Posted on 30 August 2024
We’re supporting Starts at Home Day 2024 and celebrating the value of care and support services and the difference that having a safe and secure place to call home can make to people’s lives.
In January, we launched our new Neighbourhoods and Specialist Housing service.
Through this new model, we’re improving our service and increasing our visibility, especially at our supported schemes, where some of our most vulnerable residents live. We’re now directly managing some of our schemes that were previously managed by agency providers.
Our new team of Supported Housing Officers have been out and about getting to know our customers.
Here are some of their recent successes:
London – Michelle
An accident at one of our schemes for adults with learning disabilities left a hole in the carpet. Not only was this a trip hazard, but it was unsightly.
To prevent potential injuries, Michelle worked with our Asset Management team to replace the carpet. And in an effort to lift the spirits of the women living at the scheme, Michelle went a step further and applied for all the communal areas within the scheme to be redecorated.
Michelle said: “Our residents and staff at the scheme are now much happier and feel proud of their home. They said that there is a much more positive atmosphere at the scheme and that they’re happy to have a dedicated Supported Housing Officer – they feel listened to.”
London - Olivia
While carrying out an inspection at a scheme, Olivia bumped into a resident who seemed unsettled and upset. Olivia discovered that he had lost his wallet, which had his rent card and gas meter card inside. Olivia quickly realised that he didn’t have the capacity to call Hyde to explain that he had lost his rent card, due to his mental health issues. So, she immediately contacted our Income team, arranging for a new rent card to be sent to him. Olivia also contacted British Gas on his behalf (with his consent) and arranged for our resident to collect his new card from a local shop.
Olivia said: “The resident was so grateful that I sorted the situation out and reassured him that everything was going to be okay. Being at the scheme weekly has enabled me to build relationships with our residents, and now they feel comfortable asking for help.”
Chichester – Nathan
When the support provider at one of our schemes in Chichester approached Nathan with an idea to convert an outdoor space into a sensory garden, Nathan collaborated with our Property Services and Estate Services teams to make it happen.
The new design involved: changing some of the plants in the flower beds to more colourful and perfumed shrubs; adding water features; repainting the garden fence to a more vibrant colour; and installing a pagoda - providing a shaded area for residents to lounge.
Nathan said: “I’ve really enjoyed taking on this project, especially after seeing how happy it has made the staff and residents at the scheme.”
Kent – Helen
A broken-down dishwasher caused disruption to our residents’ washing up routines. And miscommunication with our contractor meant the new dishwasher got delivered, but not installed. This meant there were two dishwashers at the scheme – neither of which the residents could actually use.
Helen became aware of the issue when she visited the scheme for her weekly inspection and immediately got in touch with the contractor. The contractor was soon back at the scheme to disconnect and remove the old dishwasher and install the new one.
Helen said: “The staff and residents at the scheme appreciated my help. This may seem like such a small thing, but this scheme hasn’t had a Supported Housing Officer in post for a while. It means a lot to them - having someone on the ground, working to get things done. The little things matter.”
These successes demonstrate the differences our Supported Housing Officers are making.
We have 267 supported schemes, where vulnerable adults with special needs live. Residents include adults with learning and physical disabilities, and adults with mental health problems, drug and alcohol addictions, teenage parents and their children, ex-offenders, and adults that have been homeless.
We also provide temporary housing to support individuals as they work towards regaining stability in their lives.