ELDON HOUSINGASSOCIATION LTD

Supported Housing Information

PASSIONATE • PROFESSIONAL • CARING

Vision, Mission, Values

Our VisionTo reach out to people in need within the community to help them achieve improved levels of independence

Our MissionTo respond to the individual requirements of people in need by providing accessible sustainable housing, with flexible reliable services underpinned by quality care and support services.

Our ValuesPassionate, professional and operating with integrity

Caring about customers, staff and business

Respectful – listening and approachable

Innovative – always looking to improve

Our ObjectivesService & Performance - To be a high performing Housing Association which delivers services that are valued by its users and the wider community.

Investment in Staff - To attract and retain skilled and motivated staff by providing an appropriate staff development programme.

Growth & Development – To manage a business development programme whilst maintaining customer focus.

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About us

Eldon Housing Association Ltd was formed in 1981 to assume full responsibility for the housing and homes for older people entrusted to the Croydon Guild of Voluntary Organisations, now known as Croydon Voluntary Action, hence its commitment to providing housing for the people of Croydon.

The Association is a non-profit making organisation with charitable status and its aims and objectives are to provide housing and associated amenities for people in housing need.

It exists to support the people of Croydon and therefore to qualify for its housing you must be, or have previously been, a Croydon resident or have a close connection such as supportive relatives living in the Borough

It is a specialist in the provision and management of supported housing for vulnerable people and prides itself in listening and learning about changing needs and responding by creating innovative housing solutions and service delivery.

Our Supported Housing is about security, independence and choice enabling our tenants to continue to live as independent a life as possible with support and care tailored to meet their individual needs.

Knowing they can receive additional care or support services within their own self-contained flat means our tenants have enhanced their own individual levels of independence.

With this continuing independence comes peace of mind to not only the tenants but also their relatives and friends knowing their loved one is living in a comfortable, affordable, safe and supportive environment.

The Association is committed to consult our tenants, applicants and staff to ensure that we continue to grow and adapt in order to meet our tenants changing needs and our accommodation remains fit for purpose.

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Our Commitment to Tenants

Each of our Schemes has a team of dedicated staff determined by the needs of the tenants.

All members of the staff team participate in the general running of the scheme through frequent staff meetings at which they discuss the changing needs of individuals, improvements to the delivery of services, areas of concern and training needs.

All our staff are kept up to date with current legislation and receive regular appropriate training thereby enabling them to actively participate in the delivery of all support and care services.

The Association is registered as a Domiciliary Care Agency and is monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the latest inspection reports can be viewed on the CQC website: www.cqc.org.uk.

Tenants are involved in the running of their schemes through regular meetings as a group, Tenant Surveys, through their individual support plan reviews and discussions with members of the in-house staff team.

By involving all parties in its present and future provisions the Association is able to maintain a sensitive personal management style with flexibility creating a comfortable, safe and secure environment for all.

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Life at our Schemes

Within a caring environment it is important not to lose independence and tenant choice is paramount, not only through service delivery but also in quality of life issues.

Our tenants are encouraged to participate in the planning of activities at their schemes with support from in-house staff and our Activities Co-Ordinator who regularly visits schemes to meet with tenants to discuss, agree and organise activities.

Activities include DVD afternoon/evenings, arts & crafts, exercise sessions, word games & quizzes, fish & chip suppers, bingo, birthday celebrations plus visiting entertainers.

In addition visiting local organisations include hairdresser, chiropodist, optician, community nurses, mobile library, the POP Service (partnership for older people), clothing suppliers plus suppliers of mobility aids.

Activities are not restricted to the schemes, our tenants regularly visit local garden centres, the coast, theatres and other schemes plus pub lunches are popular.

All our communal lounges have computers with internet access so that the ‘silver surfers’ amongst our tenants can stay in touch with friends and relatives via e-mail, shop on-line, complete research such as family trees etc.

Tenants can decide how much or little they would like to be involved with the running of their scheme and the activities that take place. The privacy of any tenant preferring the comfort and peace of their own self-contained flat is respected and no tenants are coerced into participating.

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Our Supported Housing

All the Association’s supported housing schemes are modern and purpose built. They are well maintained by the Association’s dedicated Maintenance Team and specialist contractors providing safe and worry free accommodation for older people.

The self-contained flats are designed to mobility standards and some are specifically built for wheelchair users.

