Meeting the needs and expectations of individuals in a changing society is at the forefront of our plans for the radical redevelopment of our sheltered housing service.

The innovative plans to create a new service include the replacement of resident wardens with responsive support teams, modernisation of properties, specialist support tailored to individual need and the expansion of the service to other vulnerable people in the wider community.

Under the new proposals, residential wardens will be replaced with specialist floating support officers working in teams throughout the borough.

There will not be a reduction in the number of jobs in the new service and current staff will be encouraged to apply for the new positions.

Residential wardens will not need to vacate their properties but can choose whether to stay in their home or accept the offer of alternative accommodation.

All residents will still get a basic level of support but rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach, specialist teams will provide a responsive service, flexible to the needs of tenants and tailored to the individual support needs of residents.

The new service will ensure that staff and resources respond to the changing requirements of older people across the area and are deployed in the best way, based on what people need, when they need it.

Plans are also in place to modernise the sheltered schemes bringing them up to a higher standard. The considerable improvements include:

• better security
• improved access
• better provision of parking
• the conversion of bedsits into self contained flats with new fully fitted kitchen and bathroom facilities

Majority approval as extensive consultation addresses concerns

Over three quarters of residents have reacted positively to the proposed transformation of our supported housing service.

During extensive consultation - employees and over 600 residents were interviewed throughout all of our 28 sheltered schemes.

Despite initial opposition only 23% of residents do not want change.

We listened to residents and have responded positively by proposing to;

• continue the provision of daily visits to those residents with need
• assess security at all sheltered accommodation
• designate an officer to each scheme

We have also proposed to continue an out-of-hours emergency response which will extend the supported housing service beyond the nine to five scheme officer hours.

We have also made the assurance that those resident scheme officers who wish to remain residential can do so.

Residents and service user representatives will have a direct role in the selection of officers when recruitment panels for the new posts begin in the New Year.

The changes will be implemented in a phased approach.

The innovative proposals to create a new service also include:

• the multi-million pound modernisation of properties
• specialist support tailored to individual need
• expansion of the service to other vulnerable people in the wider community.

Shoreline head of sheltered and supported housing Rachel Munoz said:”After addressing resident concerns, we believe we are able to implement a newly improved service that satisfies the majority of residents.”