“He’s very good at letting us know what he wants and what he likes! And Joshua really loves his shower room.”
Seventeen-year-old Joshua, who loves his food and going to live music events, lives with his parents Anita and Pete at their home in Hartford, Cheshire.
Having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a young child, Joshua is also deaf and blind, and receives round-the-clock care and support.
The family used to have a bath, but as Joshua got older, it became increasingly dangerous for him to get into it to wash. They had a shower installed a few years ago, but the work had not been carried out correctly and didn’t suit Joshua’s needs.
Support from HomeKey+
The family got in touch with Cheshire West and Chester Council to see what they could do and were put in touch with HomeKey+, their local Home Improvement Agency.
HomeKey+ is Cheshire West & Chester Council’s Home Improvement Agency delivered in partnership with ForHousing that helps families make the changes to their homes that result in a better quality of life.
HomeKey+ worked with them and carried out the Occupational Therapist’s recommendation of creating a walk-in shower room on the ground floor of the house and tiling all the walls.
Providing step-by-step support, HomeKey+ helped Joshua’s family to first secure a Disabilities Facilities Grant for the work on their home. The family was then supported to find the right contractor to complete the refit, which got underway at the end of 2022. HomeKey+ oversaw the work through to completion to ensure budgets, timescales and most importantly Joshua’s needs were met.
Peace of mind
For Joshua, the new wet room has really improved his quality of life, while his parents now have peace of mind about their son’s safety.
Joshua’s mum Anita said: “Although Joshua can’t talk, he’s very good at letting us know what he wants and what he likes! And Joshua really loves his shower room – he could stay in there for hours!”
“I would definitely recommend HomeKey+ to other families needing changes to their homes. The shower room has made such a huge difference to us.”
For more information about HomeKey+ visit: https://homekeyplus.co.uk/
Make sure you’re up to date on our opening hours this early Coronation Bank Holiday on 8 May!
Our usual services will be closed from 5pm on Friday 5 May and will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 9 May.
You can reach out to us from the comfort of your own home by submitting a contact us form by clicking here. One of our team will be back in touch with you on Tuesday 9 May.
Have a lovely Bank Holiday from us all at HomeKey+.
Make sure you’re up to date on our opening hours this Summer Bank Holiday on 28 August!
Our usual services will be closed from 5pm on Friday 25 August and will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 29 August.
You can reach out to us from the comfort of your own home by submitting a contact us form by clicking here. One of our team will be back in touch with you on Tuesday 29 August.
Have a lovely Bank Holiday from us all at HomeKey+.
Make sure you’re up to date on our opening hours this Easter bank holiday!
Our usual services will be limited from 4.30pm on Thursday 28 March and will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 2 April.
You can reach out to us from the comfort of your own home by submitting a contact us form by clicking here.
One of our team will be back in touch with you on Tuesday 2 April.
Have a lovely Bank Holiday from us all at HomeKey+.
Make sure you’re up to date on our opening hours this May bank holiday.
Our usual services will be limited from 5pm on Friday 24 May and will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 28 May.
You can reach out to us from the comfort of your own home by submitting a contact us form by clicking here. One of our team will be back in touch with you on Tuesday 28 May.
Have a lovely bank holiday from us all at HomeKey+.
Make sure you’re up to date on our opening hours this Easter!
Our usual services will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 6 April and will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 11 April.
You can reach out to us from the comfort of your own home by submitting a contact us form by clicking here. One of our team will be back in touch with you on Tuesday 11 April.
Have a lovely Easter from us all at HomeKey+.
We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council, delivering the Home Improvement Agency service, currently known as the Home Assistance Hub, since 1st April 2022.
The new contract will run for five years and will see ForHousing provide services to repair, improve, maintain or adapt homes, including the Minor Adaptations Service; the Major Adaptations Service; the provision of special equipment and maintenance; and the provision of safety installations for domestic abuse victims.
Expert guidance will ensure residents are supported to access the funding sources available and to make changes to their homes so they can continue to live safely and independently.
Homeowners and private sector tenants who are older, disabled, or in low-income households within the Cheshire West and Chester region will access the Home Improvement Agency services easily via a new dedicated phone number and website.
Henry Terefenko, managing director (HMC) ForHousing said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver the Home Improvement Agency by Cheshire West and Chester Council. ForHousing is focused on working collaboratively and with care to deliver lasting change in communities and improve lives.
“We are passionate about offering a high-quality service to residents and providing this much-needed support function further strengthens our strategic partnership with the council.”
Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, said: “The Council has an ongoing and effective relationship with ForHousing which provides our housing management service. Following the start of this contract, we expect the level of service being provided by the Home Improvement Agency to improve further so that residents experience support to improve the standards of their home promptly and efficiently.”
HomeKey+ has been recognised by Foundations, the national body for home improvement agency (HIA) and handyperson services in England, as an accredited Home Improvement Agency (HIA) service.
HIAs are local organisations dedicated to helping older people, people with disabilities, and vulnerable people to live in safety and with dignity in their own homes.
We are now recognised as a Home Improvement Agency by Foundations. Being recognised as a Home Improvement Agency by Foundations brings a number of benefits which improves our services to you. These benefits include:
- Access to free consultancy services provided by Foundations Operational Support Team
- Access to the latest policy and communications intelligence through Foundations Policy & Communications Team
- Access to a range of evidence-based resources
- Access to Foundations training programme
- Access to funding resources only available to recognised Home Improvement Agencies such as FILT: Health Through Warmth fund and Electrical Safety First funds, all of which are administered via Foundations charitable arm – Foundations Independent Living Trust (FILT).
We are now working to the next stage which is achieving the Foundation Quality Mark.
Make sure you’re up to date on our opening hours this festive period!
Our usual services will be closed from 3pm on Friday 22 December and will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 2 January.
You can reach out to us from the comfort of your own home by submitting a contact us form by clicking here. One of our team will be back in touch with you on Tuesday 2 January.
Have a lovely festive season from us all at HomeKey+.