Sheltered Housing

Our traditional sheltered housing schemes have staff providing good neighbour services and assistance in emergencies. They are fitted with door entry systems and voice contact alarm systems which are connected to the in-house staff or a central control service ensuring the schemes receive 24 hour emergency cover.

Garden Court in Park Hill Rise with its 24 flats and 9 bungalows surrounding a delightful walled garden provides accommodation for independent older people in need of some support. This scheme is a short bus ride from Croydon town centre’s shops and amenities.

Marten House in Campden Road, South Croydon is owned by Croydon Unitarian Housing Association Ltd and managed by Eldon Housing Association. This small friendly scheme has 3 one-bedroom flats and 11 studio apartments and is close to bus stops for Central Croydon and Selsdon and has a mature secluded garden.

All flats have central heating either from gas radiators or electric storage heaters, are fully carpeted, have non-slip vinyl flooring in kitchens and bathrooms and a cooker and fridge are supplied.

Laundry rooms with fully maintained washing machines and tumble dryers are provided at each scheme, as these are not permitted within the flats. These machines are token operated at most schemes and a small charge is made for tokens.

Both these schemes have well-furnished communal lounges and pretty gardens where regular social events take place.

The guest room facilities at Garden Court are offered to visiting relatives and friends at a small charge. Guests of Marten House tenants have the opportunity to use the guest room at Garden Court, which is a short drive away.

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Flexible Care Sheltered Housing

This is traditional sheltered accommodation as already described under Sheltered Housing but with the flexible provision of specific care and support services, such assistance with bathing and domestic/laundry services, tailored to suit the changing needs of our tenants.

To facilitate these additional services our schemes have, for example, assisted bathrooms, treatment rooms and a catering kitchen for the provision of freshly cooked midday meals.

When tenants needs change they are supported in reaching a decision as to whether they wish to use the Association’s in-house services or use a preferred outside provider. The staff complement at Flexible Care Schemes varies depending upon the needs of the tenants.

Tenants can also choose to use the Association’s in-house staff to provide short term care when recovering from illness giving peace of mind to families and friends.

This type of supported housing is available at Bardsley Court, Selhurst Road in South Norwood which has 24 one-bedroom flats and 3 studio apartments. This scheme has a large communal lounge leading to a patio, which enables social events to move outside in the warmer months. It is a short bus ride from the shops and amenities in South Norwood.

Claremont Court is just next door to Bardsley Court and has 11 one-bedroom flats, 1 two-bedroom flat and has 3 two-bedroom bungalows designed for wheelchair users.

It has its own communal facilities but tenants regularly get together with their neighbours at Bardsley Court for in-house events and coach trips.

The catering kitchen at Bardsley Court provides flexible cost effective midday meals Monday – Friday for those tenants both at Bardsley Court and Claremont Court who require this and can be a means to socialise as activities often continue in the lounge after lunch.

Bardsley Court has a small in-house shop which sells a variety of goods enabling tenants to pick up those forgotten items or essentials when bad weather or illness prevents them visiting local shops. The shop is run by staff and tenants on a non-profit making basis.

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Extra Care Sheltered Housing

Extra Care Sheltered Housing has all the facilities, activities and visiting organisations described under Sheltered Housing and Flexible Care Sheltered Housing but with larger staff teams to ensure the tenants receive the higher levels of care and support they need.

Lindsay Court in Eden Road has 23 one-bedroom flats and 6 studio apartments. It has two cosy communal lounges with one leading directly to a well-maintained garden plus a separate dining room giving flexibility for entertainment and activities. This scheme is a short bus ride from Croydon’s town centre.

Providing these services from directly employed in-house staff is quite different from other special sheltered schemes which buy in services from agencies or Social Services.

Fellows Court in Morland Road, built in partnership with Croydon Council, has 32 one-bedroom and 8 two-bedroom flats and is unique in that the in-house team comprises catering, laundry and domestic staff employed by Eldon Housing Association with care and support provided by staff employed by Care UK.

All vacancies for Fellows Court are filled from Croydon Council’s waiting list.

Although providing a freshly cooked midday meal 7 days a week these schemes also have in-house shops which sell a variety of goods enabling tenants to independently buy in produce for their breakfast and evening meals. The stock carried has been generally established from individual preferences and the shops are run on a non-profit making basis.

Further information on the Association’s commitment to quality Supported Housing can be found on our website:

www.eldonhousing.co.uk

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Equality and Diversity Statement

In the development of housing, the provision of housing services, general management of its stock and the employment of staff and contractors, the Association will seek to ensure equality and fair treatment for all persons.

