We employ community wardens to ensure, as far as possible, the safety and well-being of tenants. The community wardens are trained to help you to live as independently as possible.
They can offer support and advice and act as a liaison to help you access services from other organisations, such as Social Services. Community wardens can also help you with a range of other housing issues, such as repairs and maintenance and tenancy issues. Community wardens are in regular contact with tenants by personal visits.
The Community wardens work Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm, and are on call at other times. At all times, the sheltered housing scheme is covered through Careline's warden call system. Careline will make daily contact with those tenants who are frail or at risk.
Working with sheltered housing residents, the community wardens continuously assess their needs and develop a support plan. This can include financial needs, social needs and so on. It is reviewed at least every six months.
The level of service provided by the community warden and CareLine will depend very much on your individual needs. Currently, there are three levels of service, which are as follows:
Category A - for tenants who are generally fit. Tenants in this category will receive 5 visits every 10 working days, usually 2 visits one week and 3 the next. CareLine will also call you once during the week when the community warden calls twice.
Category B - for tenants who are slightly more frail, who may, for example, be recovering from an illness. Tenants in this category will receive 5 visits every 10 working days, usually 2 visits one week and 3 the next. On the days that the community warden does not visit, CareLine will call.
Category C - for tenants who are very frail, who may for example, be suffering an acute illness. Tenants in this category will receive contact from either the community warden or CareLine, 7 days a week.
All Council employees carry identity cards and are happy to show them. So if someone you do not know calls and claims to be from the Council, you can easily check if they are genuine.
Community wardens are pleased to offer help and advice in any situation - you don't need to wait for an emergency. If they are unable to help you, they will be able to refer you to someone who can.
In an emergency, CareLine will call the relevant emergency service, and ensure that, where appropriate, a community warden will attend to provide reassurance and contact other services or friends and family as necessary. If a tenant's illness means that they have a long stay in hospital, the community warden will liaise with Health, Social Services and family. The community warden will also act as a co-ordinator for other agencies as an advocate for you where necessary.
Any information that you provide to the community warden will be treated with the strictest confidence, and will only be passed on to your GP, family, Social Services or other emergency services, with your agreement.
Please note that Community Wardens do not:
- Give medicines to tenants. A doctor, nurse or relative must do this.
- Pay bills, or deal with any other personal finance for tenants.
- Provide domestic or personal care services, such as preparing meals or assisting with bathing.
» Careline
Contact Details
South Derbyshire District Council
Housing Services
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 0AH
Tel: 01283 225810
Email: careline@south-derbys.gov.uk
page ref: LGSL 1044
