About Supported Housing
What is Supported Housing?
Supported housing is a group of flats or bungalows designed to
assist elderly or disabled people to lead independent lives. They
provide certain facilities that ordinary housing does not include,
in particular, 24-hour emergency pull cord and a Support Worker who
will respond to emergencies and visit according to iindividual
requirements.
Role and Responsibilities
The Support Worker employed to ensure, as
far as possible, the safety and well being of the tenants and
helping them to remain as independent as possible. Essential Role
of the Support Worker:
- To make contact with the tenant to determine that all is well.
This is flexible and arranged with the tenant.
- Respond to emergency calls.
- Liase with other services required by the tenant, eg. Medical
or nursing assistance. The Support Worker will assist the tenant in
contacting the necessary people to give these services. For safety
reasons, the actual dispensing of medicines by Support Worker's is
not allowed.
When you first take up your tenancy, the
Support Worker will need to take some details, eg. date of birth,
next of kin, doctor and health details. This is confidential and
assists our staff and Call Care in the event of an emergency and
could save your life. The Support Worker will supervise the running
of the scheme and encourage tenants to organise activities in the
communal lounge, such as bingo, whist and coffee mornings . Except
in an emergency, the Support Worker is, unfortunately, not able to
act as Home Help, Night Attendant, collect prescriptions, provide
transport or do shopping. They will be only too pleased to assist
in collecting pensions, prescriptions, shopping, etc, if:
- the resident is unable to do so.
- there are no other persons available to assist, eg relatives,
home help.
- in assisting in this way, it does not hinder the Support Worker
in carrying out the essential duties to other residents.
- it is only a short-term solution.
The Support Worker will do everything to ensure the welfare of
the resident. The support given by relatives is, however,
recognised as being extremely beneficial and comforting to the
residents. This will be strongly encouraged by the Support Worker.
Due to the large number of residents, the Support Worker is not
able to provide this added support, except in very exceptional
circumstances. Support Workers work Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm and, like all
other workers, have days off and annual leave. Outside of these
hours, the scheme will be switched through to Call Care and a
different support worker will make contact and respond to any
emergency calls.
Support Worker - Will visit Tenants following
Assessment and ensure their well-being, provide support for the
tenant and answer emergency calls.
Assessment and Support Officers - Assessing
people that want to move into Supported Housing. They will visit
Tenants and complete Support Plans and ensure support is given and
will review Support Plans.
Inclusions Officer - Give Help, support and
advice where needed on schemes to enable Tenants to have access to
social activities, they will work with Voluntary Groups to ensure
that tenants area able to access activities within the Scheme.
Housing Officer - They will deal with all
tenancy issues as well as having responsibility for the Building
and any Contracts e.g. Grounds Maintenance cleaning etc.
Team Structure
Call Care
This is the tenant's emergency link, when the Support Worker is
on or off duty.
An emergency button or pull cord, with a two-way speech
facility, is fitted in your accommodation. This is to enable you to
summon help at any time on a 24-hour basis. This help may come from
either a Support Worker, relatives or the emergency services. The
emergency call care system should only be used if a genuine
emergency should arise.
Resident Committees
Most schemes have a Committee to help raise funds for outings
and Christmas Dinners, etc. Although your Support Worker will
encourage this, giving advice and assistance where required, they
must not act as the Chair or Treasurer. The Support Worker will not
be responsible for holding the Resident's social fund and residents
will be encouraged to open a scheme bank account.
Keys
In most schemes, the Support Worker has a master key to your
property that will only be used at the Support Worker's discretion
to ensure your health and safety. It is also advisable for a friend
or a relative to have a spare key to enable them access. Please
ensure the Support Worker is told who is keeping this
key.
Facilities
Most schemes have a communal lounge, kitchen, laundry and guest
room. Some schemes have lifts to first and second floors.
Delivery of Goods
Delivery of goods, eg. milk, papers and mail, are made in the
normal way, although some blocks of flats have purpose-built
lockers. You must arrange for the security of any goods delivered
to the scheme for you, as Spire Homes does not take any
responsibility for loss of items.
Pets
Pets are not allowed on schemes unless the tenants have their
own front door and do not share a communal entrance or walkway.
Dogs are only allowed in properties where the tenant has direct
access to his or her own garden. It is the responsibility of the
resident to ensure that secure fencing is erected to keep the dog
in the garden and that the dog complies with the Dangerous Dogs
Act, 1991. For further information on keeping pets, consult your
Support Worker.
Television Licence
Some schemes, where the accommodation is within a common
boundary, are entitled to a concessionary TV licence, currently
£7.50 per year. Contact your Support Worker for further details,
unless you are 75 years or over where there is no licence fee to
pay.
Laundry
Most schemes have a laundry room for use by residents. Although
the Support Worker will not actually do the washing for you, you
will receive every assistance and guidance on how to use the
machines.
Guest Room
A number of schemes have a guest room which may be used by a
resident's relative or close friend. Priority is given to relatives
who need to stay owing to a tenant's illness. Then consideration
can be given to relatives and friends who just wish to visit
residents. The booking of the room is done through the Support
Worker and on a first come first served basis, subject to their
discretion if a resident is ill. A small charge is normally made
for this facility.
Fire Prevention
Instructions relating to fire precautions must, at all times, be
observed. There are regular fire drills for residents living in
communal blocks of flats.
Smoke Alarms It is advisable to fit smoke
alarms in your home. It is the resident's responsibility to install
and maintain them.
Nature of Tenancy
Apart from the special arrangements made for ensuring the
resident's safety and well-being, the tenancy is a perfectly normal
one. The rent is paid in the normal way and the resident is free to
come and go as they please. However, it is essential to let the
Support Worker know, for safety reasons, if you are to be away over
night. If you have visitors staying in your property overnight, you
will need to let the Support Worker know due to Fire
Regulations.
Complaints
The Support Worker can report any
complaints or repairs for you to the relevant department. If any
problem cannot be resolved you may contact your Housing Officer,
telephone 0845 603 5399.