HOUSING

Housing is an area of significant need within the region and it is important to support organisations to ensure their employees have the right knowledge, skills and behaviours to work within and adapt to a challenging and ever-changing environment. Housing is also a public health issue; in 2015 poor housing is estimated to have cost the NHS £1.4bn per year.

The ONS Housing Dataset explains that the median gross salary in the North West is £27,187, however the median house price is £165,000, highlighting the need for high quality social housing and therefore skills and capable staff, within the region.  In addition, the last Liverpool Census undertaken in 2011 highlighted that 25.5% (96,041 people) were in social rented housing and a further 17.6% (66,483 people) were living in privately rented accommodation. Again, this means there is a significant requirement for qualified, skilled, knowledgeable employees to be able to support individual needs and play a partnership role with other providers as well as public sector partners e.g. Local Authorities, Police, Health Service, Safeguarding bodies.