Agenda item

An input from Amanda Miller, Director of Community Services and Andries Fourie, Care Services Manager, Eildon Housing

Eildon Housing Extra Care Service at Former Kelso High School  

            Amanda Miller, Director of Community services and Andries Fouries, Care Service Manager (East) were present to give a presentation on the Extra Care Housing being developed at Poynder Apartments, Kelso.  Established in 1973 to help patients live in community through the creation of a housing association, the Eildon Group own and manage around 3,000 home across Scottish Borders including specialist housing and develop  around 150-200 new homes [per year.  Care and support had always been an important part of their service delivery model either through direct provision or through partnership.  Regulated care and support services were provided to over 250 older people and adults with a learning disability, with two new extra care services commenced in 2021 and a further two planned by 2024.

The presentation went on to explain that Extra Care Housing (ECH), it was high quality accessible accommodation for people over 60 years of age (couples eligible) within a safe and secure community setting.  There was no requirement to have a local connection to the Scottish Borders and Tenants could have pets subject to complying with the conditions of Eildon’s Pets Policy.  Tenants had full tenancy rights through a Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement, as other social housing tenants and applicants must have a combination of housing, support and/or care needs, or awaiting discharge from a formal care or hospital setting.  Personalised care and support was delivered by an onsite staff team 24/7, based on individual assessment of need undertaken by both Social Work and Eildon, and designed to be flexible and adapt to the changing needs of older people.  Allocation agreement was part of the contract framework with SBC and each allocation was agreed by a Locality Panel comprising Social Work and Eildon.  When allocating tenancies, the aim was to create and maintain a “balanced community” of care and support needs using a Dependency Matrix as follows:

Low Needs – 30% of all tenancies  (<12 assessed care hpw)

Medium – 30% of all tenancies (13-21 assessed care hpw)

High – 40% of all tenancies  (>21 assessed care hpw)

Eildon was funded to deliver care services by SBC, and through Free Personal Care. Tenants may pay towards care costs based on SBC’s charging policy and pay rent and service charges to Eildon to meet the cost of accommodation, local services and meals service (mandatory service). The majority of charges were covered by housing benefit, based on financial assessment.  Social inclusion activities and meals provision were provided through on-site community hub - a key element to supporting health and wellbeing.  Telecare and community Wi-Fi was throughout the building for use by tenants, staff and visitors.

The presentation went on to highlight the Extra Care Housing provision currently within Scottish Borders at Dovecot Court, Peebles – 37 x 2 bedroom properties, Wilkie Gardens, Galashiels – 39 mixed 1 and 2 bedroom properties and Poynder Apartments (former Kelso High School) which would consist of 36 properties – 34 x 1b, 2 x 2b bedroom and would go live in May 2023.  Stirches, Hawick – which was in the early design stage but minimally expect extra care and amenity housing for older people, and housing for adults with a learning disability on site by early 2024 and the potential to embed extra care within current sheltered housing and to offer outreach services.  All accommodation in Poynder Apartments offered high quality energy efficiency standards; Electric central heating; wheelchair accessible;  built in kitchen with two ring hob for preparation of light snacks; Wet room showers and Assistive technology and Wi-Fi installed.  The Communal hub provided a central dining room adjacent to a full commercial kitchen and a Central lounge area for meals and activities with adjacent hairdressing suite.  A variety of activity spaces / meeting spaces which could be booked out use, Likelihood of HSC services being co-located in the development, Mobility storms for scooters, External patio with landscaped gardens and garden space with raised beds for tenants to develop and maintain with support from staff and the community.

In terms of the timeline for Poynder Apartments, it was estimated that the build would complete in January/February 2023. Thereafter building and services would be set up, applicant viewings, staff recruitment and training, and community engagement with the aim of service being operational May 2023.  General marketing and local networking had commenced and service specification and applicant marketing to commence from October 2022.  A Kelso Locality Panel was being formed and regular meetings were planned to coincide with applicant campaign from late 2022.  Staff recruitment had commenced for recruitment of an ECH Manager (in post from January 2023); Senior Support Workers from March 2023 and support team from April 2023. Team induction would be held in May 2023 in time for the first let’s starting thereafter. The presentation concluded by detailing the staffing structure and anticipated charges.   In response to a question about