Housing
Sheltered Housing
Bron Afon, as landlord for the former Torfaen County Borough Council sheltered housing schemes, has been undertaking a consultation with tenants on the future shape of sheltered housing to become a more need based service. This has involved meetings at all the schemes across the borough, including those in North Torfaen. Meetings were held in November and December 2009 and further meetings will be held in early 2010 as a menu of services and charges is developed.
The use of units at Baker Street House, Kennard Court (both Blaenavon) and at Talywain House (Talywain) for short stay intermediate care support (see Health page) will also inform the review process.
Extra Care Housing
Torfaen is planning for additional extra care facilities in the borough to follow on from the successful launch, in October 2008, of the Ty George Lansbury scheme in Croesyceiliog.
Specific proposals for North Torfaen were submitted for ring fenced Social Housing Grant funding, but no formal confirmation of approval has come from Welsh Assembly Government. Torfaen County Borough Council is checking when SHG funding for Extra Care developments may be authorised and in parallell with this keep a close liaison with local housing associations to look at scope for developing specialist older person's housing.
Extra care housing provides the opportunity for older people to maintain independence with elements of support as they become more vulnerable. Being independent means being able to live in your own property, whether that is leased, rented, part owned or owned, with flexible levels of care and support.
The extra care scheme proposed for North Torfaen potentially uses the Hillside School site - and will provide 'homes for life' as far as possible. They will feature independent units of accommodation, for example, self-contained flats with individual front doors, within a grouped setting, and with on site communal and support facilities including dining room/café, library/IT room, assisted bathroom, laundry, buggy store, etc.
Accommodation will be high quality with a variety of design features to cater for a full range of changing care needs together with a dedicated staff care response team to run and manage the building effectively. The dedicated staff will be able to meet the care and support needs of all residents in a planned and co-coordinated way and care will be based on individual needs including out of hours calls when needed.
For an idea of the facilities that we hope to provide at the North Torfaen development, it is possible to download a copy of the Ty George Lansbury Welcome Pack|.