Sheltered housing

Sheltered housing is mainly for older people who need different levels of support with their daily living and may also require personal care.

If you think some form of sheltered housing would suit you or someone you care about, email PHR.Enquiries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or phone Housing Needs Advice and Support on 023 9283 4989.

Read our sheltered housing guidance to learn about the support available and how the service works.

Sheltered housing is unfurnished accommodation. Staff visit every resident regularly, and create support plans based on individual needs to enable residents to live independently in their own, self-contained, homes. Support needs are reviewed at least annually and can be more frequent at the resident’s request, or if their circumstances change.

Every property has an alarm call system to summon help in an emergency. Most sheltered accommodation has associated communal lounges and laundry facilities, and can also provide a daily meal, domestic support and an assisted bath or shower if residents need them.

To be eligible for extra care housing, an applicant will need to receive at least four hours personal care per week.

To be eligible for any of the Portsmouth City Council sheltered housing schemes, you will:

• Be a resident of Portsmouth (residents living in PO7 – PO9 areas are also eligible for PCC schemes in Leigh Park, Crookhorn and Wecock Farm)
• Have a defined housing need
• Have support and/or health needs
• Benefit from the sheltered housing services provided
• Be over 55 years of age. Under 55s with support needs may be considered
• Your needs will be assessed by a member of our housing options team for sheltered housing and adult social care for extra care housing

You may be eligible for sheltered housing or extra care housing, according to your age and needs, regardless of whether or not you are a council tenant. We assess applicants, and have a waiting list for suitable properties.

Portsmouth Homes Sheltered and Supported accommodation provides housing-related support to enable residents to live as independently as possible in their own home. The service does not provide personal care, medical care or first aid. However staff will work with or seek advice from other agencies as necessary to support residents to meet these needs if required.

Portsmouth Homes Sheltered and Supported accommodation types

In the Portsmouth area there are around 1500 sheltered accommodation properties, designed or adapted to meet the support needs of elderly or vulnerable people. There are several different property types, mainly one-bedroom flats and bed-sits, some two-bedroom flats and a few bungalows. All properties are linked to a 24-hour alarm system.

The accommodation is divided into three categories depending on facilities available:

Category 1

This is unfurnished accommodation, often in blocks ranging from two to 25 floors high, mainly in Portsmouth City area. Most are close to facilities such as shops, bus routes and post offices. Some, but not all, residents will have support needs. Category 1 housing has the following:

• some properties have communal lounges and laundry facilities
• visitors use an intercom on the front door of the block to contact residents, who have door release buttons in their flats
• generally, one manager per block is on site Monday to Friday, 9-5pm. They also respond to alarm calls if on duty. Otherwise, alarm calls are received at a central hub, which arranges the appropriate response, usually sending someone from the Out of Hours Response Team
• managers arrange regular contact and support, as agreed with the resident.
• staff can provide a range of support tasks, including emergency shopping and collecting prescriptions. In some cases a meal can be arranged (there is a separate charge for this).

Category 2

Is all situated in either Crookhorn, Leigh Park or Wecock Farm. It is unfurnished accommodation for older people with support needs, with the same facilities as category 1, plus:

• pull cord alarm call system in place in all blocks
• all properties have communal lounges and laundry facilities
• not all properties have a private bath or shower, some share facilities
• the manager will be on site Monday to Friday, 9-5pm, but is supported by one or more assistants

Category 2.5

Specifically for older people with higher support needs, mostly in the city, 1 block at Cosham and 1 at Paulsgrove and mostly two to three floors high. They have with the same facilities as category 2, plus:

• all blocks have communal facilities, such as lounge, dining area and laundry room
• flats all have private bathroom. Some offer assisted bath or showers, such as Parker baths and wet rooms
• a manager and support assistants are on site 24 hours a day
• support staff can prepare and provide a heated meal if requested (there is a separate charge for this), domestic support such as cleaning can be arranged.