Friday, 25 May 2012

Sheltered housing

Posted in: Discussion | Care and support

21/07/2008 10:02 am

Tom Lloyd

Tom Lloyd

Posts: 145

A coroner recently criticised ALMO Derby Homes for not informing the family of a resident that his support visits had been cut from daily to monthly.

Should sheltered housing landlords have to tell relatives if they cut visits, or is it up to the resident to decide who they inform of changes to the support they receive?

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Joe Halewood

Joe Halewood

Posts: 243

22/07/2008 10:11 am

The question is posed in isolation of the context. I have no knowledge of this particular case yet reduction in visits is very common practice that has accelerated overpats few years, largely due to lack of funding.

There is also the nature of the service delivery model (floating support) as it is inherent that the need for support floats away - diminishes and reduces over time in lay speak. This is the preferred model of service delivery to sheltered housing for commissioners and councils. Yet, given that many sheltered housing support needs are age-related just how can the support need reduce?

The real question should be is floating support a suitable delivery model to sheltered housing.

To deal directly with the isolated question, if relatives form part of the written and agreed support plan then of course they should. Yet that is big IF. Family members will always want more for their elderly relatives - whether needed or not - as that is simply human nature. If they were informed ahead of proposed reductions, I presume this would also involve rights of appeal against such a proposal. Would such delay deny support to other perhap more needy persons?

Every provider has a finite capacity so when a reduction in time is given to service user A, then service user B (or B & C) benefit by increased or new support. Would proposed new serice user C be toldahead of proposal and also have appeal rights if current service user's family appealed?

The very brief points above show the spurious nature of this question in isolation

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Afzal Shabir

Afzal Shabir

Location: Derby, East Midlands
Posts: 10

31/07/2008 1:52 am

Landlords should tell tenants / customers if a level of service they currently provide may reduce for whatever reason(s). Given the nature of sheltered housing residents, who normally require more support than ‘general needs’ residents, in my opinion, there should be a choice for the tenant / customer to decide if he or she would like the Landlord to inform their relatives / next of kin. The exception to this rule should be tenants / customers who are not of sound mind to be able to make such a decision. In such an instance, it should be mandatory for a landlord to notify the next of kin or a registered relative.



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Tumultuous Lurker

Tumultuous Lurker

Posts: 73

03/08/2008 8:55 pm

Here is the link to the original story.

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6500463

Most Social Landlords are being forced to go down the route of floating support teams, by the simply pressure of Supporting People Budgets, and threats of competitive tendering. What needs to be recognised, is the subsequent need for improved communication methods, and the acknowledgment that some tenants will choose not (or forget)to wear pendants, through which to call for support.

To respond to Tom's rhetorical question informing relatives, this requires maximum tact, diplomacy and judgment, and not rigid procedures. In line with Supporting People theory, evry service user is an individual and must be treated as such.

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