Support services in Sheltered

Housing Consultation

An overview for residents

Contents

Introduction 3

Are you affected by this? 4

Why do we want to change? 5

Our proposals 6

What is Community Connect? 7

Benefits of Community Connect – Alan & Pat 8

Consultation dates and details 9

The consultation questionnaire 11

Additional information 16

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To request this document in an alternative format, please contact us ShelteredHousingService@somerset.gov.uk or telephone 0300 123 2224 and select “option 4” then “option 3”

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IntroductionSomerset's County Council’s contracts for Support in

Sheltered Housing schemes is due to end in October

2018.

Because of this we will be undertaking a consultation

between the 3rd April – 30th May to seek the views of a

wide range of people, including yourself as one of our

Sheltered Housing residents.

Currently we partially fund housing providers to supply

support for tenants with high level support needs to

manage their day to day requirements.

This can include assisting with correspondence; helping

to pay bills or manage the household budget. They can

also help to arrange appointments and plan shopping or

meals. Some people may not need this support on a

regular basis, but could benefit from a visit to check all is

well and to see if any help is needed, however within the

current contract only those with high needs will receive

the support.

It should be noted that some services are not included within the funding we provide. For example, your alarm systems, the emergency response service and your tenancy support, this is paid for through your rent.

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Are you affected by this?As highlighted in the introduction we currently provide funds to housing providers to help tenants with high level support needs to manage their day to day requirements.

These are the tenants who are considered the most vulnerable and who are on the threshold of requiring a statutory service or intervention.

The current contract, which is deployed via the providers below, covers about 3,500 sheltered housing tenants in Somerset. The consultation therefore covers the following providers;

•Anchor

•Hanover Housing

•Homes in Sedgemoor

•Housing 21

•Knightstone

•Magna

•MHA Care Group

•Places for People

•Sanctuary

•TDBC

•Yarlington4 4

*Image for illustration purposes only

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Why do we want to change?Although the current contracts do provide a service to

many a much larger number of people, who have similar

needs, don’t get any support because they own their own

homes or live in other types of housing.

Due to the ongoing reductions in financial support from

the Government we are now looking to explore new ways

to provide these services so that they are fair, affordable

and available to all people living in Somerset.

Therefore we are proposing to utilise the Sheltered

Housing funding differently. Whilst at the same time we

are aware that some providers are also looking to

reshape their services.

We believe it is best to invest into a model which will be

more equitable to all of Somerset residents and not just

Sheltered Housing tenants.

There are also other reasons why we are considering

changes how these services are delivered and they

include the following;

• To make it easier for people whether in sheltered housing or not to access support? By

concentrating support in the places it is most needed

and making it available in more places.

• Make use of changing technologies and way to communicate. More people like to pick and choose

their support online or via technology available to them.

• To get more from the money we have. Demand is

changing so we need to develop something that is

sustainable and cost effective for the foreseeable

future

Our ProposalFrom October 2018 we are proposing to stop the

contribution of funding to the housing providers and

reinvest into an alternative model known as Community Connect (further information on this can be found on the

next page) this will ensure that the support is available to

everyone.

Why are we proposing this?By transferring these funds to Community Connect we

will continue to offer these services to Sheltered Housing

residents but will also be able to continue/increase this

support across Somerset to those who currently may not

be receiving the help they need. We feel this change of

approach is a fair approach for all in Somerset.

This may mean a change to the existing service, it may

become less frequent or it may stay the same. Tenants

may be asked to pay more by their housing provider,

however the providers will talk to their tenants directly

about this.

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What is Community Connect?Community Connect is a partnership between you,

community organisations, adult social care services and

health services. We are working together to provide

support and advice to help you live as independently as

possible, for as long as possible, in your own

community. The Community Connect team will help you

find solutions that really suit you and how you live your

life;

How can Community Connect help me?Community Connect can help you in a number of ways:

• You can get information and advice quickly. • You can get the support you need to stay

independent.• You can get help to find out about what is

happening in your community and meet new people.

• You can find out about volunteering opportunities. You can find out about equipment to support you to live at home.

• If you are a carer, you can get advice and support with your caring role.

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Benefits of Community Connect

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This is Alan, he lives with his wife Pat in Sheltered Housing,

he is also her main carer. Recently he has been feeling

isolated, exhausted and alone. On a recent trip to the shops

he saw a poster for a Community Connect drop in.

He decided to attend the next event at his local community

centre. Here he met Emma, an adult social care worker

who took the time to find out what was important to Alan, to

let him live the life he wanted to live.

Emma found out that Alan used to be a Bus Driver, was a

keen Yeovil Town supporter and used to visit his local

church until his wife become ill. Alan also explained that he

worries about leaving Pat on her own.

Once Emma had found out everything she needed to know,

she gave Alan some advice on where he could find support

as a carer, and introduced him to Claire, a Community

Agent. Claire helped Alan reconnect with his church, which

also lead to the Church helping Alan with his caring

responsibilities at home.

Now both Alan and Pat have reconnected with their Church

and it’s community, and Alan has found several services

which help him care for his wife, easing the burden he was

facing. All of this was achieved through the unique

network which is Community Connect and one

Drop in Café.

