Supporting People Service Review 

Service: Triangle Court. Service Address: Flats 1-8, Triangle Court, Oldfield Park, Bath, BA2 3JB. Service ID Number: 00018. Service Provider: English Churches Housing Group. Service Provider Address: 1 Jamaica Street, Kingsdown, Bristol, BS2 8JP. National ID Number: 10000155. Date: December 2005. Review Officer: Amanda Burnie, on behalf of Bath & NE Somerset Supporting People Team.

2.         Introduction to Agency

English Churches Housing Group (ECHG) is a national housing provider established for over 75 years. It is registered with the Housing Corporation (No LH 0724)

ECHG was established in 1991 through the merger of Church Housing Association and the Baptist Housing Association. Church Housing was established in 1924 as part of the Church Army. ECHG was registered (as Church Housing) with the corporation in 1975.

At 31 March 2004, ECHG operated in 177 local authority areas throughout England. It owned 8600 general needs properties (including sheltered homes) and 2200 supported housing bed spaces. ECHG has three main business streams: general needs properties, housing for older people and supported housing.

ECHG’s mission is ’making the difference for people in need by creative housing, care and support solutions and delivering high quality services’

In Bath and North East Somerset ECHG only have Triangle Court which is an established Community Alarm Sheltered Housing Scheme.

2.1       Brief History

The Baptist Housing Association (BHA) originally developed Trinagle Court in 1986. Triangle Court transferred to ECHG in 1992. The BHA management committee has restricted itself to social interaction with the current tenants.

The complex is purpose built over two levels. Comprising 8 one-bedroom flats. All flats have direct access to the public footpath and road beyond. On-road Parking is available to tenants and visitors.

The Community Alarm is provided by ElderCare and serviced by Tunstall. The alarm comprises 4 fixed cord pulls per flat. When the resident activates the alarm they are connected to a call centre (ElderCare) who will have personal contact details for the relevant ‘flat’. The equipment is repaired and maintained by Tunstell Ltd.

2.2             Capacity

2.3             Monitoring Information

Not required until October 2005

2.4       Existing Funding

4.         Legal / ODPM Guidance on group and type of service

Housing, care and support is an important part of Government's wider regeneration and social inclusion agenda. The service contributes to the wider government agenda for preventative services in relation to the strategy for Older People: Helping people sustain their tenancies and prevent homelessness. Flexible care can enable older people to remain at home in the community with dignity.

The service also meets in part the Good Practice Guide – Sheltered and Retirement Housing published by the Chartered Institute of Housing:

The service contributes to the wider government agenda for preventative services in relation to the strategy for Older People.

6.         Consultation with Stakeholders

Tenants where invited to give feedback during 1:1 sessions on the day of the review. Three residents were consulted. All consultations where conducted without the SDO or RT present.

6.2       Consultation Findings

The tenants consulted have resided at the scheme for between 4 and 9 years. Overall the tenants are satisfied with the standard of the accommodation provided and the service provided by the Alarm.

Tenants feel that the scheme is a safe and secure place to live. They like to have their ‘own letterbox’, enjoy the local shops and community.

The requested improvement to the accommodation related to the bathrooms, specifically the installation of baths rather than showers, which would improve the individual’s ability to be able to safely maintain personal hygiene.

There were no serious unresolved complaints at the time of the review, nor were any raised during the consultation. Tenants are comfortable with the complaints procedure and the manner in which any are resolved.

Staff

The Service Delivery Officer (SDO) was consulted in the regional office, as there are no facilities local to the scheme. The SDO consulted has been employed by ECHG for two years. The feedback offered indicated that ECHG has been a positive experience.

The SDO considers that ECHG offer good quality and affordable housing, and that Triangle Court is an example of a popular scheme that has the ability to meet the longer term needs of residents demonstrated by the low turnover rates.

Is a local contact appointed by the SDO. In context for Triangle Court there are no scheme staff. The Responsible Tenant is not a paid member of staff though they receive a monthly honorarium determined by the number of units they ‘cover’ and a contribution towards telephone costs. Duties include: holding keys to void properties, communal facilities, report repairs in communal areas, informally monitor service contracts i.e. gardeners and to be a local point of contact to arrange tenants meetings, deliver information and advise tenants of forthcoming visits from the SDO.

The Responsible Tenant was consulted independently. At Triangle Court the RT holds keys for all the other flats with the tenants agreement. This appears to be the ‘norm’ for this scheme. The RT is contacted as first point of contact by ElderCare if an emergency service is despatched to the scheme to allow access to the resident in need.

The RT appears to enjoy the responsibilities entailed. Overall they are happy with the facilities and accommodation provided at Triangle Court.

7.         Evidence and Risk Assessment

The validation visit and review found the service to be fully meet three of the four QAF Lite objectives for Community Alarm service.

The failure of the Protection from Abuse assessment relates to obtaining CRB checks for the RT and incumbent SDO. Should the be easily remedied by either obtaining the relevant certification or relinquishing the post of ‘key-holder’ for all properties and restricting themselves to void and communal property only.

There were no other specific identified risks to service users at the time of the review.

8.         Value for Money

When compared to the South West Value for Money report the cost per unit of alarm support per week is just below the regional range of £2.65 to £3.88.

There are no regional and national comparables available from the ODPM for alarm only services.

9.       Review Outcome / Recommendations and Impact

1. The contract is recommended for a three-month extension of the interim contract subject to implementation of CRB checks for staff and volunteers. Following implementation of CRB checks to continue the contract at current levels.

2. The report is a public document and will be placed on the B&NES council website. ECHG must share the review recommendations and outcomes with service users and detail how they will achieve the above recommendation within 28 days of receipt of the report.

10.       Action Plan (completed by the Provider) to address Recommendations within 28 days.