Posted 09/11/2021

Swan Housing Association’s outstanding contribution to social care recognised at Great British Care Awards

Swan Housing Association’s Director of Care and Specialist Accommodation, Shani Levy, has won The Outstanding Contribution to Social Care Award at this year’s Great British Care Awards for the South East region.

The Essex and East London housing provider’s Care and Specialist Accommodation team was also highly commended in the Housing with Care Award.

Shani began her career in care at 15 years old by working in an older person’s home at weekends. Having discovered a passion for enabling people, she has since made a difference in various roles including setting up a community outreach service for people with learning disabilities  and autism, and launching ‘Right 2 Party’, challenging support workers to stay up late so that people with disabilities could attend and learn how to interact in nightclubs.

Shani brought with her this inventive and solutions-focused spirit when she joined Swan Housing Group as Head of Care in 2016 and became a Registered Manager, achieving an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating. Under Shani’s leadership, staff turnover dropped from 55% to 17% and 100% customer satisfaction was achieved.

Now, as Director of Care and Specialist Accommodation since 2020, Shani leads Care Services, Supported Housing Services, Young People Services and NHS accommodation services at Swan, including the Dobson House team that was highly commended at the awards for in the Housing with Care Award.

Dobsons House is an extra care scheme, with onsite care provision providing a 24 hour peace of mind service, plus commissioned personalised care hours in Rayleigh, Essex, providing a holistic, seamless care and housing service to 30 residents.

Swan’s care team have created a warm, friendly environment, where daily activities are inclusive, aid independence and foster community spirit and staff champions are trained in dementia and End of Life care so that at all stages of customers’ lives, wishes and needs are met in a personalised and dignified manner. The Swan Care Team won Essex County Council’s Prospers award for End of Life care in 2019 and the regional finals for Team of the year 2020 in the GBCA.

Pete Morley-Watts, Executive Director of Customer Experience said: “I have worked with Shani since she joined Swan five years ago and I cannot think of anyone who is more deserving of this award than Shani.

"Her straight talking, experienced and friendly approach has enabled her to make strategic changes at all levels at Swan, making a real difference in the lives of our customers by ensuring that they always receive the highest level of care and support that enables them to have somewhere to feel at home.

"Dobsons House is just one example of the supported housing services that we provide as part of our care and support offering and I am really proud that our teams dedication and care have been recognised at this year’s Great British Care Awards.”

Swan provides a range of care and support services, delivering Swan Group's social purpose to make a difference to real lives in Essex. These services include strategic provisions of care and support; working in partnership with local authorities and clinical commissioning groups to deliver care and support services to those most in need. This includes older persons, young persons and those with learning disabilities, as well as providing a range of community and in-home support, including care.