Each sheltered housing scheme is managed by a Scheme Manager who is available on site. They have a duty to keep in touch with each tenant by a visit where required, a call on the intercom system or by being seen out and about on the scheme. They will deal with any problems or emergencies appropriately, from reporting repairs to calling emergency services, quickly and efficiently to provide a quality service.
Staff in Sheltered Schemes are responsible for the following when on duty:
- Welcoming and introducing new tenants to the scheme including giving help/advice on how the scheme works, communal facilities, local shops and services, the use of the alarm, pull cords and other scheme matters
- Taking part in the allocation of property, assessing the needs of potential tenants
- The general day to day management of the scheme
- The general welfare of all the tenants in the scheme and acting on tenants behalf when necessary
- Dealing with emergencies
- Reporting repairs and maintenance problems, for tenants and the communal areas
- Keeping close contact with other services (such as the pensions service, district nurses, chiropodists, etc)
- Keeping contact with tenants relatives or representatives
- Preparing and reviewing tenant's support plans
- Ensuring tenants feel able to participate in the running of their community and that everyone has an opportunity to have their say about its operation
- Promoting the social life of the scheme
- Ensuring that all communal rooms and guest rooms are available and fit for use
Staff Supporting Other Accommodation
The sheltered housing staff that do not live and work at the specially built schemes will undertake the appropriate duties already stated. In addition they will:
- Seek out agencies and services in the Borough who will help individual tenants
- Foster close working relationships with Health Service employees and hospital admissions/discharge units, and voluntary agencies, etc
- Assess and agree frequency of visits with individuals
- Arrange any necessary support such as alarm equipment etc
The Scheme Manager is not responsible for:
- Providing nursing services or administering drugs
- Answering the door or taking domestic messages
- Providing any form of home help service
- Routinely collecting pensions, shopping, etc
- Driving tenants to and from day centres, doctors, etc
- Paying anyone on a tenants behalf (e.g. taxis, domestic bills)
- Tackling people causing anti social or criminal behaviour (the police should always be called)
The Scheme Manager’s Responsibilities
Residential staff work a 37 hour week and are not required to remain on site when they are not on duty. We operate in an environment of co-operation and welcome tenants understanding that our staff need their own privacy and space just the same as everyone else when they are not on duty. If emergency assistance is required when the scheme manager is not on duty, it can be obtained via the Dudley Telecare service.
Staff may be away from the scheme in order to work in the wider community, in cases of illness, holidays or training. A relief member of staff will visit schemes during periods of annual leave or prolonged sickness.
