Wardens
Update 12th November 2008
The SNP elected to raise the question of the Wardens Service again at today’s full Council Meeting. They had promised to reinstate the Warden Service, but the evidence presented is that the new service, while having some teething troubles, is working well enough, particularly for those older people who live at home, but still require care intervention. Labour, the Lib Dems and independents Marjie Currie and Jean Highgate voted to keep the status quo, thus defeating the SNP/Tory coalition.
Text of a letter to Largs Community Council
12 Phillips Avenue
Largs
20/04/2008
Tel: 01475 672825
To: The Secretary, Largs Community Council
Doug,
Thanks for your letter of 16th April asking for my reasons in supporting the Council’s position on the replacement of the sheltered housing warden service. The short answer is that I believe the new system will be better targeted, more efficient and most of all a more effective service for our more vulnerable tenants. You may be aware that I made an extensive statement to this effect in a letter to the wee paper a number of weeks ago. The new information that is coming through as the policy is implemented has not changed my position.
Several things are worth stressing about the controversy surrounding the warden service. First, the SNP Administration in Edinburgh requires councils to freeze council tax and, on top of that, also to achieve additional cuts of 2%-3% in the revenue budget. The obvious result of these cuts is that the council must achieve savings in service costs. Given that the new care system promises to be better targeted, more efficient and more effective than the current system, i.e. a better system at a lower cost, it seems eminently sensible to support it in the circumstances.
It also needs saying that the decision to replace the wardens was taken as part of the budget process, and that the budget process this year was a uniquely lengthy and co-operative exercise. All party leaders attended privileged pre-budget meetings from November 2007. Alan Hill and Liz Marshall knew in December the outline shape of the budget and that the warden service was subject to a possible change. All the other councillors knew in January, four weeks before the full Council Budget Approval Meeting, the outline shape of the budget and that the warden service was subject to a possible change. We asked for, and were given, additional facts and arguments from council officers and councillors with experience and responsibility in the area of social services. It was this mixture of facts, consultation, information, argument and experience which persuaded me that the proposals are worth supporting.
Although, as party leaders, councillors Hill and Marshall knew about the possibility of these proposals before the majority of elected councillors, the Community Council will be aware that there was no alternative proposal put forward by the opposition parties. If alternative cuts had been suggested at the Leaders’ pre-budget meetings or in the pre-budget seminars they may have been accepted or at least considered. Alan Hill’s suggestion, made during the budget meeting, that we take more time to investigate these ideas, made no alternative suggestion as to what else should be cut, and by how much. The suggestion to delay was also impractical and unworkable because it was suggested when the budget package was being voted upon, by which time it was too late, as the budget must be voted on as a whole, and failure to produce a balanced budget is not a legal option for those officers and councillors in positions of responsibility.
I stress that I do not take this decision lightly or on party political grounds. I was persuaded by the facts, by the arguments and by the personalities involved.
I attach a status of the implementation plans and the text of my published letter on the new arrangements. You can also access these and other documents at the local Labour Party website which is at http://largslabourparty.wordpress.com/ .
Yours sincerely
Alex Gallagher
Current Status of Assessments and Implementation of the New Care Service
Briefing Note re: Older People’s Services (North Coast)
as of 2nd May 2008
The North Coast Older People’s Team is based in Boyd Street, Largs.
|
Operational Manager |
|
Team Leader (Assessment and Care Management) |
|
Team Leader (Service Delivery) |
|
3 Social Workers 2.5 Social Work Assistants 2 Care Co-ordinators |
|
3 Care at Home Managers |
|
Day care, Community alarms Care at home staff, etc eetcetcCommunity Alarms
|
The Older People’s service provides assessment and care management to older people in the North Coast area. This function is led by Brian Walker. The service also provides a range of support services including daycare, meals on wheels and care at home. This function is led by Tony Fisher.
All services are provided on the basis of assessed need. People may self refer or may be referred by a family member, friend, GP, etc. The Reception Service team also receives referrals for Older People. Reception Services provides an initial point of contact to anyone seeking Social Services advice, information or further services. In the last quarter of 2007, 152 referrals concerning Older People were made to the North Coast Reception Services team. In the first quarter of 2008, 255 referrals were received.
