Poole Town
Housing for older people with some special design features and good facilities
Who is it for? | People over the age of 60 wanting to rent. |
Property details | Poole Town has 32 self-contained flats on two floors in 11 blocks dotted around Poole Town. All of the flats are one bedroomed and are large enough for couples. The flats are mainly on the ground floor (22) and the remaining ten are on the first floor. All the properties benefit from gas central heating and double glazed windows. The flats are part of Poole Town community with General Needs and leaseholders occupying properties on the second floor and some on the first floor. Each block has a communal entrance with door entry system. Residents are encouraged to take on gardening by their windows/patio door. Flats are a reasonable size and each flat has a cupboard for storage. Some have outside sheds and allocated drying areas. Poole Town is owned by the Borough of Poole and managed by Poole Housing Partnership, (PHP) the Council's Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO). PHP manages all the Council's homes and is based in Poole. |
Where is it? | It is in the Old Town area of Poole close to Baiter Park and Poole Quay with its museums and activities. The comprehensive High Street shops are a level 5 – 10 minute walk away. There are two GPs close by and Poole General Hospital less than a mile away. The Leisure Centre, Arts Centre and swimming baths are another 15-minute walk away. Flats are close to main coach and train station. There are also 2 community centres, Age Concern pop-ins, churches and CAB within a couple of minutes walking distance. |
What is it for? | It aims to give people good housing and that little bit of support so they can carry on living independently. A member of staff, whose job title is Sheltered Housing Officer, works in the area during normal working hours Monday to Friday. A large part of the Sheltered Housing Officer's job is to support tenants. |
Right to occupy | People living in Poole Town have a legal agreement to live there and details are set out in Secure Tenancy Agreements between them and PHP. |
How to get it? | Anyone wishing to apply to rent a flat at Poole Town sheltered scheme must be over 60 years and on the Borough of Poole Housing Register, even if they already live in Council accommodation. The Borough of Poole operates a Choice-based lettings Scheme called Homechoice. When a flat becomes vacant it is advertised and applicants can 'bid' for the property. For more information on how to apply or what properties are on offer on Homechoice log onto www.boroughofpoole.com or telephone 01202 633805 or call into the Civic Centre in Poole. |
What is provided? Facilities | There are no communal facilities on the scheme. Tenants use Cinnamon Lane facilities for parties, get-togethers or meetings. Cinnamon Lane is 5-10 minute walk away. Some tenants attend social activities at Baiter Gardens, another Sheltered Housing Scheme less then 5-minute walk away. |
Services | Poole Town has three main services. They are: 1. A support service provided by support staff (the Sheltered Housing Officer) – this is to help people get information, give help with welfare benefits and point people in the right direction for other services. Support staff do not provide care of any kind. 2. A community alarm service. When support staff are not available residents are able to get help by using the community alarm service. Every flat has an intercom and pull cords and there are also pull cords around the building. If someone uses this equipment the staff at the community alarm service know help is needed and they will send it quickly. On site support staff also use the intercom to call everyone each day to see how they are. 3. A management and repairs service. Support staff will contact PHP if any repairs need to be done. PHP will arrange for contractors to come out to do the repairs. |
Standards | There are standards covering all of the services that are provided at Poole Town and people who live there have copies of the standards they can expect. PHP is always keen to make sure that work is done to good standards. |
Relationship with the local community | Poole Town is part of the local community and people living there take part in activities in the local area. Scheme's set up (properties dotted around the estate) allows residents for even grater inclusion with local community. |
Staffing and expertise | Poole Town' staff include the Sheltered Housing Officer and cleaning staff. The SHO has been trained to give advice on the kinds of help and support that are available. The SHO also has first aid training. |
Complaints and other matters | Anyone living at Poole Town can expect to be treated with courtesy at all times. Everyone moving into Poole Town is given a handbook that explains what they should do if they are not happy with a service. Complaints are taken seriously and staff aim to put matters right if possible. |
Costs to you | A communal heating charge will vary from scheme to scheme. Many people who are on low incomes qualify for Housing Benefit to cover all or some of the rent. Some people also get almost all of their service and support costs met. Our staff can help work out what people would pay before they move. |
Value for money | Our charges compare well with rents and charges for similar housing for older people in Poole. |
Want to know more? What it feels like from the user's perspective to live on the scheme | Please contact Marta Adamus, Sheltered Housing Officer at Cinnamon Lane and Poole Town on 01202 671586 or email m.Adamus@poole.gov.uk 'I have been living in Poole Town for years. What I find best is that there is always help available when I get unwell. All I have to do is just press a button and someone will answer. We are so close to the shops, High Street and Poole Quay. There are buses running regularly so I can get out and about.' |