Picton Street sees new lease of life following housing association acquisition

IN 2023, Pine Court Housing Association acquired 23 homes on Tunstall Street in a £3.2 million deal with Liverpool City Council.

The once derelict road in Picton is now home to a vibrant community that is thriving just 9 months following the acquisition.

Pine Court Housing Association, part of The Sovini Group, was established in 1986 as a registered social landlord, with a mission to provide quality homes and inclusive housing services for those in need.

Their acquisition of the street has seen local people benefit from an affordable route to homeownership through a Rent to Buy scheme.

Claire, 1 of the street's new residents, is optimistic about the future and aims to buy her home following the 5 year scheme that she says has changed her life.

Claire said:- "Before moving into Tunstall Street we lived in market rent properties and found it impossible to save for a deposit. The whole process has been seamless and has provided us with security we never thought we would have, it's changed my life. Pine Court has been incredible and I would recommend them without hesitation. I love living here, there is a real community feel as we all moved in at the same time, and everyone is sociable which is lovely."

As 1 of the Liverpool City Region's leading registered social landlords, Pine Court has a customer satisfaction rating of 99% across its diverse communities which are made up of 57% minority ethnic customers.

Isaac and Keziah live on the street with their 3 year old daughter and 8 month old son. Isaac said:- "We both moved a lot when we were kids, so wanted to find somewhere that we could our family could put down roots. Rent to Buy has given us more security for the future and we hope to purchase our home as part of the scheme."

Keziah added:- "We are very comfortable here, we love our home and the community on the street. Pine Court has been amazing too, the welcome pack we got was really good, and the team is very supportive."

David Brown, Director at Pine Court said:- "It has been incredible to see a new lease of life injected into Tunstall Street now that our customers are settled into their new homes. The acquisition of Tunstall Street has delivered on our [The Sovini] Group's vision of a better future, as we create opportunities and change lives by helping local people to get onto the property ladder. I look forward to seeing the community continue to thrive here for years to come."

To learn more about Pine Court Housing Association, please visit:- Pinecourt-Housing.Org.UK.

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Social care system in sustained crisis despite 'record Government investment,' report finds

UNSUSTAINABLE financial and workforce pressures are forcing adult social care providers to turn down new admissions and close services, as Government grants are not reaching the people who need them most.

This is according to the 2023 Sector Pulse Check report, independent research commissioned by learning disability charity Hft and Care England, the largest and most diverse representative body for independent providers of adult social care in England.

The report, based on a large scale survey of adult social care providers, finds that despite a £7.5bn funding boost in the 2022 Autumn Statement, there has been little progress in the key challenges facing the sector.

In fact, the situation is arguably more perilous than ever.

Energy cost increases of up to 350% and unfunded rises in the National Living Wage left 40% of adult social care providers in deficit in 2023. This is particularly concerning when 84% of care providers said that recent funding initiatives from Government; such as:- the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund and International Recruitment Fund; made no difference to the financial sustainability of their organisation over the past year.

The inevitable result has been a reduced capacity to deliver care across providers, as:-

• 43% closed services or handed back contracts.
  

• 18% offered care to fewer people.
  

• 39% considered exiting the market altogether.

These financial challenges are compounded by a deep rooted and systematic crisis in the workforce. Despite a rise in international recruitment, staffing shortages remain widespread. 44% of organisations had to turn down admissions due to a lack of staff.

The findings are a clear indication that the current approach to adult social care funding simply isn't working. The recent tightening of immigration rules for overseas care staff and a growing concern about the dire state of local Government finances only serve to add to the distress surrounding the future of the adult social care sector.

Hft and Care England call on the Government to implement immediate measures to support the care sector; including:- improving commissioning practice, revising VAT arrangements and removing barriers to ethical international recruitment.

"It is difficult to offer words of hope and motivation when the past 12 months have seen the adult social care sector engulfed in a sustained state of crisis. Despite moving away from the immediate challenges posed by the Covid19 Pandemic, there has been little respite from the fundamental financial and workforce pressures that have faced our sector for many years. The fact that 43% of providers told us they closed a part of their organisation or handed back contracts last year is testament to this. It is extremely disappointing that the over arching recommendations from last year's Sector Pulse Check report haven't been actioned and, despite additional investment from Government, we continue to operate amid significant challenges. The upcoming General Election provides the new Government with a perfect opportunity to address what is a key challenge for today's society, but 1 which nobody seems to be taking seriously enough. Our report provides several realistic, practical and impactful suggestions; including reforming VAT, revisiting the new visa laws for international workers and establishment of national commissioning standards; which we shouldn't delay in implementing if we want to see real change from the next Government." says Steve Veevers, Chief Executive of Hft.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "The narrative that social care is under pressure is not a new one. What's disappointing is that we find ourselves in a worsening crisis amid the Government's narrative of 'record investment' into the sector. While the Government did make substantial commitments in the 2022 Autumn Budget, the outcomes have not matched the ambition. The new money into the sector has not led to tangible change or any significant progress towards:- 'fixing adult social care.' It's clear that the way our system is funded needs a rethink. For years, adult social care providers have absorbed increased costs and inflationary pressures without corresponding funding. When money is made available it simply isn't cutting through. "Recent changes to immigration rules and an insufficient Local Government Finance Settlement this year further suggest a Government that is heading in the wrong direction. The sector's needs are now on red alert. Our long-term vision remains 1 of a sustainable sector that is financially viable and an attractive destination for staff. While this may seem a distant reality, there are a range of policies at the Government's disposal that would help turn the tide and put us on the path towards a sustainable future. As we count down to a general election, the Government must now make good on their promise to fix our sector. The recommendations outlined in this report represent pragmatic 1st steps and I urge the Government to lose no time in implementing them."

To read the full report by visiting:- HFT.Org.UK, or CareEngland.Org.UK.