Trinidad House

Who is it for?

People over the age of 60 wanting to rent.

Property details

Trinidad House consists of a mixture of 106 properties: 76 one bedroom flats in blocks of four accessed through a communal door and staircase leading to the first floor; 24 one-bedroom bungalows; 4 two bedroom bungalows; 1 three bedroom ground floor flat & 1 three bedroom first floor flat.

There is cable and satellite TV

Trinidad House 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 Rossmore area of Parkstone, Poole. There are local facilities including shops, garage & a post office, which are a level walk away. There are two GPs close by. The Leisure Centre, including a swimming pool & the library are another 15-minute walk away.

There are frequent buses to both the town of Poole & Bournemouth and there is a regular route to Poole Hospital.

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, is available, usually on site, 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 Trinidad House have a legal agreement to live there and details are set out in Secure Tenancy

Agreements between them and the Borough of Poole.

How to get it?

Only people who need housing and are aged over 60 can apply. People thinking about moving will be asked why they need to move. They have to give their reasons on an application form. 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 it. They would usually go to the person or couple who need it most of those bidding. The most common reasons for needing to move are:

• someone is finding it difficult to manage where they live now because they need housing on one level, or
• they need to be nearer friends and relatives, or
• they need to be near shops and buses so they can get on with everyday life more easily

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 is a communal lounge and kitchen that has just been refurbished, that all tenants can use if they want to have more space for coffee mornings, fund raising events, parties, get-togethers or meetings. It is bright and sunny and overlooks the communal garden area. The lounge also has a loop system fitted which is regularly used for bingo and meeting and also a PC with internet access.

There is also a communal laundry room, car parking, door entry system to blocks of flats & and a Sheltered Housing Office on site. The gardens are mostly communal with some residents taking an active role in gardening, PHP have provided water butts and composters for residents use. There is also a mobile library that visits the scheme every 4 weeks.

Services

Trinidad House has three main services. They are:

1. A support service provided by sheltered 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. Sheltered staff do not provide care of any kind.

2. A community alarm service. When sheltered staff are not available residents are able to get help by using the community alarm service. Every flat has an intercom and pull cords. There are also pull cords in the communal areas. If someone uses this equipment the staff at the community alarm service know help is needed and they will send it quickly. On site sheltered staff also use the intercom to call everyone each day to see how they are.

3. A management and repairs service. Sheltered 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 Trinidad House 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

Trinidad House is part of the local community and people living there take part in activities in the local area. The building is not open for regular use by the local community, although social events are regularly held there and local people might be invited to attend. The Safer Neighbourhood Team also pop into coffee mornings on scheme.

Staffing and expertise

Trinidad House staff include the Sheltered Housing Officer, cleaning staff & a handy man. 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 and performs regular health and safety checks on scheme.

Complaints and other matters

Anyone living at Trinidad House can expect to be treated with courtesy at all times. Everyone moving in 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

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.

One resident has commented about living at Trinidad House:

"I love living in my bungalow, I feel at peace here. I am very pleased with my adapted kitchen that PHP had installed it has enabled me to be independent. I am happy living here as I am near to my GP surgery and local shops. I feel secure having the lifeline service and have used it several times to call for assistance. I also feel that the Sheltered Housing service is brilliant on site and know I can call on the Sheltered Housing Officers for support if I need to."

What is it like from a User's perspective to live on the scheme.

Many residents say that they like the scheme as it is quiet and they feel safe in their homes. The recent bathroom & kitchen upgrades have been a great success.

The local facilities are easy to get to & the public transport is good. It has been reported that the social events are appreciated. Residents say they like to have the Sheltered Housing Officers on site & they feel happy with the service that PHP offers.

Some residents do not like the fact that the general public cut through the scheme & that there are not enough parking spaces.