INTRODUCING AN INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT …

1 1 ` INTRODUCING AN INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT SERVICE 2 Why is an INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service P3 being considered? What is INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT ? P4/5 Which Schemes will have the INTENSIVE HOUSING P6 MANAGEMENT service available to them? What is the cost of the service? P7 Who will provide the service? P8 Consultation & Contacts P8 3 Why is an INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service being considered? Many tenants will be aware that the current Support Service provided to tenants within Sutton HOUSING Society s sheltered HOUSING schemes is funded via the London Borough of Sutton through their Supporting People budget. This funding will stop in 2017 as the London Borough of Sutton is to let one contract, to a specialist support provider, to provide the higher level of support needed in the borough, including at sheltered HOUSING schemes.

2 This means that Sutton HOUSING Society will no longer be funded to provide a support service to tenants. The new support contract that the London Borough of Sutton will enter in to is to address those individuals with a high level of support needs. At Sutton HOUSING Society, there a very few tenants that reach the high level of support needs that this new contract will address. The vast majority of our tenants in sheltered HOUSING with Sutton HOUSING Society are independent and welcome the reassurance of the lower level of support that is available to them, currently provided by the Support Officers. There are a number of tenants at the sheltered schemes that do need more help and assistance to live their day to day lives and to sustain their tenancies. There are also those unexpected situations that arise for individuals who are generally more independent and who may need assistance for shorter periods of time.

3 This is where an INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service comes in and can assist with filling the gap left by the withdrawal of a formal support service. 4 What is INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT ? INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT is HOUSING MANAGEMENT landlord services provided at a higher level than would usually be necessary to those tenants that need increased assistance to maintain their tenancies. This includes not only regular landlord tasks but carrying out tasks such as accessing support and care from Social services . Following the changes at our sheltered schemes in 2015, Sutton HOUSING Society recognises how valuable the services we provide to tenants are and we are keen to continue to provide and improve these services , which tenants and families find reassuring and help tenants to remain more independent in their homes.

4 The INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service is a service that is available to all tenants living in our sheltered HOUSING schemes. INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT covers issues such as: Advice & assistance to understand and comply with the tenancy conditions Annual individual risk assessments to ensure any risks are identified and referrals to support agencies made if necessary Regular welfare checks to ensure your safety and well-being (this will be at a frequency agreed with the individual tenants) Assistance in sustaining all aspects of the tenancy Signposting and accessing support from other services budgeting support; assistance with debt MANAGEMENT from 5 voluntary agencies; accessing support to assist with alcohol/substance related matters Provision of Pendants for more frail residents Testing and maintenance of the Pull Cord Telecare system Increased inspections and maintenance of the building, including health and safety issues, to address increased wear and tear to the property and facilities Assistance in claiming/managing HOUSING benefit application Advice and assistance on using equipment within the property Advice and assistance regarding security of the tenants home Monitoring and signposting for social services care services Arranging repairs to communal areas, including fixtures and fittings Information and advice to tenants relating to use of communal areas, CCTV NB: This is not an exhaustive list.

5 6 Which Schemes will have the INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT Service available to them? All of the sheltered schemes currently have a level of support available to them, funded via the London Borough of Sutton s Supporting People budget and via tenants that make the payment themselves. The INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service will be available at all of Sutton HOUSING Society s sheltered HOUSING schemes: Dorothy Pettingel House, Sutton Griffiths Close, Worcester Park Lancelot House, Carshalton Margaret House, Sutton Norman House, Sutton Old Brewery House, Wallington Robertson House, Sutton Ronald House, Sutton Thomas House, Sutton Trickett House, Sutton Sutton HOUSING Society is consulting with tenants at two of its non-sheltered HOUSING sites to see if they would like the INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service to be available to them.

6 7 What is the Cost of the INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT Service? The cost is per week, per tenancy and would be introduced in April 2017. This cost is the same as the existing support charge, which will no longer be payable. The INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT cost would be included within the service charge element of your gross rent. As this is the case, the INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT cost can be funded by HOUSING Benefit, where tenants qualify. For those tenants that receive HOUSING Benefit, it s important to note that although the will appear within your gross rent, overall it isn t a new cost as previously the same charge has been paid for tenants in receipt of HOUSING Benefit directly to Sutton HOUSING Society via the Supporting People funding. For tenants that are currently self-payers of the existing Support charge, you are likely to have to pay the INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT charge yourself, as part of your rent; however, you will no longer have to pay your current Support charge.

7 8 Who will provide the INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT Service? The INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service will be available to all tenants within Sutton HOUSING Society s sheltered HOUSING schemes and Sutton HOUSING Society staff will provide the service to tenants as part of its HOUSING landlord duties. Sutton HOUSING Society will need to restructure its team to ensure it provides the service to a good standard and that there is resilience within the team to address any issues as they happen. Consultation and Contacts Sutton HOUSING Society s Operations Director visited all sheltered schemes between 14 25 November 2016 to meet tenants and to discuss the changes to the support funding and its impact on Sutton HOUSING Society and its tenants. All tenants within Sutton HOUSING Society s sheltered HOUSING schemes are being consulted with in respect of these changes between 28 November 2016 19 February 2017.

8 Please do take the time to share your views with Sutton HOUSING Society. Please send any comments, thoughts, and ideas on this issue by 19 February 2017 to: Glynis Gatenby, Operations Director Sutton HOUSING Society Pat Shaw House 13 19 Ventnor Road Sutton SM2 6AQ Following the consultation period, you will be contacted to confirm the situation in respect of the INTENSIVE HOUSING MANAGEMENT service. Should you have any questions regarding this information leaflet, please contact Glynis Gatenby, as above or by emailing