Today's most viewed
| CHARD NEWS | |  | | | ILMINSTER NEWS | | | | CREWKERNE NEWS | | | | WHAT'S ON | | | | READER COMPETITION | | |
|
|
|
Fears over care changes
ELDERLY residents in a Tatworth sheltered housing scheme are up in arms over plans to change the way they are looked after.
People living at the South Somerset Homes run complex in Kents Lane told the News this week changes in staffing will have a serious affect on their well being.
Instead of having a designated on site scheme manager who checks on the residents, the company will be enforcing a team approach where up to four different managers look after several units across the area.
This would mean residents would not see the same person and many fear it will be a bad move.
Resident Ron Gaylard (74) said: "If we are going to get new people all the time our lives are going to be miserable.
"How can we build trust and a relationship if we don't see the same person.
Stan McPhee added: "I Don't think it's right at all - it's ridiculous.
"It won't be as friendly here because different people will be coming in all the time and we won't know who they are."
A spokesperson from SSH said: "We feel the new approach will enable residents to have a better quality of services with different managers using their different skills to help and care for them and knowing their needs.
"We have held consultations with all our residents and have taken their concerns into consideration.
"We also have to work with financial constraints as the scheme isn't getting as much funding so we have to take this into consideration."
* For the full story pick up next week's News - out on Wednesday!!
* What do you think? Leave your comment using the form below.
2:57pm Friday 21st March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Shelteredhousinguk, UK National on 7:50pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Are we to really believe that that SSH held meaningful consultations with the residents of Tatworth when here we have them embloc telling us in the press that they do not wish to lose their Warden , but their RSL claims that they agreed to that at consultations with them ? Why then would they go to the press ?
Far be it from me to suggest that what follows applies to SSH, but so often these days a consultation is held after the decision has already been taken. It just ticks the boxes to say a consultation has been held.
The whole thing, in my opinion , suggests it is a money saving exercise and is offering reduced services! For how can an infrequent service be better than a full time service ?
Reduced funding by the LAAs is , of course, a problem for landlords, but some I have spoken to have said, words similar to, we are in the business of running Sheltered Housing and you cannot do that without a Warden on the premises. In consequence we are going to continue to supply the Wardens out of our profits. Others, have cut and run and piled their woes onto the hapless residents
I would suggest that the residents of Tatworth seek the views of a solicitor who is versed in both social housing and contract law . It could be funded by selecting a resident who would qualify for Legal Aid who would overtly bring the case.
It is possible [bold]bold[/bold] that there is an implied contract if the residents were told that their tenancy included the services of a Warden when they first came to live there
Vernon
www.shelteredhousing
uk.com
Are we to really believe that that SSH held meaningful consultations with the residents of Tatworth when here we have them embloc telling us in the press that they do not wish to lose their Warden , but their RSL claims that they agreed to that at consultations with them ? Why then would they go to the press ?
Far be it from me to suggest that what follows applies to SSH, but so often these days a consultation is held after the decision has already been taken. It just ticks the boxes to say a consultation has been held.
The whole thing, in my opinion , suggests it is a money saving exercise and is offering reduced services! For how can an infrequent service be better than a full time service ?
Reduced funding by the LAAs is , of course, a problem for landlords, but some I have spoken to have said, words similar to, we are in the business of running Sheltered Housing and you cannot do that without a Warden on the premises. In consequence we are going to continue to supply the Wardens out of our profits. Others, have cut and run and piled their woes onto the hapless residents
I would suggest that the residents of Tatworth seek the views of a solicitor who is versed in both social housing and contract law . It could be funded by selecting a resident who would qualify for Legal Aid who would overtly bring the case.
It is possible that there is an implied contract if the residents were told that their tenancy included the services of a Warden when they first came to live there
Vernon
www.shelteredhousing
uk.com
Posted by: Vernon, UK national on 11:53am Mon 31 Mar 08
Thinking more on what has gone on here. I wonder if the Housing Association has considered that it has in fact introduced Floating Support. In the event the properties would no longer be Sheltered Housing but revert to General Needs Housing. That would give the residents the right to buy if they wished
Thinking more on what has gone on here. I wonder if the Housing Association has considered that it has in fact introduced Floating Support. In the event the properties would no longer be Sheltered Housing but revert to General Needs Housing. That would give the residents the right to buy if they wished
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
