Serious concerns about the sheltered housing warden service have not been answered, according to Labour’s housing spokesman in Dundee.
Brian Gordon believes the service is “cracking at the seams.” The issue will be raised at Monday’s council meeting when members will consider a report by the director of housing on the Care Inspectorate’s visit to the service in January.
They gave the quality of staffing a grade of only adequate because of a shortage of personnel. As a result, there had been a higher level than expected of unfamiliar staff supporting service users. The quality of care and support and management and leadership were rated as good.
The warden service is for tenants aged 60 or over and others with additional needs including dementia, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health problems.
It is available to approximately 2,000 people in 36 sheltered housing complexes and includes very sheltered housing for tenants who require additional support to live independently.
Mr Gordon wrote to director of housing Elaine Zwirlein and convener John Alexander about his fears for the warden service. He believes these have not been addressed by the report to be considered on Monday.
It states that 98% of tenants were happy overall with the quality of support, and while the inspectorate issued no requirements for improvement it did make four recommendations.
These related to information on notice boards, informing tenants of changes to their regular wardens, consolidating management systems across complexes and developing a staff training plan.
Last month, Mr Gordon said he was told by tenants and their relatives of events at some complexes being cancelled due to staff shortages.
Another concern was staff working excessive overtime to cover for colleagues being off sick and posts not being filled.
He asked for an assurance that an end is in sight to the anomalies that he said threaten the otherwise excellent service.
He said: “It would appear that the Care Inspectorate report to be presented to the housing committee is at odds with what we hear from some of the tenants and also warden service trade unions.
“The report is based on a small snapshot of tenants and staff with two “goods” and an “adequate,” and it also gives recommendations for improvement based on a visit in January.
“Regretfully, it does not reflect the current problems that appear to blight the sheltered housing service.”
Mr Gordon believes the crisis has got worse since he highlighted problems last month and it is now cracking at the seams.
He cited agency staff being called up from more than 50 miles away and complexes closing over weekends with tenants being denied the provision that they are being charged for.
He also said launderettes are being closed because of no staff cover and staff are transferred at short notice to other complexes with the closure of their own workplace.
Housing convener John Alexander stressed last month that the provision of the warden service to sheltered tenants across Dundee is a high priority for the council.
He added: “Councillor Gordon’s comments are alarmist and unfounded. The staff are doing a fantastic job and this report reflects the excellent work they do.
“There have been vacancies and it takes time to fill these posts. We have to ensure that we are filling them with the best people for the posts.”