[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Marion

Like Susie, we do not have a Resident Engagement Policy.

However, we do similarly run a survey, now biennial – similarly we had one before the standardised one came out and used to get far more useful information from it but as a registered provider the regulator is very strict about content and managing the form now and many residents have little to say.

Our trustees hold a tea and chat every few months – an informal opportunity for residents to raise any issues with our trustees.. We’ve started incorporating this into other events eg Easter Party, Christmas party plus we have an annual minuted meeting with residents that is more formal information giving session and an opportunity for questions from residents.

We’ve had a suggestions box for a few years but nobody has ever put anything in it!

Residents can also contact staff or trustees at any time if they have a query to discuss.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Charlie

We’ve had the same experience as Nick.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Adele

Our handbook states:

Absence: Residents must live in the almshouse as their permanent residence and not be absent from the dwelling for more than 28 consecutive days in any year without the prior consent of the Charity.
Residents should complete an Overnight Absence Form, copies of which are available from the Warden or the Office, whenever they plan to be absent overnight, in order that all Residents may be accounted for in case of emergency.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Jo

Our resident handbook states:
‘The Warden will not provide personal care herself, or fetch shopping or prescriptions except in emergencies: However, she will advise on how you can get the help you need elsewhere’.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Jacqui

I suggest you check with an HR professional about the on-call element. There is also info available on the government website and ACAS too.

If someone is on-call there are strict regulations about payment etc so do check you are within the law.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Simon

Our criteria state that beneficiaries must be in ‘financial hardship’.

In practice, we ask at registration stage if applicants have over £25k in savings..
Our full application form (when here is a vacancy to fill) asks for full income information.
We ask to see bank/account statements as part of our supporting evidence checks.

In practice, very few of our applicants have over £25k and if so the trustees consider how much over, whether the resident could afford to buy / rent a property locally etc.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Julian

Our target rent was set several years ago but we recently applied to the Variations office for a Social Rent equivalent, due to one of our sites being redeveloped.

You need to be careful in your situation f you are a registered provider as there are strict rules regarding ‘rent’ increases.
See AA news for recent news about rules re increasing ‘rent’ for residents who are not yet on target rent (if a registered provider).

Another thing you could do is talk to your local Housing Benefit team lead. I recommend cultivating a good relationship with them. I had a meeting with ours when I first arrived in post years ago and she recommended increasing how much we charge residents towards staffing costs by 10% each year within our service charges. Next year residents will be paying 100% for staff costs.

Each year I send her the increases for any comments and once approved by our Board, send all contribution amounts so the benefits team can update our residents’ benefit amounts easily and quickly.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Debbie

I’ll send ours too.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

I’ll send the link to ours to Hilary and Cherry.
All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Nicola

We have a financial question within our annual review of residents wellbeing etc

Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Jane

Our trustees took the decision to remove our obsolete Chubb system last year from our 26 flats, following resident consultation and research on alternative options.

We now have an assessment process in place to identify whether we think a resident needs to pay for their own personal alarm, in order to maintain their independence. This is based on various factors – health, mobility etc.

Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi Virginia and Mandy.

We have working groups of trustees that meet quarterly before our Board meeting. You can find the terms of reference on our website here:
https://www.dorchesteralmshouses.co.uk/public+policies

Management Team deal with staffing, general policies and anything not covered by our Property and Welfare working groups.

Good luck!
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[Vanessa Gottesman]

PS – our fire system was upgraded a couple of years ago and we are having a new digital autodialler fitted via out fire contractor, to enable the system to work with a digital phone line.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Lisa

We were going to upgrade our system as it was obsolete but the trustees decided to removed our careline as very few of our residents used it.
We now use an assessment process to identify which residents require a system to help them maintain their independence. This is written into the rules and regs and if residents do not take action when this is identified as necessary, it would impact their licence with us. Residents are expected to pay for their own system but we can help them with information etc.

It was a tricky transition but a year on, there are no regrets.

All the best
Vanessa

[Vanessa Gottesman]

Hi lwinrow

We provide a fridge and freezer or fridge/freezer (depending on which is best for the kitchen layout), if required, and these are PAT tested each year.
As flats are being refurbished or this becomes necessary for individual residents, , a hob and eye-level oven are installed to replace old cookers – no PAT testing necessary as these are ‘fixed’ appliances.
A gap is left for resident’s own washing machines and we have a communal dryer in our communal room toilet, which is well used.
We have a dehumidifier available for resident’s use if damp is identified in a flat but only used once.
Our insurance covers charity items but we recommend residents have their own contents insurance to cover their own items.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

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