Sheltered Support Services

The sheltered support service is a major support provider for older people in North Somerset. We aim to provide high-quality homes and services for older people that match what tenants want and need by:

  • empowering service users to live independently within their own community
  • enabling service users to maintain their home and tenancy
  • developing a customer orientated housing related support service that reflects the needs of existing and future residents

What does the sheltered housing service currently provide?

NSH owns 1,096 sheltered housing properties across the area. At these sites we provide Sheltered Housing Wardens, communal lounges, laundries and the warden call alarm system.

As a minimum, the sheltered housing service aims to:

  • provide affordable, attractive, high quality accommodation
  • provide a safe and secure environment with personal space and privacy
  • ensure all sheltered tenants receive appropriate levels of support and care
  • promote the maintenance of independence for older people through:
    • the confidence of being part of a supportive community
    • specially designed and/or adapted buildings
    • reduced fear of crime
    • removal of responsibility for maintaining a home
    • support and assistance from scheme management and staff

For more information about the improvements works planned for sheltered schemes, see our improvements section

Retirement Properties For Sale

Details of retirement properties can be downloaded - properties (pdf, october 2006)

 

Sheltered Housing Review

North Somerset Housing recently completed a review of the sheltered housing service. Some improvements and changes to the service will be made as a result of this review. These will be implemented in January 2008.

Why Is North Somerset Housing Changing The Sheltered Housing Service?

North Somerset Housing is changing the sheltered service because of:

 

  • The changing needs of older people. We want to offer our service to older people living in the wider community as well as those living in our sheltered schemes. The only way to achieve this is to change the way we currently work.
  • A Government policy called 'Supporting People.' This aims to improve the lives of older people (and other recipients of housing support services)
  • Your views. In the review consultation 70% of residents thought that those with high support needs should have more support than those with low or no support need

 

What Are The Main Changes?

1. Menu of support options

We will be targeting support services where they are needed most. To achieve this we will be offering a menu of support options to residents

  • Low Support

  • Low Support

  • Help in an emergency (via community alarm monitoring)

  • Social and recreational opportunities

  • Service upgrade to medium support on request

  • 6 monthly check to see if you want to upgrade your service

  • Medium Support Service

  • Low support PLUS:

  • A regular detailed assessment of your support needs

  • 1 weekly visit and intercom calls according to your needs

  • High Support Service

  • Low support PLUS:

  • A regular detailed assessment of your support needs

  • Up to 5 weekly visits/intercom calls according to your needs

  • Weekend intercom calls if needed

 
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

This will enable us to offer flexibility and choice to residents and to target services where they are needed most. We will also be offering this 'menu' service to older people living in the wider community.

A key task will be to assess all residents support needs and allocate the appropriate level of support - high, medium or low. We will be sending a form to all residents in the near future with a series of simple questions about your care, health and other support needs. If you are happy to complete this form yourself, please do so and return it to us as indicated.

Please don't worry if you have any concerns about completing this form. We will arrange to visit all residents who do not return it so that you can discuss any worries or concerns 'face to face'. We will also complete this form on your behalf if you want us to do this.

2. New team based staffing structure

We will be creating teams of staff who can work across a number of sheltered schemes within North Somerset.

We can offer much better support to our staff and offer a consistent service by organising ourselves in this way. We can also provide better 'cover' for holidays and other absences.

The service will be available to everyone between 8.30am to 4.30pm - Mon-Friday.

3. New Job of Development Worker

We will be employing a development worker whose role will be to support and promote social and recreational activities within sheltered schemes. His or her main task will be to combat isolation and develop our schemes as vibrant communities.

4. Changes to the Call Monitoring Service

We will be asking suitable qualified organisations to put in a bid for the call monitoring service (currently provided by Carelink) to ensure the best value for money. The 'out of hours' mobile service will not form part of this because it is used by very few tenants and offers poor value for money.

When Will These Changes Be Made?

We are aiming to introduce these changes in January 2008.

Who Do I Contact If I Have Any Questions Or Concerns About These Changes?

Contact the Older Persons’ Support Service on 01275 398 111

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