Planned maintenance

Disabled facilities adaptation - 43 completed

The Disabled Facilities Adaptation scheme is designed for Tamworth Borough Council tenants to have adaptations to their home to support the needs of people in the household with disabilities.

How to apply

To start the application process and receive an initial assessment, please contact Staffordshire Cares (Social Services at Staffordshire County Council) on: l For adults - 0300 111 8010 l For children - 0800 1313 126

As part of the initial assessment, Staffordshire Cares will assess if they can offer support such as: l Freestanding Equipment – walking frames, shower chairs, toilet frames etc l Care or support packages l Minor works – such as grab rails or small ramps wet room installed on Disabled AdaptationFacilitiesprogramme l Identifying larger work as part of the Disabled Facilities Adaptation programme

Next Steps

If Disabled Facilities Adaptation work is need, you will be referred back to Tamworth Borough Council and we may arrange for an Occupational Therapist to visit your home for a full assessment.

Who will do the Work?

Once we have the recommendation on what work is required in your home, we will work with our partners at Equans to project manage and carry out the adaptations to your home.

For existing Disabled Facilities Adaptation applications

If you need to discuss an existing application, please contact us on 01827 709709 or email dfa@tamworth.gov.uk

Capital works investment in Sheltered Housing

We deliver programmes of work across the borough to maintain high standards in our housing. For our sheltered housing schemes we’ve: l Fitted new carpets throughout all communal areas at Cheatle Court and Ankermoor Court New lights have also been installed in communal areas which are more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective. All communal hallways were freshly painted and decorated in both schemes. l We upgraded the conservatory roof at Thomas Hardy Court and replaced it with a solid roof and Velux windows. This will last longer than a traditional conservatory roof so the upkeep costs and repairs and replacements will be reduced and the area is better insulated. l We decorated the communal lounge and replaced the carpet at Bright Crescent. The new hardwearing vinyl flooring is easier to look after and will last longer before it needs replacing.

The communal kitchen was also completely refurbished making it lighter, brighter and easier for residents to use.

Repairs Contact centre

Thank you to all the customers who helped us improve our service by providing feedback. Through conversations with our customers, we’ve identified several service improvements including: l Making appointments available over longer hours, l Introducing pre-appointment text confirmations, and l Carrying out post repair telephone calls.

We’ve also worked with our repairs contractor to develop a range of ‘how to’ videos to help to resolve minor maintenance issues such as a blocked waste pipe or a tripped fuse. Please take a look on our website www.tamworth.gov.uk/housing repairs. Following the simple demonstrations could save the inconvenience of having a facility out of action, or in having to wait in for an operative to attend. Of course, should customers still require our assistance after viewing the videos, we remain on hand to help and can be contacted on Freephone 0800 183 0044 or email: repairs@tamworth.gov.uk. Alternatively, why not go to our website.

Looking Forward 2022/23

l All soil waste pipes in the six high-rise blocks will be replaced.

l Upgrades to the heating in the high-rise blocks and Eringden.

l Partner with Lichfield District Council offer a joint in-house Occupational Therapist service to help make sure our properties are accessible for tenants with disabilities.

l Garage programme (delayed due to covid) covering 29 sites will see some garages demolished and replaced with open space parking. Other areas will have new garages.

l Continue to deliver programmes of work across the borough to maintain high standards in our housing.

l Continue to undertake gas and electrical safety checks.

l Build new social housing and buy others to replace properties sold under the Right To Buy scheme.

l Deliver around £500,000 (five hundred thousand pounds) worth of work, including projects such as new furniture for sheltered housing and improvements to parking areas as well as reconfiguring rear communal areas to provide better access to the gardens and drying areas.

Tenancy 5

In this section we talk about how well we let our homes, how we can help you maintain your tenancy and how satisfied you are with our overall service.

