NPT Homes Launches Bridge, Its New Older Person Service

NPT Homes has launched Bridge, a new support service for residents over the age of 55.

NPT Homes has worked alongside its tenants to review the support it provides and together agreed how the new service will operate.

With support from social housing expert Keith Edwards, NPT Homes held a series of consultation events to collect the views of tenants and to ask for help in shaping the new service. The partnership was also supported by Mike Wiseman, a Welsh Tenant Advisory Panel member, who reports to the Regulatory Board Wales.

After a year of research, engagement and strategic planning, NPT Homes’ new support service Bridge was born. The new service will continue to support those who need it and will be funded by Welsh Governments’ Supporting People Grant. Support Officer roles have been created and filled by employees who would have previously been affected by the reduction in funding.

As part of the review, tenants also explored the name ‘sheltered housing’ and residents said it didn’t truly reflect the people living in the accommodation. Therefore, tenants voted on a new name for NPT Homes’ older person’s accommodation and Haven Housing came top of the poll.

NPT Homes’ Head of Specialist Services, Clare Way, said:
“This has been the biggest partnership review we have carried out regarding the support and service we provide for our older residents.

We took the opportunity to work together with tenants to identify the needs, expectations and opportunities a new service would bring.

This was a real partnership between landlord and tenant and together we have agreed a new support model and service for older residents which is tailored, targeted and affordable under our Supporting People Grant Funding allocation.”

Tenant, Judith Lovering, said:
“NPT Homes was very brave to undertake this review as it makes them different from everybody else.

NPT Homes has taken on a new outlook and instead of just telling us what we are having they asked us what we need and what we would like to have.

It was a privilege to be involved in the review. I was able to help make where I live a better place.”