Sheltered Housing Service Review

Overview

Background

As you are aware we have been carrying out a review of our sheltered housing service.

We have been looking at a range of options to enable us to continue to provide a service to our sheltered housing customers.  These included

Continuing with the service in its current form – we have been unable to do this due to the loss of Supporting people funding

• Discontinue the service – we believe that this could pose risks to those tenants who currently are in receipt of the service
• Review service charges – this would allow us to deliver the service that tenants told us that they wanted as outlined below

In 2014 Birmingham City Council consulted with sheltered housing residents on how we can improve older persons’ services across the Place Directorate.  We wanted to learn what was important to you.  During those discussions you told us that you wanted to know when staff would be on site and that you would like help with low level repairs. We also held a number of events across the city throughout June and July 2016 to outline our proposals to you.

We want to ensure that older people have the opportunity to live in homes and environments that make a positive contribution to health and wellbeing.  We will do this by enabling an active, healthy lifestyle; combating social isolation and helping to mitigate the effects of dementia.

We have listened to the issues that you raised with us and would now like to outline to you our preferred option for the delivery of the future service.

What this means to you

Sheltered high rise (SHR) and Category I schemes

There will be a neighbourhood sheltered officer who will visit the scheme two to three times a week, depending on the size of the scheme.  They will:

• Carry out all health and safety checks for the scheme including a property risk assessment.
• Manage any contractors who attend the scheme.
• Provide a low level handy man service which may include: changing light bulbs, fitting key safes, help with hanging curtains or changing plugs.

There will be an increase in the service charge, between £2 and £5, but for the majority of residents this will be covered by housing benefit.

In addition there will also be the option of floating support.  The aim would be to:

• Support someone to maintain their tenancy.
• Helping someone to live independently.
• Encouraging and signposting individuals to access social activities to improve their wellbeing.

The support may include; managing finances, accessing social and leisure activities, accessing falls and safety measures or arranging assessments for homecare or any other adult services.

Other sheltered schemes (Cat II and extra care schemes)

The aim is to provide a dedicated support service which will include:

• Health and safety of the building.
• Some housing management duties such as lettings, take to views and managing low level anti-social behaviour.
• Facilitating and encouraging residents to attend wellbeing activities.
• Providing support in line with individual needs that will be determined through a support plan.  This will be completed in consultation with you.

There will be an increase in the service charge, between £2 and £5, but for the majority of residents this will be covered by housing benefit.

Why your views matter

We want to find out what you think of the proposals and would like you to answer the attached questionnaire.

If you require help or support in completing this questionnaire then please telephone 0121 303 3637 to arrange for an officer to visit you.  Alternatively please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document attached.