Review Leads to Action Plan for Vulnerable Tenants (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

Review Leads to Action Plan for Vulnerable Tenants

July 30, 2004 6:28 PM

An outreach service for older people living in their own homes, extra-care sheltered housing and additional support for the victims of domestic violence are planned following a review of the council's sheltered housing service.

The service is currently funded through a Government grant called "Supporting People". This Government grant is now expected to reduce over the coming years and following the review the council has been asked to reduce its costs in this area.

As a result Southwark Council's executive agreed yesterday (July 27) changes to the council's sheltered housing service and a long-term action plan to provide a range of new services which will reach more people.

Wardens will continue to be based at the council's 23 sheltered housing units during weekdays but instead of a warden sleeping over in a flat on site, to reduce costs a mobile service will respond to calls during the evenings, nights and weekends.

Calls which would have gone through to the warden's flat will go straight to the council's 24 hour community alarm service. As well as responding to calls the mobile wardens will make regular checks of the sheltered housing units and check on the well being of residents.

Investment in long-term plans to support vulnerable people include:

More outreach services to vulnerable people living in their own homes, particularly black elders who are reluctant to go into sheltered housing.
A specialist team to support people with dementia.
Intensive support to particularly frail people in sheltered housing to help them to live independently for longer rather than have to go into residential care or hospital.
Extra support for the victims of domestic violence, which could include a women's refuge.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Denise Capstick, Southwark Council's executive member for adult care, said: "The government provides us with this grant on the condition that services are reviewed regularly. We have been asked to reduce our costs by modernising the service but the review has also given us an opportunity to bring in a range of services which will meet the needs of other vulnerable groups.

"The new mobile wardens service will also be providing a proactive service, not just a sleeping presence as is the case at the moment. This means we can continue to provide a 24 hour service to residents."

The executive agreed to consider basing the mobile warden service at sheltered units with particularly frail residents.