Sheltered Housing Units
|
Name of Sheltered Housing Unit |
Number of Tenants
|
|
Moorburn Park |
20 |
|
St Colm’s Place |
23 |
|
Headrigg |
20 |
|
Arthur Court |
12 |
Total |
76 |
Following the Council’s decision to change the warden service, meetings have taken place in the 4 sheltered housing units in the North Coast area. The meetings were open to all tenants, their families and friends. Each of the four meetings was very well attended and was followed up by individual meetings with each tenant to discuss their own needs and concerns, unless tenants declined to take part. Almost all the individual meetings have now taken place, with six people requiring additional services. Four of the six have been referred to the Occupational Therapy Service and two have required an increase in their Care at Home support. Two people who are currently in hospital have still to be met with.
Community Alarms
|
Community Alarms |
Numbers
|
|
North Coast Active Users |
498 |
|
North Coast Awaiting Service |
11 |
|
Smart Technology |
29 |
Total |
538 |
In August 2007, within North Ayrshire 85 people had SMART Technology to help support them in their own homes. Examples of SMART Technology include fall detectors and smoke detectors. By February 2008, this had increased to 170 people and resources are in place to continue to grow this service. Everyone who is now assessed as requiring a standard Community Alarm is also receiving an “added on” smoke detector. North Ayrshire Council Social Services have also received an additional £131,000 from the Scottish Government following a successful Telecare Bid. This has funded an additional six Community Alarm posts and one telecare co-ordinator post.
It is important to point out however, that Community Alarms is not a universal service and is provided following an assessment of need.
Assessment and Care Management
The assessment and care management team currently work with183 cases. This team will assess new referrals and agree appropriate care packages with the service user and their carers. They also provide ongoing care management and review to ensure that people’s needs continue to be met. The team work closely with partners in the Health services, particularly district nursing staff.
Care At Home
|
Care at Home |
Numbers
|
|
Largs South |
70 |
|
Skelmorlie |
14 |
|
Largs North |
75 |
|
West Kilbride |
63 |
|
Fairlie |
12 |
|
Cumbrae |
29 |
Total |
263 |
This table provides a breakdown of people receiving Care at Home services within the North Coast area. Care at Home in an integral part of the service and supports older people in their own homes. The provision of care at home services delays or removes the need for people to be admitted to institutional care.
Meals on Wheels
|
Meals On Wheels |
Numbers
|
|
Largs South |
31 |
|
Skelmorlie |
2 |
|
Largs North |
31 |
|
West Kilbride |
24 |
|
Fairlie |
3 |
|
Cumbrae |
21 |
Total |
112 |
112 people receive meals on wheels services within the North Coast area. These are provided by North Ayrshire Council’s school meals services on the mainland and by Lady Margaret Hospital on the Isle of Cumbrae. They are delivered by WRVS (and by Social Services staff on Isle of Cumbrae). The service user is charged £1.75. per meal.
Care at Home Overview
|
Care at Home Overview |
Numbers
|
|
CA Awaiting Service |
11 |
|
CA Service |
498 |
|
CA / Smart Tech Service |
29 |
|
DS Awaiting Service – Strand |
4 |
|
DS Service – Strand |
35 |
|
HC Awaiting Service – North Largs |
5 |
|
HC Awaiting Service – South Largs |
2 |
|
HC External Services |
1 |
|
HC Service – Cumbrae |
29 |
|
HC Service – Fairlie |
12 |
|
HC Service – North Largs |
75 |
|
HC Service – Skelmorlie |
14 |
|
HC Service – South Largs |
70 |
|
HC Service – West Kilbride |
63 |
|
MoW Awaiting Service – Fairlie |
1 |
|
MoW Awaiting Service – North Largs |
6 |
|
MoW Service – Cumbrae |
21 |
|
MoW Service – Fairlie |
3 |
|
MoW Service – North Largs |
31 |
|
MoW Service – Skelmorlie |
2 |
|
MoW Service – South Largs |
31 |
|
MoW Service – West Kilbride |
24 |
|
NC Await Assessment |
1 |
Total |
968“ |
CA – Community Alarms
DS – Day Service
HC – Home Care
MOW – Meals on Wheels
Social Services gave this status as of 24th April 2008.
Of 73 tenants in sheltered housing in the North Coast Ward, only 6 have, so far, required additional services.
As of the above date, assessments have been carried out on 52 sheltered housing tenants in the North Coast. A further 21 tenants have refused an assessment and there are 2 assessments still to be completed. Both of these relate to tenants that are in hospital. Of the 52 assessments carried out, 6 tenants were found to require additional services. Of these 6, 4 people required to be referred to our Occupational Therapy service and 2 people required an increase in their Care at Home support.
