ERoSH launches new sheltered housing outcome tool
An innovative and easy-to-use self-assessment questionnaire for sheltered housing tenants has been launched, now making it easier for providers to capture the perceived benefits and outcomes of living in sheltered housing.
Devised by sheltered housing consultant, Imogen Parry, and commissioned by ERoSH and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the questionnaire will also help providers to measure and track the benefits over time, and can also be used by prospective tenants as well as those already living in sheltered housing.
The questionnaire has undergone an extensive consultation process and has been piloted by 100 tenants from eight sheltered housing organisations across the country. The questionnaire asks older people to answer questions on seven themes, which include:
- Quality of life
- Health
- Social networks and involvement
- Skills and hobbies
- Environment
- Dealing with finances and administration
- Cultural and religious needs.
Guidance for providers on the use of the questionnaire is included, along with a spreadsheet so that quantitative data can be generated on individual tenants, schemes and providers, thereby enabling services to be benchmarked.
Speaking about the questionnaire, Imogen Parry said: 'ERoSH and the ODPM have worked closely to produce this new tool, which also has the support of the Audit Commission. Although it is not mandatory, it is positive practice to use it and so we urge all administering authorities to encourage their local sheltered housing providers to use it, in line with the new emphasis on outcomes not process.'
The tool is freely available to Supporting People teams, providers and any interested individuals on the Publications page of this website. ERoSH hopes that many sheltered housing providers will supplement their support planning process with this questionnaire to demonstrate the worth of sheltered housing to commissioners and funders.
