Sheltered Housing

Support Coordinator Mel Lacey, with residents of Shepway Court

For Further information please contact us on Freephone 0800 923 2700 option 0.

Maidstone Housing Trust has 12 sheltered housing schemes at locations across the Maidstone area. We have announced plans to renovate or redevelop some of these schemes in the next two years. Read News Story.

Sheltered Housing is a term used to describe a group of flats and bungalows specifically designed for people with support needs. It is necessary to have a support need to meet the criteria for Sheltered Housing.

No sheltered housing may be purchased under the ‘Right-to-Buy’ or right to acquire schemes and it is a condition of your tenancy that it cannot be transferred without the Trust's prior written consent. A Support Coordinator is based at each scheme. The aim of the service is to ensure that vulnerable and elderly clients receive visits on a regular basis and support in the event of emergencies. Maidstone Housing Trust recently received a grade 1 in a Quality Assessment Framework for the care provided.

Sheltered Housing Schemes

A sheltered housing scheme is not an “old peoples” home as is often perceived. It is an area of housing allocated to people with Support needs to promote an independent life style. In your property you can cook, clean and generally care for yourself as you do in your current home. The difference is that advice and assistance are at hand from a Support Coordinator, who will support your independence. There is also peace of mind for you and your family, that help can be summoned in an emergency at any time of the day or night through the alarm system. All our sheltered schemes are on a master suite for keys to properties. If you require extra keys, these can be provided through your Coordinator, there is a charge for this service. All supervisors and Coordinators have a master key which allows access to any sheltered scheme property.

At some sheltered schemes Age Concern organise and run Day Centres. The service they provide is morning coffee/tea, and a lunch. They also arrange outings plus holidays throughout the year.

Hardwick House: Extra Care sheltered housing

The Extra Care service was created to support tenants who wish to live independently but require agency care and support to achieve this. After many months consultation with Social Services, Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone Housing Trust and the tenants of Hardwick House, this project went live on 31st July 2006.

There are carers on site 24 hrs a day 7 days a week to assist tenants who require the Extra Care Service. A hot lunch is cooked fresh on site 7 days a week and all tenants at Hardwick House can take advantage of this meal.

The Coordinators role

Your Scheme Coordinator works Monday to Thursday 8.30 am to 5 pm and Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. They will contact you each working day (this is optional) to ensure you are well and to assist with any problems you may have.

The Coordinator cannot provide nursing care or give medication, but they can put you or your family in touch with the relevant services.

Coordinators can help residents with organising social events, and arranging outings, reporting repairs and assisting with other home services. It is important to remember that residents still need support from family and friends. There is a member of staff on call for emergencies out of office hours and they will attend any of the sheltered schemes if required and any lifeline faults that cannot wait until normal office hours.

Door entry systems

On communal blocks there is often a door entry system for your security. This allows you to speak to the caller and let them in if you wish.

Fire systems and smoke alarms

Communal areas are covered by a safety system, which goes through to the 24 hr control centre. When necessary the fire brigade is alerted. Each property has a smoke detector also linked to the system.

Emergency alarm system

Every sheltered or semi sheltered home has an emergency system which is operational 24 hours a day. Control centre staff, who will deal directly with any problem that you are experiencing, answer all calls.

Your Support Coordinator can also talk to you through the speech unit. You do not have to stand near it to answer as the units can pick up sounds over long distances.

Semi Sheltered housing

Semi sheltered housing offers many of the advantages of sheltered housing, with the benefits of living in the wider community.

Community visits

You can gain access to our support services even if you live in our general housing stock. This would include a regular visit by a support co-ordinator to help you maintain independence and deal with a number of issues relating to your home and daily living.

This could also include the fitting of a lifeline unit giving you a link in to our emergency 24 hour alarm system.

Lifeline in your home

We can fit lifeline equipment in your home if you live in the Maidstone or surrounding areas and as long as you have telephone point and power supply.

This would give you 24 hour access to emergency cover at the press of a button.

Click here for more detailed information on the Lifeline alarm system.

Further information

If you would like a Support Coordinator to visit you please contact us on 01622 212736 or 01622 212737.

You can download information leaflets on all of our Sheltered Housing Schemes by clicking on the name of the property below. These are PDF files and will open in a new window.

We have Service Standards for Supporting People, which we aim to meet.

date published: 29/01/2008