Sherrin Close
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 | Sherrin Close consist of 15 ground floor flats and 15 first floor self contained flats, all have one bedroom, lounge, kitchen bathroom and all have ample storage. Each flat has a small front garden with a rotary clothes dryer/airier. The flats are a reasonable size and are large enough for couples. New bathrooms were installed in 2006, 8 properties have a level access shower, gas central heating was also installed during 2006 and some properties have the benefit of a rewire with a carbon monoxide detector. A small car park is on site and there is also street parking and garages available. Residents have the benefit of a concessionary TV licence and can also chose cable or satellite if they wish. Residents are responsible for their own utility bills. Sherrin Close has recently had a brand new intercom system fitted which is much quicker for responding to emergency calls, it and also gives the resident the opportunity of wearing the emergency pendant on a wrist strap as opposed to round the neck which seems to be more favourable. Sherrin Close 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? | Situated in Oakdale fairly close to a small parade of shops, a library, a post office, 2 doctors surgeries and Poole Adult Learning Centre. Poole town is approx. 2 miles away. Bus stops are situated on the main Wimborne Road and the routes include Poole, Broadstone, Merley and other neighbouring areas. |
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 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 Sherrin Close have a Secure Tenancy Agreement which is a legal contract setting out the conditions of tenancy between themselves and the Borough of Poole . |
How to get it? | Anyone wishing to apply to rent a flat at Sherrin Close 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 it. For more information on how to apply or want 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 common room on site where residents can hold social events such as coffee mornings, bingo sessions, social evenings etc. The library service visit once a month and leave books for all residents to enjoy, a computer with internet access is provided. Residents can access the common room at any time using their own front door key. Age Concern also run a "Pop-in" on a Wednesday between 2 and 4 pm. The common room has the advantage of a "Loop" system for people who are hard of hearing. Tunstall Telecom has installed new speech in flats with new smoke and heat detectors. PHP have provided water butts and composters for the residents use. |
Services | Sherrin Close has three main services. They are: 1. A housing support service provided by sheltered housing staff (the Sheltered Housing Officer) – this is to help people get information, gives help with welfare benefits and point people in the right direction for other services. Sheltered staff do not provide personal care . 2. A community alarm service. When sheltered housing 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 residents can chose to have a pendant. Speech modules with pull cords are also provided in communal areas such as the common room/toilets etc. 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 housing staff also use the intercom to call residents or to visit on days that have been arranged with the tenant. 3. A management and repairs service. Sheltered housing 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 Sherrin Close 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 | Sherrin Close 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 and local people are invited to attend including residents from other PHP sites. |
Staffing and expertise | The SHO has been trained to give advice on the kinds of help and support that are available e.g. welfare benefits, tenancy support. The SHO has first aid training and performs regular health and safety checks in the scheme. |
Complaints and other matters | Anyone living at Sherrin Close can expect to be treated with courtesy at all times. Everyone moving into Sherrin Close 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. |
Want to know more? | Please contact ....Dorothy Dyson, (Sheltered Housing Officer at Sherrin Close and Christopher Crescent) Telephone: 01202-678953 or 680366 or email d.dyson@poole.gov.uk |
Resident's comments | When I moved to Sherrin Close the SHO and residents made me very welcome, I'm delighted to be here, a nice flat and a garden too. Most of my neighbours are keen gardeners so Sherrin Close is pretty as well as friendly. We organises many social events, raising funds at coffee mornings etc., many other people help in various ways. This makes a happy, lively community for all to enjoy. |