West Lindsey: Changes ahead for sheltered tenants

The nine sheltered schemes that the Gainsborough based housing association owns and manages in West Lindsey will be affected.

It follows the decision by Lincolnshire County Council to end the current contract to provide Housing Related Support, which is delivered mostly by resident staff, at the end of March 2014.

The £250,000 will instead be used towards funding the new Wellbeing Service the council plans to introduce from April 2014.

An Acis spokesman said: “Although we recognise the reasons behind the council introducing the new Wellbeing Service, it will mean that our tenants see a change.”

“Most notably, the new service will not be based around a resident manager and the personal contact they provide.”

“We know that the current service is popular but it cannot continue to be provided without the funding that it currently receives.”

“It is welcomed that the new Wellbeing Service will aim to ensure that people have the best chance to remain safe and independent at home, and recognise that a key part of it will be the provision of a 24 hour emergency call service.”

“We will still be the landlord of all our sheltered schemes and intend to work with the new service provider to make the change as smooth as possible,” he added.

Acis has organised a week of drop-in sessions at all nine of its sheltered schemes, starting on 19th November.

Tenants are invited to go and talk to Acis staff about how they can be supported through the introduction of the new service and the ongoing management of sheltered housing to best effect in the future.

Acis has also provided details about how tenants can find out more about the Wellbeing Service from the council.