Sheltered Housing Review Information Leaet Consultation on changing the way we support older people living in Sheltered Housing
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Consultation on changing the way we support older people living in Sheltered Housing
Sheltered housing is accommodation that has been designed to meet the needs of older people, usually aged 60 years and over, who live independently in their own homes within a sheltered scheme with the help of housing support.
What is this leaflet about? Staffordshire County Council has been making changes to Supporting People funding for sheltered housing services in Staffordshire. From 31 March 2015, Supporting People funding for Tamworth Borough Council’s sheltered housing services will cease entirely. So, we need to change the way we support tenants living in sheltered housing and we need to know what you think before we make any decisions.
How do we provide our Sheltered Housing Support Services now? At the moment sheltered scheme tenants receive housing support services if they live in one of Tamworth Borough Council’s 10 sheltered housing schemes.
Our sheltered housing tenants currently receive the following housing support services: l
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A dedicated scheme manager called `Independent Living Manager’ who is available to contact on-site Monday to Friday (8.45am – 5.00pm however times do vary) and provides housing support as well as day-to-day management of the sheltered scheme All sheltered properties have an individual community alarm system which tenants can use by pulling a lifeline cord to call for help. The properties also have their own front door and are let unfurnished Access to a 24-hour community alarm call system when the Independent Living Manager is not on duty
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Sometimes a common room/lounge is available with community alarm system
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Sometimes guestrooms, laundry rooms and communal gardens are available
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Tenants receive a daily visit and six-monthly support plan
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Why do things need to change? Many older people want to be as active and independent as possible. The current service is not always able to help sheltered housing tenants do this successfully. We do not believe that the current service is flexible enough. It leads to some sheltered housing tenants receiving more support than they need or want. The housing support services delivered by our Independent Living Managers currently relies on Supporting People funding from Staffordsire County Council, which comes to an end on 31st March 2015.
What type of service are we proposing? We are proposing a service which would give more flexible and personalised support, rather than at set levels as we do now. Supporting sheltered tenants to remain independent, we would help and encourage sheltered housing tenants to do as much as possible for themselves, providing assistance only when it is needed.
What would the proposed sheltered housing service cost? Our aim is to ensure that living in sheltered housing remains affordable, even if you are on a low income and/or pension. Changing the way we deliver our sheltered housing service will mean that there will be a change to the charges. All existing sheltered tenants will be informed well in advance. We will also provide tenants with advice and support with applying for welfare benefits. If tenants already receive help towards the rent cost of your sheltered accommodation, then this is likely to continue unless your circumstances change.
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Consultation on changing the way we support older people living in Sheltered Housing
When would any changes happen? In the autumn 2014, the Council is undertaking a full consultation programme. The Council will listen to the views of existing tenants, prospective tenants, staff, Councillors, partners, stakeholders, partnering agencies and other sheltered housing providers before deciding on any changes. The Council will be visiting all sheltered schemes, to consult with tenants to ensure tenants are provided with all the relevant information and have the opportunity to share their views on what is important to them. See the timetable on the next page. The new sheltered housing service will come into effect around spring 2015. Prior to any changes taking place, we will ensure the Council effectively communicates with all existing sheltered tenants well in advance.
What do you need to do now? Please complete the enclosed questionnaire and send it back to us so we know what you think. Please return it by Monday 20 October 2014. You can hand the completed questionnaire form to your Independent Living Manager. If you need any more information or would like to talk about these changes, please come along to your Sheltered Review Meeting listed on the timetable opposite. Alternatively please speak to your Independent Living Manager.
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Timetable for consultation for existing sheltered tenants All meetings will be held in the communal rooms at the schemes except for the Thomas Hardy Court, Burns Road and Masefield Drive meeting, which will be held at Thomas Hardy Court. Tenants’ friends and family are welcome.
Ankermoor Court
7 October 2014
10.00 am
Edward Court
7 October 2014
11.30 am
Bright Crescent
9 October 2014
10.00 am
Glenfield
9 October 2014
11.30 am
Sunset Close
10 October 2014
10.00 am
Thomas Hardy Court, Burns Road and Masefield Drive
10 October 2014
11.30 am
Magnolia
13 October 2014
10.00 am
Oakendale
14 October 2014
10.00 am
Annandale
14 October 2014
11.30 am
Cheatle Court
16 October 2014
10.00 am
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Consultation on changing the way we support older people living in Sheltered Housing
Frequently asked questions 1. What is the Sheltered Housing Review about? The Council is changing support services for Sheltered Housing tenants and we are consulting with all sheltered tenants to see what they think. Detailed information about these proposals are included in this information leaflet. Changes will be coming into effect from spring 2015 and tenants will be notified of these.
2. So what is happening? In the autumn 2014 the Council is undertaking a full consultation programme. We will listen to the views of existing tenants, prospective tenants, staff, Councillors, partners, stakeholders, partnering agencies other sheltered housing providers before deciding on any changes. The Council will be visiting all sheltered schemes, to consult with tenants to ensure that sheltered tenants are provided with all the relevant information and have the opportunity to share their views on the what is important to them.
3. When will any changes happen? In July 2014, the Council Cabinet agreed the decision to review sheltered housing. Changes will be coming into effect from spring 2015 and tenants will be notified of these.
4. How will I know what’s going on and if things will change? We’ll keep you informed about any decisions that are made and will work closely with you to make sure you understand how these changes may affect you.
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5. If I live in a Sheltered Housing Scheme, what does all this actually mean? The council sheltered housing service will remain the same until such time you are formally notified about what is changing and when. Until then, all sheltered housing services will remain the same.
6. Who should I contact for further information? You can contact your Independent Living Manager. More information is also available on our website www.tamworth.gov.uk which will be updated regularly.
7. I'm very happy with my Sheltered Housing Independent Living Manager, so why are you going to change things? The Sheltered Housing Independent Living Managers are very restricted with the current inflexible service. This can be very frustrating and disappointing for them when it means they can't provide adequate support to those who need it most. We are proposing a service which would provide more flexible and personalised support.
8. I'm a sheltered tenant, but if I'm assessed as not needing Sheltered Housing, will I have to move? Absolutely not, we're only proposing to assess the eligibility of people who want to move into a sheltered property to ensure the people who really need it can access it.
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What happens next ... Supporting People funding ends
31 March 2015
Consultation Programme
September to November 2014
Review of all options for sheltered housing
November to December 2014
Cabinet Decision
March 2015
Implementing and delivering changes
Commence April 2015
Designed and produced by Tamworth Borough Council (08/14) 1715
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