Supported Accommodation
Orkney Islands Council offers a range of supported accommodation in various circumstances. Supported accommodation is often aligned with our homelessness service and is intended to enable a service user to receive support while seeking to address the issue that led to them becoming homeless.
In addition we provide supported accommodation to people with particular needs. This includes sheltered and extra care housing and supported accommodation for people with a high level support need.
There will be appropriately trained care staff on site at all times. This will be appropriate to the type of scheme.
All care staff are subject to the Scottish Social Services Council’s (SSSC) Codes of Practice and have had enhanced Disclosure/Protection of Vulnerable Groups checks. The services are regulated by the Care Inspectorate.
Phoenix House
Phoenix House Women’s Refuge is owned by Orkney Housing Association Ltd and run by Women’s Aid Orkney. It provides safe, temporary accommodation for women and their children (if any) fleeing domestic abuse with support being provided on site.
Phoenix House consists of 4 self-contained flats, one is a fully adapted flat for wheelchair/disabled clients. The facility is intended to provide accommodation for the initial 3 to 6 month period prior to a move into the Council’s emergency accommodation with outreach support available from Women’s Aid Orkney for a period of time if required.
In addition there are four, 3 apartment (2 bedroom) properties which surround Phoenix House, which the Council leases from Orkney Housing Association Ltd for use as move on accommodation from Phoenix House, or for those otherwise fleeing domestic abuse.
Young Person’s Supported Accommodation Projects
From April 2009 two separate young person’s supported accommodation projects have been set up. These are intended to provide homeless young people between the ages of 16 and 25, to acquire the skills they need to sustain a tenancy.
Glaitness Farm House in Kirkwall provides three supported flats with a shared kitchen facility. A support worker will be present on-site throughout the evenings and weekends. They will also provide a sleep-in service.
Our supported accommodation in John Street, Stromness has four separate rooms, one of which is en-suite, and a shared kitchen area. Again support will be provided in an identical manner to that of the Kirkwall facility.
The support is provided by Y People who are trained at dealing with individuals with challenging behaviour.
In some situations young people leaving care may also be placed in the project, although not homeless, they may specifically require to obtain independent living skills. These projects are intended to link into the arrangements in place through the Housing and Young People Leaving Care Protocol.
Sheltered Housing
We provide sheltered housing at two separate locations in Orkney. These are as follows:
- Lambaness, Kirkwall.
- Rae’s Close, Stromness.
Our sheltered housing consists of a group of small (either 1 or 2 apartment), easy to manage properties, grouped together in a scheme with the services of a warden or housing support worker. All properties are provided with a community alarm system for use in emergencies.
Sheltered housing is supplied by a warden service which offers low level housing support including:
- Providing a range of housing management welfare services to tenants including a daily welfare check.
- Providing a care taking service within the sheltered housing scheme.
- Responding to a crisis or emergency outside normal working hours when available.
- Carrying out various administrative duties.
- Any other duties relevant to the provision of a housing support service as required.
Visit the 'Sheltered Housing' page from the 'Related Links' section of this page.
Extra Care Housing
Orkney Islands Council offers extra care housing in St Margaret’s Hope. The facility includes 12 properties which are all linked by an electronic call system which is linked to the core building.
The site includes the core building. In addition six of the properties form part of the core and a further eight sit within a crescent shape behind the facility. Thirteen properties are available for letting. The properties are situated within garden grounds which are maintained by the Council. A service charge is applicable.
The aim is to support tenants to remain as independent as possible in the knowledge that staff are available to provide appropriate care and support.
The level of care and support is broadly equivalent to that available in a residential care setting. In extra care housing, the difference is that tenants continue to enjoy the benefit of holding their own tenancy.
Supported Housing
We provide supported housing for people with learning disabilities in various locations throughout Kirkwall.
In addition some supported housing for people with physical disabilities is provided by Orkney Housing Association Ltd through their project at Queen Sonja Kloss and also in dispersed locations throughout Orkney. We operate a joint working arrangement accordingly.