Text of Letter to Largs & Millport Weekly News on the Replacement of the Warden Service
There has been a lot of press comment, much of it adverse, on the decision to remove the warden service from sheltered housing complexes. Of course such a decision is bound to raise emotions, but it was not a decision that was taken lightly nor does it place our vulnerable tenants in jeopardy, as some people claim. In recent years NAC has increased its spending on services for the elderly. In the current year, such spending will be £7million more than in 2003, a significant increase, not a cut, in elderly services.
The first point I would make is that, contrary to some claims, the change to the warden service was not sprung upon anyone at any time. It had been trailed in some detail for three months before it was taken. Specifically the leaders of all the political parties worked together from November 2007, with full information disclosure, to agree, or at least be kept up to date with, budget proposals. In addition there were a series of pre-budget meetings and seminars at which all councillors were informed of the likely changes needed to present a balanced budget. The possibility of change to the warden service was clearly explained at these meetings. Anyone who did not see it coming was not paying attention. The opposition parties were free to make alternative proposals, but they never did.
It is important to note that, after a well-informed debate, the change to the service was supported by the majority of the council: Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the two senior and respected Independents, Liz McLardy and Margie Currie. This is the kind of co-operation that the new proportional voting system was designed to encourage: decision making based on the facts and arguments, not blind party loyalty or knee-jerk oppositionism. The change was opposed by a minority of the council: the Nationalists and the Tories combining in their usual alliance, plus three independents.
People have asked how we could support his change. Quite simply: I believe that, contrary to the alarm being spread by the SNP/Tory coalition, it will not provide a generally less effective service than we currently provide. In fact the new system will provide 24/7 care, which is not available at the moment, and it will deliver this care to all of our vulnerable tenants, whether they live in sheltered housing or in their own homes. To explain why I believe this is an improvement, let me first describe the current set-up.
It is important to point out that the wardens have no medical or clinical skills or responsibilities. Also, the warden service in sheltered housing units is not a 24hr service and is delivered as follows:
|
Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Tuesday, Thursday |
1.15pm to 9pm |
No morning cover |
|
Saturday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Sunday |
11.15am to 7pm |
Restricted morning and evening cover |
In addition, wardens work one weekend each month. When they work a weekend, they get the following Monday and Tuesday off. This means there is no warden cover for two full days each week.
So you will see that cover is by no means continuous at the moment. There is no overnight cover, and day/evening cover varies. In any one week, in 128 hours out of a possible 168, there is no warden cover at all.
This is obviously not a comprehensive 24/7 service.
When the warden is not on duty, the sheltered housing units are covered by the South Ayrshire Monitoring Service (SAMS) via the existing community alarm service. If the tenant pulls the cord, SAMS will call out staff from the North Ayrshire Alarm team to visit.
So at present, the response to the alarm service is based in South Ayrshire, with possible built-in delays in response.
It is clear from the above that what is being replaced is not a comprehensive, 24hrs/day, medical or home care service.
Not all tenants in sheltered housing receive medical or other help. In fact fewer than 30% of sheltered housing tenants require care at home services. In future, under the new system, each tenant, whether living in sheltered housing or at home, will be given an individual needs assessment on which the care delivered to them will be based.
To ensure that support is still available to tenants who have been assessed as needing help, the existing community alarm system will be enhanced. Each of the localities (North Coast, Three Towns, Irvine and Garnock Valley) will have its own ALERT team based in the locality to respond to need. This service will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
I have requested that Social Services look at the possibility that the ALERT Team could be based in one of the sheltered housing complexes. If not, I have asked for it to be in the new NHS clinic which is opening soon at Brooksby. This facility is just a minute away from the council’s sheltered housing facilities in Largs, and will therefore have a very quick reaction time in any required intervention.
The proposed benefits of these changes to the service are;
· Tenants will have a response service operating round the clock.
· The service will respond more quickly due it being based in a geographic area and servicing that area.
· There will be additional Care at Home assistant posts created to enhance these teams. It is hoped that wardens will fill at least some of these posts.
· The teams will undertake visits to the sheltered housing within their locality and familiarise themselves with the tenants (and vice versa) to ensure continued support and continuity of service is provided.
· The new alarm units also serve as a burglar alarm and intruder alarm.
· The new alarm units being installed can accommodate additional supports for tenants including fall detectors, flood detectors and movement detectors.
· All tenants will be issued with an Amie pendant which can be activated anywhere in the home without pulling the alarm cord.
