the benefits they are entitled to.
• Technical support: making sure that any repairs are carried out properly, to budget and on time.
• Links: working with councils, housing and grant officers, occupational therapists, health workers, social services and local voluntary services.

The Quality Mark is awarded for three years and indicates the level of quality provided by the service.

To gain one the service is judged on 14 categories that can all score A-D. Rochdale's scored As in all categories, the first in the country to do so. It means that inspectors could not find a single fault with the service.

As well as the Quality Mark, the agency has also been awarded a Charter Mark. The Charter Mark is the Government's national standard for excellence in customer service.