Number of active housing applicants on the housing waiting list by band of property on the 31 March 2022 was 544

Band

Band

Band

Band

Optional Welfare Benefit Checks

CUSTOMERS ARE GIVEN AN OPTIONAL WELFARE BENEFIT CHECK AT THE START OF THEIR TENANCY WHICH ALSO INCLUDES REFERRALS TO SUPPORT AGENCIES

Finding A Home Customer Satisfaction

THIS IS UNDER REVIEW AS WE RETURN TO POST COVID-19 SERVICE LEVELS

AVERAGE LENGTH OF BED & BREAKFAST STAY

23 Nights

THIS WAS WITHIN THE 42 NIGHT LIMIT SET OUT BY GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION

AVERAGE TIME BETWEEN LETTINGS

38 DAYS ON AVERAGE TO LET PROPERTIES

Housing Choices

HOUSING SOLUTIONS OFFER INTERVIEWS TO ALL APPLICANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT CUSTOMERS ARE AWARE OF ALL HOUSING CHOICES AVAILABLE TO THEM

17 HOUSEHOLDS IN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

ON 31 MARCH 2022

2 IN BED & BREAKFAST

15 IN COUNCIL OWNED

TOTAL NUMBER OF PROPERTIES FOR RE-LETTING

289 BECAME AVAILABLE; 24 PER MONTH APPROXIMATELY 40 REFUSED

Early Intervention Homelessness Prevention

PREVENTED 187 HOUSEHOLDS BECOMING HOMELESS

DELIVERED THE INCENTIVE TO MOVE PROGRAMME,

DESIGNED TO RELEASE LARGER FAMILY ACCOMMODATION

Homeless Services

Our aim is to provide high quality short-term accommodation together and visiting support service for people who are faced with homelessness. We support people through the crisis they face and to prepare them to successfully move on to their own independent tenancies. We have 20 self-contained flats in total across two sites, both of which are both near to local amenities and good public transport links.

We offer help, guidance and advice such as: l Help to claim welfare benefits l Help in sorting out debt problems and budgeting l Support and encouragement in career choices and gaining qualifications (e.g. keeping you up to date with where and what courses are available, help with forms, and CVs and accompanying you to appointments) l Keeping people motivated and involved in decision making l Contact other services/ agencies on behalf of the tenant

100% OF SUPPORT PLANS AGREED WITHIN 4 WEEKS

Glenfield Lounge Flooring

100% OF SUCCESSFUL MOVE-ON

Communal

Sheltered Housing

Sheltered housing provides people aged 55 and over with another housing choice in Tamworth.

Sheltered housing can be flats, studios or bungalows and are let unfurnished. Each property has: l Its own front door, bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom. l An emergency intercom alarm system with pull cords in each room available 24 hours per day to give peace of mind when people need help. l Scheme Manager on site Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 5.00pm, although these times may vary (excludes bank holidays).

We visit all new sheltered housing tenants within 24 hours of moving in to help people settle in, show where communal facilities are, demonstrate how to use the door entry system, community alarm equipment and explain what to do in the event of a fire.

We aim for all sheltered schemes to have a residents’ meeting every other month. The purpose of the meeting it to make sure tenants are involved with the running of their scheme and what is going on, which helps combat social isolation.

We aim to carry out a tenancy sustainment plan (previously known as a support plan) with all new tenants within four weeks of their tenancy start date. A tenancy sustainment plan is an action plan agreed with the tenant to look at how their needs can be met.

100% OF MONITORING SHEETS COMPLETED IN RELATION TO LEGIONELLA

100% OF NEEDS ASSESSMENTS CARRIED OUT AT ALL SHELTERED SCHEMES FOR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS

Glenfield Lounge Flooring

ANNUAL HEALTH & SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAM

68 WHERE COMPLETED

LIFELINE PULL CORDS ANSWERED

24/7

OUTSIDE OF OFFICE HOURS ELDERCARE ANSWERED

8181 ALARM CALLS.

84% ALARM CALLS ANSWERED WITHIN 60 SECONDS

100% OF NEW TENANTS VISITED WITHIN 24HRS OF MOVING IN

COMPLETED ACROSS ALL PROPERTIES

100% OF NEW TENANTS COMPLETE TENANCY MANAGEMENT PLANS WITH THEIR SCHEME MANAGER WITHIN 4 WEEKS OF MOVING IN