In the opinion of those who voted for it, the new system is in many ways better than the system it replaces. It is designed to provide targeted cover for all who need it, not just those in sheltered housing, and to make it easier for people to stay in their own home, if that is what they wish. It is a change to, not a cut in, care at home services.
A number of councils have already abolished the warden service and it appears that, after bedding in, the new systems work well and the concern over wardens has abated. Change is always upsetting, but I am confident that after these changes have been allowed to bed in, those in sheltered housing, and their families, will be receiving a better, more comprehensive and more targeted service than they are now.
Yours sincerely
Alex Gallagher
Text of Letter to Largs & Millport Weekly News on the Replacement of the Warden Service
There has been a lot of press comment, much of it adverse, on the decision to remove the warden service from sheltered housing complexes. Of course such a decision is bound to raise emotions, but it was not a decision that was taken lightly nor does it place our vulnerable tenants in jeopardy, as some people claim. In recent years NAC has increased its spending on services for the elderly. In the current year, such spending will be £7million more than in 2003, a significant increase, not a cut, in elderly services.
The first point I would make is that, contrary to some claims, the change to the warden service was not sprung upon anyone at any time. It had been trailed in some detail for three months before it was taken. Specifically the leaders of all the political parties worked together from November 2007, with full information disclosure, to agree, or at least be kept up to date with, budget proposals. In addition there were a series of pre-budget meetings and seminars at which all councillors were informed of the likely changes needed to present a balanced budget. The possibility of change to the warden service was clearly explained at these meetings. Anyone who did not see it coming was not paying attention. The opposition parties were free to make alternative proposals, but they never did.
It is important to note that, after a well-informed debate, the change to the service was supported by the majority of the council: Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the two senior and respected Independents, Liz McLardy and Margie Currie. This is the kind of co-operation that the new proportional voting system was designed to encourage: decision making based on the facts and arguments, not blind party loyalty or knee-jerk oppositionism. The change was opposed by a minority of the council: the Nationalists and the Tories combining in their usual alliance, plus three independents.
People have asked how we could support his change. Quite simply: I believe that, contrary to the alarm being spread by the SNP/Tory coalition, it will not provide a generally less effective service than we currently provide. In fact the new system will provide 24/7 care, which is not available at the moment, and it will deliver this care to all of our vulnerable tenants, whether they live in sheltered housing or in their own homes. To explain why I believe this is an improvement, let me first describe the current set-up.
It is important to point out that the wardens have no medical or clinical skills or responsibilities. Also, the warden service in sheltered housing units is not a 24hr service and is delivered as follows:
|
Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Tuesday, Thursday |
1.15pm to 9pm |
No morning cover |
|
Saturday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Sunday |
11.15am to 7pm |
Restricted morning and evening cover |
In addition, wardens work one weekend each month. When they work a weekend, they get the following Monday and Tuesday off. This means there is no warden cover for two full days each week.
So you will see that cover is by no means continuous at the moment. There is no overnight cover, and day/evening cover varies. In any one week, in 128 hours out of a possible 168, there is no warden cover at all.
This is obviously not a comprehensive 24/7 service.
When the warden is not on duty, the sheltered housing units are covered by the South Ayrshire Monitoring Service (SAMS) via the existing community alarm service. If the tenant pulls the cord, SAMS will call out staff from the North Ayrshire Alarm team to visit.
So at present, the response to the alarm service is based in South Ayrshire, with possible built-in delays in response.
It is clear from the above that what is being replaced is not a comprehensive, 24hrs/day, medical or home care service.
Not all tenants in sheltered housing receive medical or other help. In fact fewer than 30% of sheltered housing tenants require care at home services. In future, under the new system, each tenant, whether living in sheltered housing or at home, will be given an individual needs assessment on which the care delivered to them will be based.
To ensure that support is still available to tenants who have been assessed as needing help, the existing community alarm system will be enhanced. Each of the localities (North Coast, Three Towns, Irvine and Garnock Valley) will have its own ALERT team based in the locality to respond to need. This service will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
I have requested that Social Services look at the possibility that the ALERT Team could be based in one of the sheltered housing complexes. If not, I have asked for it to be in the new NHS clinic which is opening soon at Brooksby. This facility is just a minute away from the council’s sheltered housing facilities in Largs, and will therefore have a very quick reaction time in any required intervention.
The proposed benefits of these changes to the service are;
· Tenants will have a response service operating round the clock.
· The service will respond more quickly due it being based in a geographic area and servicing that area.
