Irvine Times | News | Abandoned - Sheltered Housing Wardens scrapped

Saturday, 22nd November, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 13th February, 2008 12:35

Abandoned - Sheltered Housing Wardens scrapped

By Kevin Dyson

WORRIED Sheltered Housing residents and their families have blasted a decision to scrap wardens who man the complexes across Irvine and Kilwinning.

The Times spoke to residents of one Irvine complex who were adamant that everyone living in sheltered housing needed the help of the wardens.

This is contrary to the views of the head of North Ayrshire’s Social Services Bernadette Docherty who claims that the decision by the council to end the wardens service will improve the lives of those elderly and disabled in most need.

Around 28 Wardens jobs will be lost across North Ayrshire, with 20 Home Care and Mobile workers replacing the service.

Mrs Docherty told a meeting of North Ayrshire Council’s Executive that a new system would be introduced in place of the warden service which would take into account the needs of individuals rather than provide everyone with the same level of service.

She said: “There are some residents who don’t need social care and only require a wake up call and night time cover.”

Mrs Docherty said that half of the money saved would go back into recruiting the home care workers.

“We are aiming to target the greatest need,” she addded.

However, residents at Cheviot Court in Bourtreehill claim that they all need the security and service that the wardens provide.

Margaret Hobson, 83, said: “They don’t know all the jobs that the wardens do in here.

“An example is when 20 of us had the flu over Christmas. The warden was in checking on us all, making sure we had something to drink and checking our laundry.

“She was brilliant, but we wouldn’t have that with the new service.”

Jean Scoular, 78, added: “What angers me is that they didn’t come and speak to us before they made a decision. No one asked how we felt and now it is going ahead.”

Other residents said that their families were not close at hand and the warden service gave them a sense of safety and security.

Bill Hutchison, another resident said: “If the wardens are taken away and it is decided you don’t get a care worker then this is basically a tenancy.”

A relative of one resident, who asked not to be named, said: “There are so many little things that haven’t been taken into account. They really don’t know what the wardens do here.”

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