In the selection of tenants and allocation of housing, the Association will take measures to ensure there is equal treatment for all persons.

When dealing with the management of its stock the Association will provide the same service to meet the individual needs of the tenants and ensure that external contractors treat each tenant equally.

Any person or group of persons applying for employment with the Association will be treated equally and fairly.

All persons, tenants, contractors or groups of persons shall be treated neither less nor more favourably than other persons or groups of persons by reason of: - their age, race, ethnic or national origins, religion or religious beliefs, sex, disability, appearance, marital status, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment, responsibility for dependents, being HIV positive or with AIDS, any unrelated criminal activities, or any matter which causes in unjust treatment.

The Association’s operational policies and procedures aim to reflect this Equality and Diversity Statement and to promote understanding between people who have different backgrounds, respect differences and provide services that meet the differing needs.

Any degree of discrimination by whosoever will not be tolerated and will be dealt with by the Association appropriately.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are the rents high?A. As a Registered Provider the Association must ensure that its rents are affordable and these will always been in line with similar housing association properties in the area and less than the private sector.

Q. What is included in the Service / Supplement Charge?A. The cost of:- providing staff at the scheme cleaning and maintaining the building, grounds and equipment heating and lighting the communal areas security – including the Warden Call alarm system communal water rates midday meals (if included in your Tenancy Agreement) heating of your flat if the scheme has a central gas boilerTenants arrange their own telephone and electricity accounts and in some cases water rates are individually billed.

Q. Do I have to pay Council Tax?A. Yes unless you are in receipt of some benefits which mean you are exempt from Council Tax. The majority of the Association’s flats are in Band B or C and tenants are entitled to the discount for single occupancy.

Q. Can I bring my own furniture?A. Yes tenants furnish their own flats. The Association provides carpeting, vinyl flooring in kitchens and bathrooms, cookers and fridges. Washing Machines and Dishwashers are not permitted in order to reduce the likelihood of leaks.

Q. Can I claim Housing Benefit?A. Yes if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit now it is likely that you will still be entitled to this. Our Housing Team will provide you with the appropriate paperwork to enable this to continue or an application form if this is a new claim.

Q. Do you allow Pets?A. We do allow caged birds and goldfish/tropical fish but do not allow cats and dogs.

Q. Can I go out when I like?A. Yes – tenants have key to their own front door plus the main building door and can come and go as they like.

Q. Can I have visitors?A. Yes – our tenant’s flats are their homes and visitors are welcome and family and friends are often invited to scheme events.

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Q. Can I have my medication delivered?A. The majority of our schemes have arrangements with local pharmacies for the delivery of medication.

Q. What does personal care involve?A. Personal Care includes:- assistance with washing, dressing or bathing assistance with continence requirements assistance in preparing breakfast and supper prompting of medication

Q. What does domestic work involve?A. Domestic work includes:- dusting and vacuuming cleaning kitchen floors and surfaces cleaning bathroom floors and sanitary ware bed making changing bed linen washing and ironing

Q. Can I keep my existing Carer or Cleaner?A. Yes – it is not compulsory to use the Association’s in-house Carers, tenants are free to use whatever company they want for their care and domestic requirements.

Q. Can I have Sky or Cable TV?A. Following the digital switchover tenants have access to Freeview channels and can take ‘top up’ options to increase the number of channels available to them.

Our Bardsley Court and Claremont Court schemes have access to Sky TV with Garden Court and Lindsay Court having cable TV.

Q. What activities take place at the schemes and do I have to join in?A. Activities include, Coffee Mornings, Quizzes, Exercise Sessions, Arts & Crafts, DVD afternoons/evenings, Fish & Chip suppers, Pub Lunches, Trips to the Coast, Theatre, Garden Centres and no you do not have to join in – tenants can be involved as little or a much as they wish and their privacy is always respected.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our Housing Team on 020 8655 6724 or e-mail

info@eldonhousing.co.uk

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Eldon Housing Association LTD (a Charitable Housing Association)7 Banstead RoadPurleySurreyCR8 3EB

For further information please contact:-

Sharon Johnson Tenant Services Officer020 8655 6724sjohnson@eldonhousing.co.uk

or

Janice Hughes Registered Care Manager020 8655 6730jhughes@eldonhousing.co.uk

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