Angus Council is intending to offer dedicated housing officers to each sheltered housing complex in the latest development in the tenancy support officer saga.
A member/officer group has concluded that the current TSO set up is not practical due to budget cuts and the self directed support requirements of the Scottish Government, which requires people to be given options as to how their support is provided.
However, dedicated housing officers will carry out some of the same tasks as TSOs including inspections, maintenance and health and safety checks. There will also be an enhanced community alarm team.
A report to councillors by strategic director children and learning Margo Williamson states: “The member/officer group recognised that high quality care and support can be delivered in a number of ways and that a one size fits all model is not in keeping with flexible bespoke care and the legal requirements of self directed support.
“The member/officer group considered a range of models of provision including the current system on a fully funded by tenants basis.
“This was deemed as costly and not compliant with self directed support if all tenants were required to opt into it.
“As such, the member/officer group proposes a standard offering to support every complex with a team of housing officers and locality support from the community alarm service.”
The council’s integrated joint board will also work with Voluntary Action Angus’ social enterprise Care About Angus to further develop an enhanced model of provision.
Tenants will be enabled to select a bespoke and enhanced model of support to meet their wishes.
All of the council’s 36 TSOs have been offered voluntary redundancy or early retirement.
They can also go onto the council’s redeployment register or apply for one of the six new posts within the community alarm team or eight community housing assistant posts. It is also anticipated that Voluntary Action Angus will increase their staff in the near future.
It is expected the changes will result in redundancy and early retirement costs of £361,000.
Montrose councillor David May who was on the member/officer group, said: “I still stand by my opposition to the cuts to the TSOs but the budget considerations mean that huge cuts have been forced on the council.
“I believe that given £500,000 has had to be cut from adult services we have reached a way forward.
“Although I still have big concerns about how this will operate in practice, the background of self directed support and budget cuts means our hands were tied.
“The opportunity still exists for the service so well provided by the TSOs, but will be delivered in a different way.
“We need to ensure for some very vulnerable people in sheltered housing that they are not faced by a whole series of different people delivering the service they need as the kent face was key to the success of the TSO service.
“I look forward to seeing how the service is provided by Voluntary Action Angus and others.”
Council leader Iain Gaul commented that SNP and opposition councillors had worked well together in the member/officer group.
