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About us

Anchor Staying Put Sefton is dedicated to improving the quality of life for older and vulnerable people by providing advice and assistance with adaptations, improvements and repairs to their properties, that will enable them to remain active, increase their safety and promote their independence within their own homes.

Established in October 1994, the agency in Sefton works in partnership with Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council’s Social Services and Housing Departments.
Offering a wide range of holistic and hands on services, we have assisted thousands of residents of Sefton to remain in their own homes. The services provided are:

Our Core Staying Put Service

We work closely with the Occupational Therapy section of Social Services as well as the Home Improvement Section and the Building Control Department to assist older / disabled people in having essential adaptations carried out on their homes in order to help them carry on living there with greater independence, safety and comfort.

Most of these adaptations were completed using Disabled Facility Grants from Sefton Council.

During 2006/07 our Core Service completed work to the value of nearly £2million and assisted 400 people to carry on living independently in their homes. In 2007/08 we again completed work to the value of £2 million and assisted 266 people.   These results show that the average cost of each adaptation has risen.  Over the year 33 people had decided not to go ahead with the work for various reasons. Unfortunately, some may have died, others may have decided that they didn’t want the inconvenience of having work carried out in their homes and some may have decided to move into sheltered housing or found an alternative housing option that suited them better at that time. Of those that went ahead and had work completed the levels of satisfaction for them was very high.

The type of work carried out ranged from the building of ground floor extensions to house bedroom, shower room facilities etc. The removal of the bath and fitting of level access showers, stairlift installation, ground floor toilet installation, ramps, specialised baths etc. Whilst most people that we assist are of retirement age,during 2006/07 58 of our customers were younger disabled people. However, during 07/08 we assisted 69 people who where younger disabled to have their homes adapted.

Minor Adaptations Service

Providing a speedy service across the whole of the borough and responding to Intermediate Care, Re-enablement, Impact Team etc Our “Man with a Van” carries out a dependable and efficient service and fits adaptations for approximately 600 people each year, furniture may be moved, beds brought downstairs etc, to enable people to have easier access around their home and so be able to return home to recuperate in their own familiar surroundings.

Handyperson Service

Our Handyperson Service now operates across the whole of the borough and can help iolder people or people on relevant benefits or people with disabilities to have small repairs carried out on their home. This type of work, which may be too small for a contractor to be interested in, or may incur a high call out charge, includes:

• Minor plumbing repairs.
• Minor joinery repairs.
• Fitting shelves.
• Fitting curtain rails.
• Cleaning paths.
• Replacing light bulbs.

NB:  We are unable to undertake external work that is above first floor level, mains gas or electrical and jobs that take longer than four hours within the Handyperson Repairs Service.  However, in these cases the core service may be able to assist you further.Our charge for this service is only £10 per hour plus materials.

Crime Prevention

We continue to work closely with the Crime Prevention Officers in Sefton, who identify people who may be vulnerable, to keep our customers safe and secure and to alleviate the fear of crime. By utilising Home Repair Assistance Grants, we have ensured the following work is carried out:

• Five lever mortise locks.
• Window locks and bolts.
• Door chains, burglar alarms.
• Stronger doors and windows.
• Higher walls.

We help our customers to complete application forms, obtain builder’s estimates and check on completion of work to ensure full satisfaction with the job. 

Home Repair Assistance Grants

We work closely with the Housing Improvements Section and the Building Control Department in Sefton Council to administer Home Repair Assistance Grants, which help older, owner occupiers to keep their homes in good repair. Home Repair Assistance Grants are fast tracked grants and used for essential or urgent repairs i.e.: faulty and dangerous electrical wiring, and also adaptations which need to be completed very quickly.

Hospital Discharge Service

Ensuring a timely and rapid response, which means that adaptations are carried out to enable a speedy, efficient and dignified discharge from hospital. This service responds to both Health and Social Services Staff and also reduces duplication of visits for practitioners.

Sefton Disability Resource Centre

The Sefton Disability Resource Centre is a partnership with Anchor Staying Put Sefton, Sefton Equipment Service and the PCT and was launched in November 2007. The overall aim of the Centre is that it will have disabled people at the heart of its decision making.

With over 90 pieces of equipment on display Sefton residents can view and try out a range of equipment from cutlery to stairlifts; beds and bathlifts to riser recliner chairs and will be given independent impartial advice.

Small Aids & Equipment Service

Linking with our Disability Resource Centre is our new Small Aids & Equipment Service. We will help you to complete a self assessment form and can provide small aids & equipment which you may be entitled to have and take home with you free of charge. We can also assess, deliver and demonstrate the items in your own home. If you can’t make it to our Centre in Aintree you may be able to visit our drop in centres throughout Sefton. Contact us for further details.

Signposting

In addition to providing the above services to our customers, the Staying Put staff make referrals to other agencies which may be able to help them. These include:

• Fire Service.
• Warm front.
• Age concern .
• Pension Service.