housing support

• Sheltered Housing
• Long-term Vacant Sheltered Housing
• Very Sheltered Housing
• Housing Adaptations
• Housing Outreach Service
• Focused Futures

Sheltered Housing

Sheltered Housing (PDF) is best described as small easy to manage properties grouped together that have the services of a housing support worker.

The main areas of work of a Housing Support Worker include:

• Providing a range of housing management welfare services to tenants
• Providing a caretaking service within the sheltered housing scheme
• Responding to a crisis or emergency outside normal working hours when available. There is no guaranteed 24 hour 'on call' response in sheltered accommodation.
• Any other duties relevant to the provision of a housing support service, as required
  

Sheltered housing tenants can also be assessed for the provision of a community alarm system (Homelink) for use in emergencies.

Find out more on where we have sheltered housing (PDF)

Find contact details for Housing Support Workers (PDF)

How do I apply?

Applicants interested in sheltered housing should complete a housing application form. Requests for sheltered housing may also be received from existing applicants either directly or by referral from another organisation such as SIC Community Care.

What happens then?

A Housing Officer will visit to carry out a Sheltered Housing Assessment. This involves answering questions on current and future housing requirements, general health and the applicants’ areas and levels of dependency. SIC Housing will consult with other agencies to fully understand your circumstances. Where an application is received from outwith Shetland, a comprehensive assessment (Understanding You) will be requested from the local authority area in which the applicant is living to give a detailed overview of an applicant's housing and care needs.

Once all information has been gathered, SIC Housing will decide whether an applicant has a requirement for sheltered housing and if so, a priority will be given to their application. Priorities are defined as follows:

• Priority 1 - Applicant has an urgent housing need and a high level of need for support from a Housing Support Worker
• Priority 2 - Applicant has a high level of need for support from a Housing Support Worker. Applicant also has some housing need
• Priority 3 - Applicant is relatively independent and would require the support of a Housing Support Worker only on a limited basis. Applicant also has a housing need

Applicants will be informed in writing of the decision. Those who are assessed as requiring sheltered housing will have their application added to the Sheltered Housing Waiting List. The list gives details of the priority awarded to an applicant as well as a breakdown of their points’ level.

Those who are identified as requiring sheltered housing will have their application and circumstances reviewed as part of the normal housing application review process.

When a property becomes available for allocation, consideration will be given to both the applicant’s points’ level and the sheltered housing priority awarded to their application.

 

Long-term Vacant Sheltered Housing

Where there are a number of long-term vacant sheltered properties within a scheme these may become available to let to applicants on the waiting list that would not normally be assessed as requiring sheltered housing.

In allocating these properties the following priorities will be applied:

1. All applicants assessed as requiring sheltered housing would be given priority over all other categories of applicant
2. Applicants eligible to be on the Council’s waiting list, living within the local community, or living out with the area but have a local connection (family connection, or have previously lived in the area, or who work or have been offered employment in the local community)
3. All other applicants eligible to be on the Council’s waiting list

As these properties are within sheltered schemes a sensitive lettings policy is applied and an applicant will not be allocated a property where there is evidence of previous antisocial behaviour.

These type of long-term vacancies are advertised here.

Very Sheltered Housing

There are a small number of units of very sheltered housing in Shetland. To be assessed as requiring this type of accommodation an applicant should have:

• A housing need
• A need for on-site support and care services 24 hours per day
• A need for the community alarm service
• A current single shared assessment that indicates complex community care needs

Housing and Social Work jointly undertake allocations for vacancies at the very sheltered accommodation at King Erik House and Annsbrae in Lerwick.

King Erik House aims to give vulnerable people the independence of their own flat, as in sheltered housing, but with additional care and support. The aim is to help tenants remain as independent as possible.

Annsbrae House in Lerwick is a complex of single bedroom homes for those with mental health illnesses. There is also a skills centre attached known as Knab Road Skills Centre.

Brucehall Terrace Extra Care Housing in Unst (PDF) aims to support individuals with high level care needs to live in their own sheltered accommodation.

Housing Adaptations

We recognise the importance of providing support aids that can enable vulnerable households to continue living comfortably and independently in their own homes.

Some funding is available to adapt council houses to meet the support needs of our tenants. Typical adaptations include installing showers, extra heating, hand rails and ramped access.

Requests for adaptations should be made in writing to SIC Housing. When a request is received we arrange a visit from an Occupational Therapist and in some cases a community care assessment.

For further information, contact the Duty Social Worker on 01595 744421.

Housing Outreach Service

The Housing Outreach Service (PDF) offers support with the skills needed to manage a home – budgeting; form filling; making appointments; advice and information on local services as well as personal support with education, training, health issues and relationships.

If you feel this is something that would benefit you, either contact the Housing Service or speak to your Housing Officer to arrange a referral.

Focused Futures

Focused Futures (PDF) is an exciting initiative to support young homeless people in Shetland. If you are aged 16-25, homeless or in an SIC or Hjaltland tenancy and are looking for support to move into employment, training, college or volunteering opportunities, Focused Futures could help you.

You can take part in the project if you live in your own tenancy and if you are homeless you can be provided with shared, supported accommodation in Lerwick.

We can meet with you to tell you more about how the project works and look at whether it is right for you. If you get a place on the project, we will support you to develop a personal plan that will help you improve your understanding of yourself - where you are now, and how to get where you want to be. You will take part in a range of activities as well as receiving support to learn new skills.

Focused Futures is a partnership between Shetland Islands Council Housing Service, Hjaltland Housing Association, Careers Scotland, Moving On Employment Project, Bridges, Shetland College and Life Skills.

For more information, or to find out how to apply, contact Idamay Brill at SIC Housing Service on 01595 744724.