Representations will be made to the Commission following the recent consultation on proposed changes to housing related support services and how people would be affected if those changes happened. The Commission is recommended to receive these representations.
Minutes:
a) Representations
At the invitation of the Chair, the Commission received representations from the following people on proposed changes to housing related support services and how people would be affected if those changes happened.
i) Alistair Jackson – Chief Executive of Leicester Quaker Housing Association
Alistair Jackson introduced himself to the Commission, explaining that Leicester Quaker Housing Association offered approximately 70 units of sheltered housing, plus a care home and day centre specialising in dementia care. Residents at John Woolman House were able to live independently in sheltered housing. Without the support services provided, many of these people would have to live in more expensive accommodation and some would be living on the streets.
It was understood that the Council had to make cuts in its services and so was considering how it needed to change the services it provided. Under the current proposal, the Leicester Quaker Housing Association would no longer manage the services offered. Instead, the Council would operate a centrally managed service, which would be phoned when a need arose and an officer would attend.
Tenants unanimously wanted to keep the current service and management system, as tenants knew the sheltered housing officers, and the housing officers had full knowledge of the tenants. The officers worked 8 hours a day and Saturday mornings, so were available when needed by the tenants. Under the new model, officers would only be present for a few hours in the week, at pre-set days and times. This would reduce the flexibility that the current service had to respond to tenants’ needs and could result in crisis situations not being dealt with as effectively as they could be at present.
Alistair Jackson gave examples of the sort of work currently done with tenants. These showed the ability of officers to work with people to enquire beyond immediate problems to identify reasons for those problems that were not immediately obvious. They also were able to work closely with tenants to manage behaviour that otherwise could jeopardise their tenancy.
Leicester Quaker Housing Association was happy to continue to provide its current services and the tenants wanted the Association to do this. This would give the Council the savings it needed, while giving the tenants a good quality of life. It also would keep them out of hostels and off the streets, so the Council would not have to increase the budgets for work in those areas.
In reply to questions from the Commission, Alistair Jackson confirmed that, if there were funding cuts, the Association would need to be more focussed about how it defined tenants’ vulnerabilities and how these were dealt with. It also would review its business model, in order to keep staff and find other ways of funding its work.
The Commission expressed concern that:-
· If the service was centralised, the required savings would not be achieved if the same service was not provided for all of its sheltered accommodation;
· A way of protecting the most vulnerable people affected by these proposed changes needed to be found; and
· If these services were not protected now, it could be difficult to return to providing them in the future, so the Council had to plan for that eventuality.
ii) Derek Seaton – Tenant at Vernon House
Derek Seaton introduced himself, explaining that Vernon House was a sheltered housing unit with 22 flats and that he spoke for all the tenants there.
He stressed that elderly people chose to live in sheltered housing so that they could live independently, but with support. The concept of sheltered housing had been readily accepted by the Council, but the Council was now threatening its provision at a time when there was an increasing elderly population.
Derek Seaton then made the following points:-
o The scheme manager currently worked Monday – Friday and when they were not present support was provided through a 24-hour emergency service. The changes proposed by the Council could lead to a reduction in the hours of the scheme manager. At the same time, tenants would be assessed and then buy the level of support they needed. This could lead to increased anxiety for the tenants;
o Vernon House currently had a programme of social events that was very important to tenants;
o One reason why people chose to live at Vernon House was that there was a manager there. The manager could help with a wide variety of things, including more personal tasks such as filling in forms;
o There was concern that security at the flats could be compromised by individual support workers coming and going at different times. It also could be difficult to verify who people visiting the flats were; and
o It was proposed to withdraw funding for the alarm system, but this was a vital lifeline in an emergency, especially for tenants who were unwell or living alone. It cost approximately 45 pence per day and was one of the most cost-effective and important service provided by the Council. It was recognised that tenants could buy their own services, but if they chose not to do so, situations could arise where no-one was aware of an emergency.
In summary, Derek Seaton explained that sheltered housing accommodation was very worthwhile for the tenants and the general public, with local residents in the area of Vernon House also being very concerned about the proposed changes to services. The independence, security, social life and degree of dignity currently experienced by the tenants could change, which could result in those tenants becoming vulnerable, depressed and anxious. As a result, they could need to move to residential accommodation, where they would need other Council services, so the proposed changes would be counter-productive.
iii) Ruth Raiser – Resident of John Woolman House
Ruth Raiser explained that:-
§ She had chosen to live in John Woolman House on the basis of the staff and services available and its security;
§ The services provided by the staff were varied and responded to needs as they arose. For example, if a resident’s medications were not delivered, the staff were able to resolve this situation very quickly. Under the proposed arrangements this was not likely to be the case; and
§ The idea that the new proposals were about individual choice was challenged. Individuals made their choice when they moved in to their accommodation and that choice was based on many factors.
The Commission was asked to consider whether the proposals met the needs of elderly people and whether they were cost-effective, as everyone was aware of what the consequences could be if the services were not provided. Sheltered housing let people live their own lives, especially as they became more frail, so should be given increased support.
iv) Councillor Senior – Castle Ward
Councillor Senior introduced herself and explained that she was speaking on behalf of all of the Castle Ward Councillors.
Housing support and the alarm services had many human and financial benefits. People commonly wanted to retain their independence and stay in their own accommodation as long as possible. This was made possible by things such as the alarm system, which was simple and cost-effective. Costs could still be examined, but it was sensible for all tenants in sheltered housing units to have access to the alarm system.
The changes were being suggested as part of the personalisation of services, but it was questionable that it could be called personalisation if they were not receiving the support they needed. If tenants did not have an alarm in their home, they could be very vulnerable if, for example, they fell or were taken ill. It therefore was sensible for all of the tenants in sheltered accommodation to have an alarm.
It also was sensible to have a team of support officers in the sheltered housing block. This made services accessible and the accommodation safe, as well as helping to create a sense of community.
The Ward Councillors therefore requested that an Equalities Impact Assessment be done for these proposals.
b) General Discussion
The Chair thanked all those making representations for their contributions and assured them that their representations would be considered when the Commission made a formal examination of the proposals.
It was recognised that the reliability and consistency of the services currently provided were important to tenants. They also were personal, as tenants and officers knew each other and it removed the pressure of making decisions from tenants where appropriate. Personal budgets often were devoid of this. There was a risk therefore that just looking at financial savings could mean that things that were not quantifiable would not be taken in to account.
Disappointment was expressed that there were no members of the Executive at the meeting to hear the representations that had been made.
RESOLVED:
That the representations recorded above be noted and considered as part of this Commission’s formal review of the proposals for the reshaping of Housing Related Support Services.