Canford Gardens
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 | Canford Gardens has 36 self-contained flats on two floors, 15 flats within the main building that lead off two main corridors that are wide, with windows the length of them giving plenty of natural light. There are 7 ground floor flats within the main building, 5 flats have rear entrances that open into a well maintained, central communal garden which has raised flower beds and seating area, 2 of the ground floor flats have rear entrances that open into a smaller communal garden.7 first floor one bedroom flats and one first floor two bedroom flat within the main building, each flat has door entry intercom system fitted. There are 18 flats in three terraced blocks, which overlook a central communal garden. The 9 ground floor flats have rear entrances that open into the central communal garden, which has raised flowerbeds and seating areas. Residents at Canford Gardens also have re designed the gardens and have large raised flower beds with seating areas, a pergola and a large sun blind and smaller areas have also been re designed to suit the residents needs. Residents use the garden area daily on dry days and all residents are invited to help and offer input into the many different plants etc that are being grown there. PHP have provided water butts and composters for the residents use. The 9 first floor flats have door entry intercom system fitted. There is 1 two bedroom ground floor flat which has its own small fence off slabbed garden and 2 two bedroom first floor flats with door entry intercom system, which are joined to the front of the main building above an enclosed bin area and communal laundry. 28 of the flats had new kitchens fitted in 2005, 3 flats had new kitchens fitted in 2008 and 2 flats the tenants put in their of kitchens. 12 flats have level access showers fitted and 5 flats have over bath showers fitted. The new Tunstall speech system was fitted in January 2009 and each flat was fitted with new smoke and heat detectors. Most of the flats are large enough for couples. There is cable, a large communal digital Ariel and satellite dish, which tenants need a top box to use the cable or satellite. Flats are a reasonable size and each flat has a large cupboard for storage. Canford Gardens 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? | Canford Gardens is located within a large social housing estate called Canford Heath, which is approximately 4 miles away from Poole main town. There is a Supermarket, Post Office, Hairdressers, Chemist, two Take-aways, Betting Shop, Veterinary service and Public House, within a 5-minutes walking distance. There is one GP's surgery and two NHS Dentist within a 5-minute walking distance. The Leisure Centre is 15-minute 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, is available in the main communal building 4 to 5 hours per day Monday to Friday. A large part of the Sheltered Housing Officer's job is to support tenants. |
Right to occupy | People living in Canford Gardens have a legal agreement to live there and details are set out in Secure Tenancy Agreements between them and PHP. |
How to get it? | Only people who need housing 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:
Anyone interested in wanting to move to Canford Gardens must be on Poole Council Housing Register.. |
What is provided? Facilities | There is one communal lounge with in the main building, with a newly refurbished communal kitchen that all tenants can use if they want to have more space for parties, get-togethers or meetings. Also located in the communal lounge for all tenants to use is a computer with internet access, the loop system is also fitted. There is one communal laundry that is located just outside the main buildings, Main entrance. There are 2 communal drying areas, 3 washing lines in each area, which is located off the central communal gardens. There is large brick mobility scooter storage shed which will accommodate 4 scooters and a smaller brick storage shed that will accommodate 2 mobility scooters, located with in the main communal gardens, both sheds have mains electric sockets within, for tenants to use to charge their scooters. There is also a mobile library service that visits every 4 weeks |
Services | Canford Gardens 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 personal care. 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 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 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 Canford Gardens 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 | Canford Gardens 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 such as Bingo, lunch club and social evening are held weekly at Canford Gardens and the local community are invited to attend most of the social activities. |
Staffing and expertise | Canford Gardens' 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 Canford Gardens can expect to be treated with courtesy at all times. Everyone moving into Canford Gardens 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. Communal heating charges will vary from scheme to scheme |
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 ....The Sheltered Housing Officer Mrs Kay Element Tel: 01202 657841 or e-mail k.element@poole.gov.uk |
What it feels like to Live at Canford Gardens A tenant's point of view | I moved to Canford Gardens recently from London, to be closer to my children. My new flat is ground floor, is well lit, and has a lever access shower and nice size fitted kitchen. I am now more independent as the shops and Post Office are well with in walking distance to my flat, so I am now able to collect my pension and do my own shopping. I am more then pleased that I can go to the paper shop daily to buy my newspaper. In London I had to rely on family and friends as I lived in a second floor flat with a busy main road, so I did not go out much. Canford Gardens is quiet and the other residents are very friendly, I attend the weekly Lunch club that is in the hall, I also have my hair done in the hall every Friday by Jan, the hairdresser. I can open my back door every morning and go out into a beautiful garden with flowers and lots of seating; I am very happy and lucky that I live at Canford Gardens..... Ivy |