Danecourt Close
Housing for older people with some special design features and good facilities
Who is it for? | People over the age of 60 who are wanting rent. |
Property details | Danecourt Close has 15 self-contained one bedroom bungalows that are large enough for couples. They are arranged in a small close in communal gardens and most of the properties have newly refurbished kitchens the rooms are all a reasonable size and have two storage cupboards. There is shortly going to be a Digital Ariel upgrade for the residents. Danecourt 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? | It is in the Upper Parkstone area of Poole close to Poole Park and Poole Town with its comprehensive High Street shops which are a 25-minute walk away or a ten minute bus ride. The Bus route is good with a regular service into Poole. There are two GPs close by. The Leisure Centre Arts Centre and swimming baths are also in Poole . |
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 building 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 Danecourt Close 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 Danecourt Close has to be on Poole Council Housing Register before they can bid for a property. |
What is provided? Facilities | Although there is no communal lounge on the scheme all the tenants are very welcome to join in the social activities at both Woodstock Close and Willow Park schemes. |
Services | Danecourt Close has three main services. They are: 1. A housing support service provided by the 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 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 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. Sheltered housing staff also use the intercom to call everyone each day to see how they are. 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 Danecourt 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 | Danecourt close is part of the local community and people living there take part in activities in the local area. Residents regularly attend Bingo and Coffee mornings at other schemes The Shah of Persia Hotel is a five minute walk away and serves Sunday Lunch with a discount for the over sixties. |
Staffing and expertise | Danecourt Close' staff is the Sheltered Housing Officer. 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 Danecourt Close can expect to be treated with courtesy at all times. Everyone moving into Danecourt 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 | Communal heating charges will vary from scheme to scheme. 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 Celeste Parsons-Mahon 01202 732199 |
What it feels like from a users perspective to live on the scheme: After spending six months in Hospital and having to come to terms with being disabled I was worried about living on my own. I need not have worried, my one bedroom bungalow is easy to get around, it has a ramp to my front door and my bathroom is fitted with a level access shower, I am also having a new kitchen designed for me.
My Scheme Manager visits three times a week and is there if I have any worries or concerns, recently she has scheme helped sort out my Housing Benefit. When she is off duty Central Control is there all I have to do is press my pendent or pull cord. I can live my life independently.