A consultation seeking views on Knowsley Council’s revised Extra Care Housing Allocations Policy is now underway.
As part of Knowsley’s Adult Social Care Market Position Statement, the Council has pledged to ensure that it develops housing support options which maximise independent living, such as Extra Care, and are focused on meeting the needs and desired outcomes of individuals.
To support the Council to achieve this, and ensure properties are allocated in a fair and transparent way, work has begun to develop the existing Extra Care Allocations Policy.
Knowsley residents and partners are being invited to share their views on the Extra Care Allocation Policy, which details the eligibility and process for applying to Extra Care Housing in the Borough. Respondents will be asked to comment on a draft policy which covers areas such as age, care and financial eligibility.
Cllr Del Arnall, Knowlsey Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Extra Care is fantastic specialist accommodation that enables older residents to continue to live independently while accessing care which is flexible to their needs, and reduces unnecessary demand on domiciliary care and nursing care homes.
“As outlined in The Knowsley Offer, a key priority for the Council is supporting people to maintain and regain independence through personalised approaches to care which actively promote choice and control. This consultation is the first stage of this and provides the opportunity for stakeholders to help us shape policy and ensure it reflects the needs of our residents.”
Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “A key part of the Knowsley House Strategy 2022-2027 is ensuring that we have a wide range of homes to meet the needs of our population.
“Specialist accommodation such as Extra Care is central to that objective and this consultation will help shape how that is managed.”
What is Extra Care?
Extra Care housing is a type of housing, which provides care and support that falls somewhere between traditional sheltered housing and residential care. It combines accommodation with care services to support older people as well as adults of working age with support needs. In Knowsley, there are a range of self-contained, one and two bed spacious apartments and bungalows designed to meet the needs of residents.
There are currently 566 units of Extra Care accommodation across Knowsley, however Knowsley Council are aiming to develop a further 137 units across two schemes which will increase the borough’s Extra Care Provision to 703 units by the end of 2024. The Council will continue to invest in Extra Care housing over the next five years as the preferred option for meeting Knowsley residents housing and care needs.
Have your Say
The consultation was launched on Wednesday 2 August 2023 at 9:00am and will run until 5pm on Wednesday 13 September 2023. The results of the consultation will help shape how places for Extra Care Housing are prioritised within Knowsley.
Anyone wanting take to part in the consultation can do so by taking part in a short survey at: https://forms.office.com/e/tgZTpJk0gj
More information can also be found following the link below:
Should you wish to request a paper copy of the survey to complete, please contact Knowsley Council via email at housing@knowsley.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can telephone our Contact Centre on 0151 443 2333 to request a paper copy.
Further information regarding Extra Care Housing and how to apply can be found at https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/extra-care-housing