A LAST-DITCH plea has been made to Surrey County Council (SCC) not to cut funding that will impact on eight sheltered housing schemes in Waverley.

Surrey’s housing related support funding is a vital contribution towards the cost of employing the managers or wardens for sheltered housing schemes and Waverley tenants panel has objected saying that removing it would have “a very serious effect on an already vulnerable community”.

The county council provides housing related support funding to providers who then deliver services to their residents. The eight sheltered housing schemes administered by Waverley Borough Council (WBC) that will be affected, include Falkner Court, Riverside Court and Shepherds Court in Farnham and Rolston House in Haslemere.

Writing to SCC to object, Waverley tenants panel said: “The panel are very concerned about the effect the removal of housing related support would have on the residents of WBC’s sheltered housing schemes.

“SCC should take into careful consideration all comments raised and understand that removing the funding from housing related support from WBC would have a very serious effect on an already vulnerable community.”

Tenants panel members attended each consultation held at WBC’s eight sheltered housing schemes and reported the main concerns raised were who would be responsible for the well-being of residents if they no longer had dedicated managers or wardens.

Residents said having a manager ensured their wellbeing and safety and many were worried about what would happen in the event of a death with no manager there to do weekday checks, especially in the case of individuals without family members.

They also said having managers to encourage social activities gave them a purpose in life and mental well-being and the reason they lived in sheltered housing was to have a quality of life with the support of a manager. Many had given up family homes to downsize into the scheme.

Relatives attending the consultations also raised concerns about the proposed changes. They said they had a high regard for the work each scheme manager did and it translated into a better quality of life for their loved ones, which gave them peace of mind. 

Concerns were also raised about what would happen without a manager when residents were discharged from hospital to avoid ‘bed blocking’, and in the event of calling emergency services and contacting local GPs.

SCC’s Cabinet is asked to agree next Tuesday, September 26, the recommendation the council will no longer provide funding for housing related support for people with learning, physical and sensory disabilities and services for older people.

Cabinet is asked to agree continued funding for the socially excluded - those with mental health issues, those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, ex-offenders and the gypsy and traveller community.

If the changes are approved, Surrey will save £3.7 million towards a £26 million shortfall in its adult social care services for 2016/17.

Justifying the move, officers said: “It will cease any dual funding, where Surrey County Council is funding a care package and housing related support for an individual, and will mean we assess people based on their current need.”

“The withdrawal of housing related support funding will not necessarily mean the service will end or that the scheme manager/warden service will be withdrawn. It will very much depend upon the provider’s response to the council’s decision. Providers may find alternative funding streams to retain the service unchanged, they may reduce or remodel their offer.”

Responding to SCC’s consultation on the proposed changes, 656 residents said having a warden was important to them and of the 29 providers responding, 28 disagreed with the proposal.

When providers were asked by SCC whether they planned to continue to offer housing related support services if the funding ceases and how they would fund them, four said they would withdraw or change current support.

A WBC spokesman said: “Historically, Surrey has provided some funding to districts and boroughs to provide housing-related support.

“In Waverley, this funding goes towards the costs of the borough’s sheltered housing service.

“WBC arranged consultation meetings at each of the sheltered housing schemes to help Surrey officers present their proposals to Waverley housing tenants.”