Wednesday 29 July 2009

Mike Freer's Answers - No 4 - sheltered Housing

This blog is No 4 and the last in the series dedicated to Leader of Barnet Council, Mike Freer's Answers to my questions at the last cabinet meeting. You decide if he's given a satifactory answer. No comment from me. I hope this has allayed any fears you may have

RT - Q9: How many Barnet residents are currently serviced
under the existing scheme and how many more
will be serviced under the new scheme?

MF - A9 : There are currently approximately 1500 sheltered housing units in schemes that
receive SP funding, some of which are for an alarm only service; some with
visiting wardens and others with resident wardens. The Cabinet report in
Appendix One set this out clearly. Our analysis of residents needs provided by the
current sheltered housing schemes showed that there is not a correlation between
level of need and hours of support currently provided. Whilst a valued service, our
analysis suggests that not everyone needs the service, and of those who do, many
do not require it on an ongoing basis. We anticipate therefore that many tenants
will require short term interventions only. The needs data we have received from
providers suggests that approx one third of residents receive benefits from the
service, although not on a continuing basis, and that a small proportion – up to 120
residents – at any one time need a greater input. The remainder make less
frequent or occasional use of the support but benefit from the reassurance of the
alarm service.

It is intended that the future support service will comprise the following elements:

Everyone in sheltered housing will benefit from the alarm service

Everyone in sheltered housing will be able to access the proposed helpline
service

The intensive support service should aim to meet the needs of up to 250
residents at any one time which will release capacity to support older people
living in the community.

RT - Q10: What provision has been made for the cutover to
allay the fears of residents?

MF - A10: The Council’s Adult Social Services is identifying a dedicated project manager to
supervise the range of different activities required to commission the new support
service and to reconfigure existing sheltered housing services. A full risk
assessment has been carried out. The Council’s proposed option will best
address the risks identified through the public consultation. The Council will work
closely with sheltered housing providers and tenants in planning and implementing
the service in order to mitigate the risks further, and to directly address concerns
of tenants.

RT - Q11: Has a full risk assessment been made for all
changes?

MF - A11 : note : Mike Freer clarified this after Rog T's supplimental question. A paragraph has been written in a Council Briefing document to deal with this.

RT - Q12: How many residents will be made more vulnerable
as a result of changes?

MF - A12: The Council has undertaken work to identify the effect of withdrawing existing
sheltered housing support from tenants who receive social care services. This
work will continue, and there will be explicit working protocols between the future
support provider and adult social services care teams.

RT - Q13: What provision has the council made for fighting
legal claims made as a result of these changes?

MF - A13: The Council has worked closely with its own legal department in drawing up
proposals.

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Well there you go, that's all Mike Freer's responses to my questions ( I don't think I can call them Answers, do you) - I will endevour to post my opinion on his "responses" shortly

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