Riverside - Crescent Court

The Riverside Group is a major provider of affordable housing, care and support services across England and Scotland, with over 52,000 homes in management.

J Tomlinson was appointed by Riverside to undertake a comprehensive refurbishment scheme across Crescent Court – a 50-bed independent retirement living scheme based in Seaforth, Liverpool.

Works included refurbishment of communal areas, including the lounge, kitchen and corridors, installation of fire doors to resident apartments, relocation of the scheme’s laundry room, as well as external improvements to the car park and garden areas.

Live independent living scheme

Resident communication: Throughout the project, J Tomlinson built and maintained positive relationships with residents living at Crescent Court, all of whom were aged between 60 and 95.

Understanding that having works undertaken at their place of residents can be stressful for individuals – in particular those who are elderly and/or vulnerable - we ensured everyone living at Crescent Court was kept fully abreast of upcoming works and the general progress of the scheme via weekly coffee mornings and one-on-one briefings.

We also accommodated residents who were unable to attend the weekly coffee mornings by producing a short and informative newsletter which was delivered in person by the scheme’s dedicated resident liaison officer (RLO).

Phased working: Works were phased by area to minimise disruption to the scheme’s staff and residents. We worked closely with retirement living staff on site to gain a robust understanding of Crescent Court’s daily operations and scheduled events, enabling the site team to work around such activities effectively and unobtrusively.

Familiar site team: By ensuring a consistent site team, J Tomlinson was proud to be able to establish with residents based on familiarity, and bolstered by our considerate and friendly approach.

Excellent Client Relationship

J Tomlinson has worked with Riverside since 2017, delivering refurbishment and capital improvement schemes to the client’s housing stock (comprising sheltered schemes and individual domestic dwellings). Over the past 3 years, we have built an excellent relationship with the client bolstered by a key understanding of their targets, visions and values, and a shared commitment to improving the homes and lives of Riverside’s own customers.

Whilst enhancing and upgrading communal areas at Crescent Court, J Tomlinson met with Riverside and the wider project team on a weekly basis, ensuring the project was on track and keeping all parties abreast of updates.

COVID-19 safe working

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 meant that Crescent Court had to close to the public for just under three months to protect residents and staff during the first government-enforced national lockdown period. Prior to our temporary departure from site, J Tomlinson ensured that all areas of the scheme were safe to use and inhabit by residents and retirement living staff.

Upon recommencement of works we continued to work closely with Riverside to ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines. Measures introduced by J Tomlinson to help mitigate infection spread included creating additional access/egress points for site staff to use, keeping site staff to a minimum, and the addition of new sanitising stations – all of which were supported with regular site and Covid-19 specific toolbox talks delivered to all site staff.

Resident engagement

As well as hosting weekly coffee mornings, J Tomlinson organised multiple events and outings for residents throughout the scheme - not only as a thank you for their patience throughout the works – but also to encourage more solitary individuals to mix with their fellow residents and make friends, reducing loneliness. These included:

Briars Hall Day Trip: Whilst undertaking works to Crescent Court’s ground floor areas, J Tomlinson arranged for a group of 15 Crescent Court residents and retirement living staff to have an afternoon at Briars Hall Hotel, where they were treated to a 3-course roast lunch, a game of bingo and a disco complete with music from the 60s and 70s.

Macmillan fundraising: In September 2019, J Tomlinson held a series of fundraising events at Crescent Court to help raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care whilst bringing residents together. Working with the wider project team, J Tomlinson held a home-made bake sale, as well as pamper sessions in which residents enjoyed manicures and hand massages. A grand total of £206.40 was raised for the charity.

Festive day out – The Lowry Centre: J Tomlinson treated residents to a day out to The Lowry Centre, where they enjoyed a visit to the Imperial War Museum, a spot of shopping at the Christmas party topped off with a festive 3-course lunch at the Harvester!

ACCIDENT/INCIDENT-FREE PROJECT - J Tomlinson’s stringent approach to health and safety excellence ensured no accidents or incidents occurred during the scheme.

LOCAL SUPPLY CHAIN - Local suppliers and subcontractors were utilised throughout the scheme, contributing to the local economy and local employment in the Liverpool area.

RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT – J Tomlinson engaged heavily with residents throughout the project, organising multiple excursions and scheme-based events to encourage resident interaction and wellbeing whilst works were taking place.

LIVE INDEPENDENT LIVING SCHEME – Working across a live independent living scheme occupied by residents between 60 and 95 years of age, J Tomlinson’s unobtrusive, professional and transparent approach helped to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents and retirement living staff, whilst keeping any disruption to a minimum.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY - LED lighting with integrated time-delay motion sensors was installed throughout the building to help Riverside lower its energy bills and reduce carbon emissions, supporting the client’s sustainability and environmental targets by mitigating wasted lighting energy.