1. Report Summary

The review of the Church Street and Chelscombe sheltered housing schemes was conducted by Simon Dicker on behalf of Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Supporting People Team. The review found the service to be strategically relevant to B&NES Supporting People programme and value for money. The service was assessed at level C in all areas of the Quality Assessment Framework and level B for Support Planning, as laid out by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). Service users are pleased with the accommodation and the support they receive and with the response of Guinness to address the anti-social behaviour issues in the area.

2. Introduction to Agency

Guinness Trust Group  is a national provider of Care and Support to Older People. Schemes in Bath are managed via the Regional Office in Bristol, but a local office at Chelwood Drive supports the scheme via Housing Officers and administrators. Guinness Trust describes their aims as follows:

•         Helping residents to retain their independence
•         Support and/or reassurance in the event of illness or emergencies
•         Limiting the need for resident to move as they get frailer
•         Actively trying to reduce loneliness
•         A responsive and effective repairs and maintenance service
•         Freeing residents from the worries of managing and maintaining their homes.

2.1 Brief History

Church Street comprises 14 one bedroom flats just off Weston Village High Street, and Chelscombe is an adjacent scheme comprising 12 one bedroom bungalows, each with gardens. The properties are heated electrically, with recent double glazed windows. Chelscombe has residents parking, and there are a limited number of garages which tenants can apply to rent. A gardener looks after communal grassed areas

2.2 Capacity

Units:                          14 (Church St)

                                    12 (Chelscombe)

Total Units                26

Staff Hours:             0.5 x Front Line Supported Housing Officer (35 hrs per week)

2.3 Monitoring Information

Chelscombe

Church Street

NB. There are no issues of concern evident from the monitoring submissions. Availability (1a) and Utilisation (2a) are consistently high showing evidence of availability and high demand). The drop in (2a) in respect of Church Street reflects the problems in four flats discussed in the consultation section below. However there is not record of 2004 Quarter 1-3 monitoring returns for Church Street, this must be rectified.

2.4 Existing Funding

Chelscombe

Church Street

6. Consultation with Service Users

The premises were visited on 19th April, consultation was offered on a face to face basis with tenants at the nearby Church Hall.

6.1 Consultation Findings

• All tenants spoke highly of the service provided to them by Guinness, there were no constructive criticisms or complaints in respect of the service provider during the meeting.
• The one area of dissatisfaction voiced unanimously was the anti-social behaviour of youths in the village of Weston. In reality this was thought to be mainly caused by the same small group of people, and was exacerbated by the physical arrangement of four flats at the entrance adjoining church street. This had an archway with right of way underneath, and youths were reported to congregate here at night. Evidence of fires being lit and substantial graffiti on the walls inside the archway supported the residents’ complaints. As a result of this ongoing long term behaviour, Guinness had discussed plans with existing resident to remodel this part of the scheme, and rebuild the site as two semi detached houses, closing the right of way, and ending the physical covered space that was proving so attractive to vandalism. The present four flats that were there were no longer being offered for let, as future problems were absolutely predictable. All the tenants who joined the consultation expressed full support for these plans, although some were dismayed at uncertainty of the timescale, although they appreciated that funding and permission could not be gained without full approval of Guinness Trust Group and B&NES Local Authority.
• Further criticism was made in regard of the Police Force, and resident strongly wished for more Police on foot patrol in the village, although others accepted that this was no longer practice in modern times.

Others criticised the families of young people in the village for not taking responsibility for the actions of their children. One resident reported his mobility scooter having been stolen and vandalised, and then when he had chained it up, superglue had been put into the padlock. There was one report of young people taking drugs and having sex in the vicinity of the scheme.

There was one previous incident of burglary in Chelscombe reported during the consultation, and all residents attending were well aware of the possibility and took steps to keep their home secure.

9. Review Outcome / Recommendations and Impact

1. Although the Shadow and Five Year Supporting People Strategy both indicate a small surplus of sheltered housing, the recommendations is to renew the contract for this sheltered scheme, on grounds of low unit cost and high satisfaction amongst tenants. It is also evident from the review that Guinness was well prepared and submitted timely and comprehensive QAF evidence and service statements.
2. The system of support planning has been developed and implemented to satisfy Supporting People requirements. It is at an early stage and refinements have been made through additional procedures and documents and training has been delivered to Sheltered Housing Officers. The review recommends that these processes are streamlined to enable more concise documentation.
3. The review recommends a further QAF submission by April 2006 at a Level B for each remaining core objective in relation to this scheme.
4.  The review recommends that any outstanding monitoring information be presented to the Supporting People team by the 31st August 05.

10 Action Plan (completed by the Provider) to address point 1-4