[Susan Coen]

Paul – we don’t carry out DBS checks for our Residents. However, on our application form, we do have the following questions:

Do you have any unspent conditional cautions or convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?

Do you have any adult cautions (simple or conditional) or spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) order 2020.

We also check (as we do when we recruit people) social media and the local newspapers.

[Susan Coen]

Cath – in answer to your question about Residents Forums. When we first started having them a few years ago, we had a few problems. Residents would either put forward unreasonable requests such as us providing a mobile banking facility at each site, a warden shopping service etc, and get into a strop if we said no, or complain about things we have no control over such as traffic noise, or bring up petty matters which should be dealt with on a day to day basis by the Warden. It all seems to be much more sensible now – the Residents put forward reasonable suggestions (on the whole), some of which we can agree to, and seem to feel that they are being listened to. When the suggestions are unreasonable, the other Residents at the meeting tend to make it clear before we do that they are unreasonable. When we go through all the maintenance we have carried out and plan to carry out, it also makes them realise that their site is not the only site and that the Charities are spending a lot of money on making improvements. At the end of almost every meeting now, at least one Resident publicly thanks us for their almshouse which is a step forward. We also make sure that we provide lots of tea and coffee, and special chocolate biscuits which helps enormously! Susie

[Susan Coen]

Hi Adele

Residents also have to inform the Wardens if they plan to be away overnight. If they are away for a week or longer, the Warden goes into the almshouse once a week to check all is as it should be and to run the water.

We used to have a policy that Residents could not be away from their almshouses for more than 28 days in a calendar year without the approval of the Trustees. We increased this to 60 days some years ago as the Trustees felt that Residents should be allowed to travel while they were still able to do so. The Wardens keep a note of absences.

I always explain the reasons for this to new Residents when they sign up.

[Susan Coen]

Hi Lisa

What would you mean by “poor health”? This would have to be made clear. We have a number of residents in poor health. However, they can still manage to live independently with family support/care package. What would you do if you took on someone in reasonable health whose health then became poor?

“Poor and needy” is a difficult one too. There are a lot of people who are not eligible for HB but who cannot afford to live in private accommodation and who need the support of a Warden.

Susan Coen
Salisbury City Almshouse & Welfare Charities

[Susan Coen]

Hi Marion

We are a registered provider so have to send out a questionnaire. We used to send one out annually before it became obligatory, and kept it fairly simple. The one we have to send out now is very lengthy and quite daunting for the residents. I would be happy to send you both if you would like. In addition, we have a Residents Forum two or three times a year. These are attended by me, two Trustees and our Buildings Maintenance Officer, and one representative from each almshouse site. At these we inform the residents of what maintenance etc we are planning to carry out, and they can ask questions, make requests and put forward suggestions. These have a formal agenda and are minuted. It seems to work quite well as the residents do feel that they have a voice. However, we don’t have a Residents Engagement Policy I can share with you as, at the moment, I don’t think we need one.

Susan Coen
Clerk to the Trustees

[Susan Coen]

We have exactly the same problem! The residents don’t feel they need to dress appropriately for the weather and won’t use the additional heaters we offer. (I am top to toe in thermals at home…) I am not sure what policy you could come up with, frankly, which would resolve this issue. Policies are all well and good but don’t cover all eventualities, and most of the time it comes down to basic common sense.

Susie Coen
Salisbury City Almshouse & Welfare Charities

[Susan Coen]

Hi Angela

You might try Appello.

Susie Coen
Salisbury City Almshouse & Welfare Charities

[Susan Coen]

Hi Katherine

I am happy to send ours to you if you let me have your email address.

Susie Coen
Salisbury City Almshouse & Welfare Charities

[Susan Coen]

Dear Bruce
We employed someone to cover for maternity leave. She had a normal contract, but we included the text below:

You are employed for a fixed term which is expected to continue until the return of the employee for whom you are providing cover. This period may be extended upon agreement between both parties. Either party may terminate this employment at any time by giving the notice detailed in this Statement.

Susie
Salisbury City Almshouse & Welfare Charities

[Susan Coen]

Ours are serviced every quarter.

Salisbury City Almshouse & Welfare Charities

[Author]

Posts