creating communities to be proud of
life begins at 60? a new approach to supporting older people
Meeting the needs and expectations of individuals in a changing society is at the forefront of Shoreline’s plans for the radical redevelopment of its 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.
This week, Shoreline will start to inform current residents about the proposals and initial consultations. Staff and residents will be involved in consultation at every stage. It is hoped that the new service will be implemented in April 2008.
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.
Only 40% of current residents have significant support needs, while many do not have any specialist requirements.
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
Shoreline head of sheltered and supported housing, Rachel Munoz said: “It is imperative that we improve the service we provide in response to the changing needs of the community and the expectations of our residents. People have different requirements and by providing a more flexible service we will be able to support many more people.
“We understand that changes can cause people to feel anxious and that is why we want to be honest about the proposals and include everyone - residents and staff - in consultations.
“Many people will feel that residents will be getting less of a service but we are doing this because we believe they will get a radically improved service where focused specialist support is provided where it is needed, when it is needed the most.”
Research has shown that people are choosing to live in sheltered accommodation for the support, independence and community it provides rather than because of their needs.
“We want to make sure that we transform our sheltered schemes into modern communities where residents can live with like minded people and enjoy life knowing that the support is there if they need it.”
“The concept of sheltered accommodation can seem old fashioned to many people and they are often reluctant to move into a scheme. We have also had difficulty in recruiting residential wardens but there is a much greater availability of staff with specialist vulnerable people training.”
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© Copyright 2007-2008 Shoreline Housing Partnership Ltd. Registered Charity Number 1107876. |
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