· There will be additional Care at Home assistant posts created to enhance these teams. It is hoped that wardens will fill at least some of these posts.
· The teams will undertake visits to the sheltered housing within their locality and familiarise themselves with the tenants (and vice versa) to ensure continued support and continuity of service is provided.
· The new alarm units also serve as a burglar alarm and intruder alarm.
· The new alarm units being installed can accommodate additional supports for tenants including fall detectors, flood detectors and movement detectors.
· All tenants will be issued with an Amie pendant which can be activated anywhere in the home without pulling the alarm cord.
In the opinion of those who voted for it, the new system is in many ways better than the system it replaces. It is designed to provide targeted cover for all who need it, not just those in sheltered housing, and to make it easier for people to stay in their own home, if that is what they wish. It is a change to, not a cut in, care at home services.
A number of councils have already abolished the warden service and it appears that, after bedding in, the new systems work well and the concern over wardens has abated. Change is always upsetting, but I am confident that after these changes have been allowed to bed in, those in sheltered housing, and their families, will be receiving a better, more comprehensive and more targeted service than they are now.
Yours sincerely
Alex Gallagher
Current Status of Assessments and Implementation of the New Care Service
Briefing Note re: Older People’s Services (North Coast)
as of 2nd May 2008
The North Coast Older People’s Team is based in Boyd Street, Largs.
|
Operational Manager |
|
Team Leader (Assessment and Care Management) |
|
Team Leader (Service Delivery) |
|
3 Social Workers 2.5 Social Work Assistants 2 Care Co-ordinators |
|
3 Care at Home Managers |
|
Day care, Community alarms Care at home staff, etc eetcetcCommunity Alarms
|
The Older People’s service provides assessment and care management to older people in the North Coast area. This function is led by Brian Walker. The service also provides a range of support services including daycare, meals on wheels and care at home. This function is led by Tony Fisher.
All services are provided on the basis of assessed need. People may self refer or may be referred by a family member, friend, GP, etc. The Reception Service team also receives referrals for Older People. Reception Services provides an initial point of contact to anyone seeking Social Services advice, information or further services. In the last quarter of 2007, 152 referrals concerning Older People were made to the North Coast Reception Services team. In the first quarter of 2008, 255 referrals were received.
Sheltered Housing Units
|
Name of Sheltered Housing Unit |
Number of Tenants
|
|
Moorburn Park |
20 |
|
St Colm’s Place |
23 |
|
Headrigg |
20 |
|
Arthur Court |
12 |
Total |
76 |
Following the Council’s decision to change the warden service, meetings have taken place in the 4 sheltered housing units in the North Coast area. The meetings were open to all tenants, their families and friends. Each of the four meetings was very well attended and was followed up by individual meetings with each tenant to discuss their own needs and concerns, unless tenants declined to take part. Almost all the individual meetings have now taken place, with six people requiring additional services. Four of the six have been referred to the Occupational Therapy Service and two have required an increase in their Care at Home support. Two people who are currently in hospital have still to be met with.
Community Alarms
|
Community Alarms |
Numbers
|
|
North Coast Active Users |
498 |
|
North Coast Awaiting Service |
11 |
|
Smart Technology |
29 |
Total |
538 |
In August 2007, within North Ayrshire 85 people had SMART Technology to help support them in their own homes. Examples of SMART Technology include fall detectors and smoke detectors. By February 2008, this had increased to 170 people and resources are in place to continue to grow this service. Everyone who is now assessed as requiring a standard Community Alarm is also receiving an “added on” smoke detector. North Ayrshire Council Social Services have also received an additional £131,000 from the Scottish Government following a successful Telecare Bid. This has funded an additional six Community Alarm posts and one telecare co-ordinator post.
It is important to point out however, that Community Alarms is not a universal service and is provided following an assessment of need.
Assessment and Care Management
The assessment and care management team currently work with183 cases. This team will assess new referrals and agree appropriate care packages with the service user and their carers. They also provide ongoing care management and review to ensure that people’s needs continue to be met. The team work closely with partners in the Health services, particularly district nursing staff.
Care At Home
|
Care at Home |
Numbers
|
|
Largs South |
70 |
|
Skelmorlie |
14 |
|
Largs North |
75 |
|
West Kilbride |
63 |
|
Fairlie |
12 |
|
Cumbrae |
29 |
Total |
263 |
This table provides a breakdown of people receiving Care at Home services within the North Coast area. Care at Home in an integral part of the service and supports older people in their own homes. The provision of care at home services delays or removes the need for people to be admitted to institutional care.
