[Vanessa Gottesman]

You can access ours in the policy section of or website: http://www.dorchesteralmshouses.co.uk

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[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 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 David

I am General Manager and Clerk to the Trustees, which surely gets the prize for the longest title out there!

Our paperwork is being updated this year so not worth sharing ours with you at this time.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

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