ConsultationYour views are really important to us so we want to make sure it is as easy as possible to have your say. Below are a

collection of drop in events which are being held in each district. The evens will be based at libraries and sheltered

housing schemes.

Date Time Venue District

Wednesday 11th

April

10-1pm Williton Library, Killick Way, Williton, Taunton TA4 4QA West

Somerset

Tuesday 17th

April

9.30-5pm Yeovil Library, King George Street, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 1PY South

Somerset

Wednesday 18th

April

2-5pm

St Peters House, Bridge Street, Williton, TA4 4NR*West

Somerset

Wednesday 25th

April

9.30-5pm Taunton Library, Paul St, Taunton TA1 3XZ TDBC

Wednesday 2nd

May

10-1pm

Bishops Court, Bradfield Way, Chard, TA20 2BG*South

Somerset

Wednesday 9th

May

10-1pm

St Matthews Green, West Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3RP*Sedgemoor

Tuesday 24th

April

10-1pm Bridgwater Library, Binford Place, Bridgwater TA6 3LF Sedgemoor

Wednesday 23rd

May

10-1pm Glastonbury Library, 1, Orchard Court, The Archers Way, Glastonbury BA6

9JB

Mendip

*Sheltered Housing Service Users only9

ConsultationIf you do not want to come along to a drop in then please feel free to complete a questionnaire online. These are available online at;

www.somerset.gov.uk/shelteredhousingconsultation

Alternatively you can also print pages 11-16 of this pack, complete by May 30th and return to the following address.

Jamie Cooksley

Somerset County Council

B3E

FREEPOST NAT 9109

County Hall

Taunton

TA1 4DY

If you need further copies or request this document in an alternative format, these can be requested by emailing ShelteredHousingService@Somerset.gov.uk or phoning Somerset Direct on 0300 123 2224 and press “option 3” and then “option 4”.

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Question 1: About you (please tick as appropriate)

I’m a Sheltered

Housing Tennant

I know someone

that lives in

sheltered housing

I am thinking of

moving into

sheltered

housing

I am a carer Member of the

public

Responding on

behalf of

organisation

Other (please specify)

Question 2: About the proposal (please tick as appropriate)

Somerset County Council’s contracts for this support in sheltered housing schemes will end during October

2018 at which point Somerset County Council are proposing to stop the contribution of funding to the

sheltered housing providers and reinvest into the Community Connect model, which will help to ensure that

the support is available to everyone and not just those living in sheltered housing.

After reading about our preferred approach do you agree it is fair and reasonable?

Yes No Don’t know

If you need more space please continue at the end of the pack where blank slides have been provided. 11

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Do you have any suggestions for improving the SCC proposal? Please describe them in the box below?

Do you have an alternative proposal? Please describe it in the box below:

The impact of the SCC proposal on you

If this proposal is taken forward, what impact do you think this could have on your current circumstances?

Please describe in the box below?

Are there any other impacts of the SCC proposal (not necessarily related to yourself) that you can foresee?

Please tell us about them and in the box below?

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Anything else you would like us to consider?

Is there anything else you would like Cabinet Members of SCC to consider before making their final decision

on the future provision of support in sheltered housing? Please tell us in the below box?

Thanks for taking time to give your feedback.

Please use the following questions to provide some information about you. It will help us to analyse the results of the consultationPlease only complete the questions you are comfortable in answering

Which area do you live in?

Mendip West Somerset TDBC Sedgemoor West Somerset South Somerset

To help us understand your answers please provide the following information:

What is your home postcode?

Do you identify

As a woman As a man In some other

way

Prefer not to say

What is your age

0-17 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65-79

80+ Prefer not to say

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Please use the following questions to provide some information about you. It will help us to analyse the results of the consultation

Do you consider yourself to have a disability or long term health condition?

Yes No Prefer not to say

Do you provide care for anyone (for example a parent, child, other relative, elderly person, a friend or neighbour) who has any

form of disability?

Yes No Prefer not to say

Are you currently in a marriage or civil partnership?

Marriage Civil partnership Single Prefer not to say

What is your ethnicity group

White Mixed and multiple

ethnic groups

Asian Black/African/Caribbean Other (please

specify)

Prefer not to say

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Anything else you would like us to consider?

Please use this additional space to provide feedback against any of the questions asked previously?

Where to go for information and advice about Community Connect and Adult Social Care services

•Talk – to a social worker, a volunteer or community agent at a Community Connect drop-in. You can find all the dates and venues here: www.somerset.gov.uk/dropin The team at the drop-in can help with everything, from finding a local social group and support with money, to help with transport or support for carers.

•Look – online www.somersetchoices.org.uk The website provides information about local services, groups and events. You can find people who may be able to help here www.somerset.gov.uk/communitysupport

•Visit – the Independence Advice Centres (IAC) for advice about equipment. You can speak to someone about your options and ‘try before you buy’. To make an appointment phone 0300 123 2224 or email adults@somerset.gov.uk

•Phone or email us to speak to someone about what matters to you and what is available to support you. Phone 0300 123 2224 or email adults@somerset.gov.uk

•Drop in – Pop in to your local Community Connect drop in on the days listed via the following link;

https://www.somersetchoices.org.uk/adult/information-and-advice/information-about-social-care/drop-in-for-advice/

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