Meals on Wheels
|
Meals On Wheels |
Numbers
|
|
Largs South |
31 |
|
Skelmorlie |
2 |
|
Largs North |
31 |
|
West Kilbride |
24 |
|
Fairlie |
3 |
|
Cumbrae |
21 |
Total |
112 |
112 people receive meals on wheels services within the North Coast area. These are provided by North Ayrshire Council’s school meals services on the mainland and by Lady Margaret Hospital on the Isle of Cumbrae. They are delivered by WRVS (and by Social Services staff on Isle of Cumbrae). The service user is charged £1.75. per meal.
Care at Home Overview
|
Care at Home Overview |
Numbers
|
|
CA Awaiting Service |
11 |
|
CA Service |
498 |
|
CA / Smart Tech Service |
29 |
|
DS Awaiting Service – Strand |
4 |
|
DS Service – Strand |
35 |
|
HC Awaiting Service – North Largs |
5 |
|
HC Awaiting Service – South Largs |
2 |
|
HC External Services |
1 |
|
HC Service – Cumbrae |
29 |
|
HC Service – Fairlie |
12 |
|
HC Service – North Largs |
75 |
|
HC Service – Skelmorlie |
14 |
|
HC Service – South Largs |
70 |
|
HC Service – West Kilbride |
63 |
|
MoW Awaiting Service – Fairlie |
1 |
|
MoW Awaiting Service – North Largs |
6 |
|
MoW Service – Cumbrae |
21 |
|
MoW Service – Fairlie |
3 |
|
MoW Service – North Largs |
31 |
|
MoW Service – Skelmorlie |
2 |
|
MoW Service – South Largs |
31 |
|
MoW Service – West Kilbride |
24 |
|
NC Await Assessment |
1 |
Total |
968“ |
CA – Community Alarms
DS – Day Service
HC – Home Care
MOW – Meals on Wheels
Social Services gave this status as of 24th April 2008.
Of 73 tenants in sheltered housing in the North Coast Ward, only 6 have, so far, required additional services.
As of the above date, assessments have been carried out on 52 sheltered housing tenants in the North Coast. A further 21 tenants have refused an assessment and there are 2 assessments still to be completed. Both of these relate to tenants that are in hospital. Of the 52 assessments carried out, 6 tenants were found to require additional services. Of these 6, 4 people required to be referred to our Occupational Therapy service and 2 people required an increase in their Care at Home support.
Text of Letter to Largs & Millport Weekly News on the Replacement of the Warden Service
There has been a lot of press comment, much of it adverse, on the decision to remove the warden service from sheltered housing complexes. Of course such a decision is bound to raise emotions, but it was not a decision that was taken lightly nor does it place our vulnerable tenants in jeopardy, as some people claim. In recent years NAC has increased its spending on services for the elderly. In the current year, such spending will be £7million more than in 2003, a significant increase, not a cut, in elderly services.
The first point I would make is that, contrary to some claims, the change to the warden service was not sprung upon anyone at any time. It had been trailed in some detail for three months before it was taken. Specifically the leaders of all the political parties worked together from November 2007, with full information disclosure, to agree, or at least be kept up to date with, budget proposals. In addition there were a series of pre-budget meetings and seminars at which all councillors were informed of the likely changes needed to present a balanced budget. The possibility of change to the warden service was clearly explained at these meetings. Anyone who did not see it coming was not paying attention. The opposition parties were free to make alternative proposals, but they never did.
It is important to note that, after a well-informed debate, the change to the service was supported by the majority of the council: Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the two senior and respected Independents, Liz McLardy and Margie Currie. This is the kind of co-operation that the new proportional voting system was designed to encourage: decision making based on the facts and arguments, not blind party loyalty or knee-jerk oppositionism. The change was opposed by a minority of the council: the Nationalists and the Tories combining in their usual alliance, plus three independents.
People have asked how we could support his change. Quite simply: I believe that, contrary to the alarm being spread by the SNP/Tory coalition, it will not provide a generally less effective service than we currently provide. In fact the new system will provide 24/7 care, which is not available at the moment, and it will deliver this care to all of our vulnerable tenants, whether they live in sheltered housing or in their own homes. To explain why I believe this is an improvement, let me first describe the current set-up.
