Our definition of a vulnerable person is quite wide - a person is vulnerable “whose ability to live independently is at risk due to an array of circumstances and needs”. We have over 1,500 tenants registered with us as vulnerable.
Tenants have told us about the things that affect them in their day to day living:
- Limited or no hearing
- Limited or no eyesight
- Mobility problems
- Elderly or frail elderly
- Mental Health
- Learning difficulties
- Wheelchair users
How are we helping vulnerable customers?
We provide:
- Flexibility within our repairs services to help some vulnerable customers;
- Additional security e.g. to help victims of antisocial behaviour or hate crime;
- A decoration scheme where two rooms can be decorated for older or disabled tenants;
- A basic adaptations service where items such as grab rails, taps, handles and alarms can be fitted fast and at no cost;
- A Welfare Rights service that can provide financial and budget advice;
- An arrears and advice service to avoid possession and eviction;
- A signposting service to other organisations who can help; and
- A referral service to other organisations who can help.
Some of our customers are disabled (53% of households contain someone with a long term illness or disability) so we:
- Made our offices accessible and up to the standards detailed in the Disability Discrimination Act;
- Provide a home visiting services;
- Provide information in a range of formats such as large print or Braille;
- Provide Browsealoud and information on our website that can be translated into 31 languages;
- Trained 10 of our staff in sign language;
- Provide disabled bays at our events; and
- Provided stair lifts when we refurbished lifts in blocks.
Some customers do not have English as a first language so we:
- Provide translation services;
- Produced a DVD with subtitles and translated into 7 community languages;
- Translate letters;
- Contacted all customers who told us they need translation to alert them to English for Speakers of Other Languages courses available; and
- Introduced fold up translation and interpreting cards.
We have a diverse community we serve so we:
- Trained staff and Board Members (contractors to follow) in Equality and Diversity;
- Introduced ‘Involving Everyone’ Training for Resident Representatives and Board Members;
- Commenced a programme of engaging Community Groups;
- Increased our involvement of younger customers; and
- Mapped out where groups are concentrated so we could target specific awareness campaigns.
The Safeguarding Agenda
Safeguarding means supporting and looking after vulnerable people (adults and children). The Council has a responsibility for all residents in the Borough of Lewisham and they have a statutory duty to put in place mechanisms to identify and deal with risk.
Lewisham Homes is supporting the Council by reporting any concerns of suspected child and adult neglect and abuse. This might involve children living in unhygienic or dangerous conditions or other indicators of neglect such as being unkempt, severely underweight, or found at home or left at home to deal with contractors.
For Safeguarding issues Lewisham Council should be contacted direct:
For children - Referral and Assessment (Children’s) service
Telephone: 020 8314 6294
Address: 4th Floor, Laurence House, Catford, SE6 4RU
For Adults - Adult Social Care Advice and Information Team (SCAIT)
Telephone: 020 8314 7777
Address: 4th Floor, Laurence House, Catford, SE6 4RU
Lewisham Homes contact on Safeguarding:
Service Development Team
Telephone: 0208 613 7670
Address: Lewisham Homes, 9 Holbeach Road, Catford, London SE6 4TW
