Housing and care provider Housing Plus Group is celebrating news of shortlisting in two categories in the prestigious 24housing Awards.

The organisation, which works throughout Staffordshire and Shropshire, has been recognised in the categories of Care & Support Provider of the Year and Repairs & Maintenance Provider of the Year.

Hundreds of nominations were received for this year’s awards and the winners will be announced in October.

In the Care & Support category, the Care Plus domiciliary Care Team has been shortlisted. Last year the carers provided more than 1,000 hours of care and support each week, helping 120 people to live independently in their own homes as a result.

The team receives outstanding levels of customer satisfaction, with 100% of people saying that their carers treated them with dignity and the same percentage describing their carers as good or very good. One memorably added: “I’ve got my happiness back!”

In the Repairs & Maintenance category there is more recognition for the Property Plus team, the in-house repairs and maintenance service for Housing Plus Group.

Shifting resources away from spending on responsive repairs, into investment in planned maintenance has maintained home improvements despite rent reduction and brought apprenticeship opportunities for young people in local communities.

Fair Landlord policies helped Property Plus to invest £14m annually in home improvements, including fitting 400 new kitchens and 500 bathrooms and carrying out Home MOTs on every property, on a neighbourhood rotation.

Housing Plus Group chief executive Sarah Boden said: “I am delighted that both these customer-focused services have been shortlisted for the 24Housing Awards. Our teams have beaten stiff competition to reach this level and to be shortlisted nationally is a fantastic achievement.”