It is important to point out that the wardens have no medical or clinical skills or responsibilities. Also, the warden service in sheltered housing units is not a 24hr service and is delivered as follows:
|
Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Tuesday, Thursday |
1.15pm to 9pm |
No morning cover |
|
Saturday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Sunday |
11.15am to 7pm |
Restricted morning and evening cover |
In addition, wardens work one weekend each month. When they work a weekend, they get the following Monday and Tuesday off. This means there is no warden cover for two full days each week.
So you will see that cover is by no means continuous at the moment. There is no overnight cover, and day/evening cover varies. In any one week, in 128 hours out of a possible 168, there is no warden cover at all.
This is obviously not a comprehensive 24/7 service.
When the warden is not on duty, the sheltered housing units are covered by the South Ayrshire Monitoring Service (SAMS) via the existing community alarm service. If the tenant pulls the cord, SAMS will call out staff from the North Ayrshire Alarm team to visit.
So at present, the response to the alarm service is based in South Ayrshire, with possible built-in delays in response.
It is clear from the above that what is being replaced is not a comprehensive, 24hrs/day, medical or home care service.
Not all tenants in sheltered housing receive medical or other help. In fact fewer than 30% of sheltered housing tenants require care at home services. In future, under the new system, each tenant, whether living in sheltered housing or at home, will be given an individual needs assessment on which the care delivered to them will be based.
To ensure that support is still available to tenants who have been assessed as needing help, the existing community alarm system will be enhanced. Each of the localities (North Coast, Three Towns, Irvine and Garnock Valley) will have its own ALERT team based in the locality to respond to need. This service will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
I have requested that Social Services look at the possibility that the ALERT Team could be based in one of the sheltered housing complexes. If not, I have asked for it to be in the new NHS clinic which is opening soon at Brooksby. This facility is just a minute away from the council’s sheltered housing facilities in Largs, and will therefore have a very quick reaction time in any required intervention.
The proposed benefits of these changes to the service are;
· Tenants will have a response service operating round the clock.
· The service will respond more quickly due it being based in a geographic area and servicing that area.
· There will be additional Care at Home assistant posts created to enhance these teams. It is hoped that wardens will fill at least some of these posts.
· The teams will undertake visits to the sheltered housing within their locality and familiarise themselves with the tenants (and vice versa) to ensure continued support and continuity of service is provided.
· The new alarm units also serve as a burglar alarm and intruder alarm.
· The new alarm units being installed can accommodate additional supports for tenants including fall detectors, flood detectors and movement detectors.
· All tenants will be issued with an Amie pendant which can be activated anywhere in the home without pulling the alarm cord.
In the opinion of those who voted for it, the new system is in many ways better than the system it replaces. It is designed to provide targeted cover for all who need it, not just those in sheltered housing, and to make it easier for people to stay in their own home, if that is what they wish. It is a change to, not a cut in, care at home services.
A number of councils have already abolished the warden service and it appears that, after bedding in, the new systems work well and the concern over wardens has abated. Change is always upsetting, but I am confident that after these changes have been allowed to bed in, those in sheltered housing, and their families, will be receiving a better, more comprehensive and more targeted service than they are now.
Yours sincerely
Alex Gallagher
Text of Letter to Largs & Millport Weekly News on the Replacement of the Warden Service
There has been a lot of press comment, much of it adverse, on the decision to remove the warden service from sheltered housing complexes. Of course such a decision is bound to raise emotions, but it was not a decision that was taken lightly nor does it place our vulnerable tenants in jeopardy, as some people claim. In recent years NAC has increased its spending on services for the elderly. In the current year, such spending will be £7million more than in 2003, a significant increase, not a cut, in elderly services.
The first point I would make is that, contrary to some claims, the change to the warden service was not sprung upon anyone at any time. It had been trailed in some detail for three months before it was taken. Specifically the leaders of all the political parties worked together from November 2007, with full information disclosure, to agree, or at least be kept up to date with, budget proposals. In addition there were a series of pre-budget meetings and seminars at which all councillors were informed of the likely changes needed to present a balanced budget. The possibility of change to the warden service was clearly explained at these meetings. Anyone who did not see it coming was not paying attention. The opposition parties were free to make alternative proposals, but they never did.
It is important to note that, after a well-informed debate, the change to the service was supported by the majority of the council: Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the two senior and respected Independents, Liz McLardy and Margie Currie. This is the kind of co-operation that the new proportional voting system was designed to encourage: decision making based on the facts and arguments, not blind party loyalty or knee-jerk oppositionism. The change was opposed by a minority of the council: the Nationalists and the Tories combining in their usual alliance, plus three independents.
