Agenda item

That the progress of the Sheltered Housing Improvement Project from February 2013 and successful completion of the Improvement Programme be noted.

The Director of Community Services introduced the update report on the successful completion of the improvement programme within the Community Based Accommodation Support Service (previously the Sheltered Housing service).  Whilst reporting on further elements of the improvement project, he provided explanation on the implementation of the ‘needs based’ support service to respond to the changing needs of service users and welcomed the achievement of at least 70% of available staff time allocated to this support.  Following the relocation of seven of the community-based hubs to alternative accommodation to free up Council stock, plans were being made to relocate the remaining two.  Information was given on the establishment of two new referral routes to the service and progress with implementing the new staffing structure.  Feedback from current and past users of the service had indicated an overall positive response.

The Director introduced the Senior Sheltered Housing Officer (Dawn Kent) and invited the two Accommodation Support Officers who were present to share their views on service changes.

Sue Roberts and Carmen Wellings explained that whilst the transition period had initially seemed challenging, the benefits resulting from the improvements to the service had been recognised and welcomed by staff and service users.  They felt it was important to recognise the necessity to expand the service to deliver support to a wider range of people with varying needs and that the approach to working as a team rather than as individuals was more professional and rewarding for them.  Sue and Carmen spoke of the range of support on offer to equip individuals with the tools to promote their own independence and deal with any crisis arising in their lives, such as information on changes to benefits and signposting to relevant networks for more challenging needs.  Discussion at a recent Housing Forum meeting had promoted the services to residents from different areas who had welcomed the range of services on offer.  The five staff located at the Ewloe hub were responsible for supporting around 500 service users, each with a support plan in place to identify and respond to their differing needs.

The Chairman said that the improvements to the service had proved to be a great success and welcomed the efficiencies made.

In thanking officers for the positive report, Councillor Paul Shotton asked if the number of current service users not in sheltered accommodation was likely to change from 42, and whether links could be made with partner agencies to provide a befriending service to older people in need.  The Director said that there was an expectation for this number to increase and that positive work was ongoing to support those who were lonely with a recognition that the service would need to adapt flexibly to respond to more complex issues.

The Community Support Services Manager gave assurance of monitoring of the number of services users to ensure that appropriate capacity was available and that a reduced need for support would impact on those figures.  Sue and Carmen explained that the service was able to provide transport for those wanting to attend activities at local community centres and that links with Age Concern and the Red Cross were used to provide a befriending service to those in need.

Councillor George Hardcastle, who had attended the recent Housing Forum meeting, praised Dawn and her team for the range of work they undertook.  In response to a query, the Director said that there were no plans to reduce the number of hubs to below seven.

Councillor Amanda Bragg welcomed the improvements to the service, particularly in view of the ageing population, and asked for clarification on reduced levels of support within the report.  The Community Support Services Manager explained that services were gradually reduced to individuals to whom no further support was deemed necessary.  Councillor Bragg went on to remark on valuable assistance from wardens and Streetscene officers at an elderly person’s property during a period of severe weather.

In response to a query on contact information, the Community Support Services Manager explained that the ‘Practical Assistance line’ promoting volunteer assistance was in the early stages of implementation and would be developed further.  An informal arrangement was in place whereby Council officers were deployed to provide assistance to those in need during severe weather.

Councillor Rosetta Dolphin spoke of the benefits of the community-based hubs in supporting each other and hoped that the support service could be rolled out further to all residents in need.  The Director referred to the two new areas of referrals which would enable the services to be targeted at a wider range of individuals and said that whilst it was intended to develop this further, there was a need to monitor it to ensure that sufficient capacity was in place to respond.

RESOLVED:

That the progress of the Sheltered Housing Improvement Project from February 2013 and successful completion of the Improvement Programme be noted.