A Safe Pair of Hands
Vulnerable adults who are unable to carry out
minor works or repairs within their own home are now able to seek
assistance from a Bedford Borough Council and Anchor Staying Put
initiative named the ‘Handyperson Service’.
The scheme is open to older people, disabled
people, those with learning disabilities and individuals with
physical disabilities. It is focused on improving the quality of
life of vulnerable adults, by providing advice and assistance with
adaptations, improvements and minor repairs to their properties
that will enable them to remain active, safe and independent in
their homes.
In a joint statement, Cllr Nicky Attenborough,
Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, and Cllr Colleen Atkins,
Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, at Bedford Borough
Council, said: “Rather than struggle on alone and risk injury,
people can seek comfort in knowing that a Handyperson Service
representative is just a phone call away. It’s often the small jobs
around the house that bother us for some reason, and knowing that
support is on offer, to fix, mend, and offer advice to sort these
things out, is a tremendous relief to many who have physical
barriers in completing such tasks.”
Prithpal Chander, Manager of Anchor Staying
Put Bedford, said: “I am delighted that we have been given this
opportunity to deliver this much-needed service for the residents
of Bedford. Over the 19 years we have provided our core service we
have received numerous enquiries from residents to fix a tap washer
or put up a curtain rail or shelf. I am pleased that I can finally
say yes to them and organise an appointment. Our aim will be to
deliver a high quality and friendly service so that the vulnerable
can be kept warm, safe and secure in their own homes.”
A small charge of £16 per hour will be levied
on each job that Anchor Staying Put undertakes through the
Handyperson Service. Clients in receipt of an income related
benefit will not be expected to pay the charge, but clients with
the means to do so will be expected to make this contribution to
the service plus the cost of any materials used.
All maintenance staff are accredited, security
checked, and fully insured. Tasks may include, small building
repairs, minor adaptations and odd jobs, including, general home
safety checks security checks with remedial action (installing
locks, chains, spy holes), small home energy efficiency measures
(installing low energy light bulbs, replacing appliances such as
washing machines and dishwashers), fire safety (installation of
smoke alarms, electric blanket checks), and signposting clients to
other services.
The service is available to owner
occupiers and to those who rent from a private landlord council or
housing association. However, the work that can be carried out in
rented homes will be restricted, in that the handyperson will not
do work that is the landlord’s responsibility.
People are able to self refer. Families are
able to make a referral and referrals are also expected to be made
via GP's, Social Workers and Hospitals.
For information on this scheme, or to book a
handyperson, please visit the Anchor Staying Put website:
www.anchor.org.uk (go to ‘Find a Service’, and then click on ‘Home
Maintenance and Improvements’), or alternatively, telephone 01234
852740.