People have asked how we could support his change. Quite simply: I believe that, contrary to the alarm being spread by the SNP/Tory coalition, it will not provide a generally less effective service than we currently provide. In fact the new system will provide 24/7 care, which is not available at the moment, and it will deliver this care to all of our vulnerable tenants, whether they live in sheltered housing or in their own homes. To explain why I believe this is an improvement, let me first describe the current set-up.
It is important to point out that the wardens have no medical or clinical skills or responsibilities. Also, the warden service in sheltered housing units is not a 24hr service and is delivered as follows:
|
Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Tuesday, Thursday |
1.15pm to 9pm |
No morning cover |
|
Saturday |
9am to 5pm |
No evening cover |
|
Sunday |
11.15am to 7pm |
Restricted morning and evening cover |
In addition, wardens work one weekend each month. When they work a weekend, they get the following Monday and Tuesday off. This means there is no warden cover for two full days each week.
So you will see that cover is by no means continuous at the moment. There is no overnight cover, and day/evening cover varies. In any one week, in 128 hours out of a possible 168, there is no warden cover at all.
This is obviously not a comprehensive 24/7 service.
When the warden is not on duty, the sheltered housing units are covered by the South Ayrshire Monitoring Service (SAMS) via the existing community alarm service. If the tenant pulls the cord, SAMS will call out staff from the North Ayrshire Alarm team to visit.
So at present, the response to the alarm service is based in South Ayrshire, with possible built-in delays in response.
It is clear from the above that what is being replaced is not a comprehensive, 24hrs/day, medical or home care service.
Not all tenants in sheltered housing receive medical or other help. In fact fewer than 30% of sheltered housing tenants require care at home services. In future, under the new system, each tenant, whether living in sheltered housing or at home, will be given an individual needs assessment on which the care delivered to them will be based.
To ensure that support is still available to tenants who have been assessed as needing help, the existing community alarm system will be enhanced. Each of the localities (North Coast, Three Towns, Irvine and Garnock Valley) will have its own ALERT team based in the locality to respond to need. This service will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
I have requested that Social Services look at the possibility that the ALERT Team could be based in one of the sheltered housing complexes. If not, I have asked for it to be in the new NHS clinic which is opening soon at Brooksby. This facility is just a minute away from the council’s sheltered housing facilities in Largs, and will therefore have a very quick reaction time in any required intervention.
The proposed benefits of these changes to the service are;
· Tenants will have a response service operating round the clock.
· The service will respond more quickly due it being based in a geographic area and servicing that area.
· There will be additional Care at Home assistant posts created to enhance these teams. It is hoped that wardens will fill at least some of these posts.
· The teams will undertake visits to the sheltered housing within their locality and familiarise themselves with the tenants (and vice versa) to ensure continued support and continuity of service is provided.
· The new alarm units also serve as a burglar alarm and intruder alarm.
· The new alarm units being installed can accommodate additional supports for tenants including fall detectors, flood detectors and movement detectors.
· All tenants will be issued with an Amie pendant which can be activated anywhere in the home without pulling the alarm cord.
In the opinion of those who voted for it, the new system is in many ways better than the system it replaces. It is designed to provide targeted cover for all who need it, not just those in sheltered housing, and to make it easier for people to stay in their own home, if that is what they wish. It is a change to, not a cut in, care at home services.
A number of councils have already abolished the warden service and it appears that, after bedding in, the new systems work well and the concern over wardens has abated. Change is always upsetting, but I am confident that after these changes have been allowed to bed in, those in sheltered housing, and their families, will be receiving a better, more comprehensive and more targeted service than they are now.
Yours sincerely
Alex Gallagher
1 Comment Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
1.
Valerie Reid | March 14, 2008 at 12:43 am
Initially I was very sceptical of this new service, going by all the media reports locally. But having found out exactly what is on offer I think it is much improved. Not just for those presently in sheltered housing but for those in the community, who we all know can sometimes have worse health problems than those in sheltered housing. Giving any elderly person a choice of staying in their own home or having to go into sheltered housing (in its present form0 how many would choose to go into the housing complex. Not very many I would think.
My own parents lived in Spain for 17 years and returned here when their health was too bad for them to live without family support. I wanted for them to go into sheltered housing when they returned, but being proud and fiercely independent my father refused.
I had sort of come to terms with the idea that if anything happened to either of them then the other would have to come and live with m (as neither of them could function on their own. But with the new system I think remaining on their own could be a viable option. I don’t think I am in a unique position, there must be loads of similar cases.