Stanley Pearce House
Housing for older people with some special design features and good facilities
Who is it for? | Couples or single people over the age of 60 wanting to rent. |
Property details | Stanley Pearce has 35 self-contained one bedroom flats made up of 4 blocks containing 6 flats and one block containing 4 flats. Each block having a door security system for added security. The gardens are very attractive with large oak trees, shrubs and lawns maintained by PHP Contractors. In the gardens are several communal rotary-washing lines. There is a small car park outside the scheme; alternately residents and visitors can park on the road. Cable satellite is provided, residents have to pay the full TV licence unless over 75 yrs old. The flats are a reasonable size and cater for singles and couples. There are a variety of social events that take place regularly in the comfort of the communal lounge. The communal room is also used for local elections yearly. Stanley Pearce 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? | Stanley Pearce is situated near to Derby's Corner. The Police Station is just around the corner next to the swimming pool where over 60's can swim for free on a Tuesday. It's a 10-minute walk to the Waterloo Estate where there is a General Store with a Post Office, hairdressers, Takeaway and Pet shop and a community Centre There are two GPs close by. The bus stop is directly outside Stanley Pearce with a regular service, which runs to Poole and Broadstone. |
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 Stanley Pearce 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 Home choice: 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 Stanley Pearce will need to be on Poole Council Housing register to be able to bid for an advertised property on home-choice. |
What is provided? Facilities | There is one lounge in the building that all tenants can use if they want to have more space for parties, social get-togethers or meetings. It is bright and sunny and overlooks the garden area. With a fully equipped kitchen and a disabled toilet. The residents have recently formed a committee and they are having coffee mornings, cream teas and lunches in the lounge on a regular basis. They also join other scheme on outings There are a few keen gardeners and they have applied to the NICE scheme to provide a shed and more plants. PHP have provided water butts and composters for the residents use. There is a car park and also parking on the road available. The library service visits every 4 weeks. |
Services | Stanley Pearce has three main services. They are: 1. A support service provided by sheltered housing 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 housing 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 bungalow 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 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 Stanley Pearce 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 | Stanley Pearce 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 at Stanley Pearce and local people might be invited to attend. |
Staffing and expertise | Stanley Pearce - 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. The Senior SHO is also based here in an office within the communal area. |
Complaints and other matters | Anyone living at Stanley Pearce can expect to be treated with courtesy at all times. Everyone moving into Stanley Pearce House 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 Lynn Holloway the Sheltered Housing Officer on 01202 657418 |
What it feels like from the user's perspective to live in the scheme or use the service | My husband and I recently moved into a ground floor flat. It is very light and spacious having a newly fitted kitchen, level access shower room and gas central heating. The lounge window overlooks the garden, where we enjoy watching the wild life. We like this Scheme because we can come and go when we like, yet we are not alone, the Sheltered Scheme Managers visits or call us on the intercom three times a week. One weekend my husband was ill, I pulled one of the cords and got through to Central Control who immediately called an ambulance, they also called back later in the day to see how things were. At 9am on Monday morning the Scheme Manager knocked on the door, this made us feel relaxed knowing there was help at hand. The Scheme Manager can also offer support with form filling and contacting external agencies i.e. Social Services. We are meeting with other residents and hope to get a social group together. For us the move here was the best move we have ever done. - Mary |