The Sheltered Housing Officer Service
Sheltered housing officers (SHOs) are practical and understanding people who are familiar with the problems faced by the elderly. The SHOs, together with the Lambeth community alarm services, provide a 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, service. All staff members are trained in first aid, and can call tenants' relatives, doctors or other professional help when needed.
The SHO's duties
The SHO checks each tenant daily - Monday to Friday - to make sure that sheltered tenants are all right. We expect sheltered tenants to co-operate with the SHO by accepting the daily calls. If tenants go away from their property, they must tell the SHO or Lambeth community alarm services' staff.
SHOs live in the sheltered scheme or nearby and work Monday to Friday. They get to know the tenants living on their sheltered scheme. The SHO's first duty is to help and encourage elderly tenants to lead independent lives.
Keeping confidential records about each sheltered tenant
So that we can contact relatives in an emergency. This information is important. Such information includes contact addresses and phone numbers (for example, doctor, next of kin, friends and relatives).
These records may also have information about any medical problem a tenant has. This information could be vital in an emergency. Sheltered tenants must tell the SHO or Lambeth community alarm services about any changes of information.
Providing advise on day-to-day problems
The SHO is trained to advise on day-to-day problems sheltered tenants have. They can give information about services that the tenant could get: for example, home care, meals on wheels, welfare benefits.
Sheltered tenants are encouraged to help each other with everyday tasks as good neighbours. SHOs are not responsible for looking after sheltered tenants' valuables or money.
Encouraging tenants to take part in social activities
The activities may be arranged by the SHO or by the tenants themselves. No sheltered tenant is forced to take part, the choice is theirs.
Personal problems or general enquiries
If sheltered tenants have personal problems or general enquiries, and have no close friends or family who can help, very often the SHO can point them in the right direction. You can speak to the SHO in confidence. If the SHO thinks the problem is something they can't deal with, they will make sure that the right person or department are contacted.
The sheltered housing officer can:
- Be with you quickly in an emergency.
- Offer first aid and get medical help.
- Offer a sympathetic and listening ear.
- Help organise social events.
- Help tenants to find help to deal with any problem they have.
What sheltered housing officers do not do
- Act as a nurse.
- Give domestic help (except in an emergency)
- Take responsibility for your valuables, money or your personal finances.
SHOs are not there to act as nurses or to do cleaning, shopping or collecting pensions for tenants. If a tenant needs this help, we expect relatives and friends to help them. Social Services may be able to help if the tenant does not have this support available.
SHOs are not on duty 24 hours a day, but they may be available for call out in an emergency. Sheltered tenants must respect the privacy of SHOs (and of the SHO's family) when they are not on duty. If it is not an emergency, then it should wait until the SHO comes back on duty. If it is an emergency, sheltered tenants should pull their emergency cord and ask the emergency response centre to help them.