Lib Dem councillors have called on Haringey Council to urgently fill vacant scheme manager positions at a number of Sheltered Housing Schemes across the borough, following revelations that five full-time managers have been moved to become part of a new specialist team in Housing in preparation for the ALMO starting in April.

Lib Dem Muswell Hill ward Councillor Gail Engert was initially alerted earlier this month when she heard that a local resident was enquiring why the scheme manager at The Priory, Priory Road N8, had left and there was no replacement.

Cllr Engert immediately contacted the Council to look into what was happening.

Meanwhile, she visited Cranley Dene Court, another Sheltered Housing Scheme, in Muswell Hill where she found that their full-time scheme manager had also left to join Housing. She heard from some of the elderly residents that they were very concerned that they no longer had a manager and were ‘worried and frightened’ about what would happen in the future. They also told her that all they were now being provided with was a short morning visit by an area relief manager and emergency cords in the properties.

Tenants claim that they are not being kept informed of plans and felt that their fees for the scheme includes provision of a full-time manager. Cllr Engert was also told that in all five full-time managers had been moved, four from schemes in the west of the borough and one from the east, and this was causing alarm among current tenants.

Haringey Council has confirmed that five managers have been moved. The Council have also assured Cllr Engert that all residents were informed of these changes and that it will make little difference to the service provision. However Cllr Engert and Social Services spokesperson Cllr Wayne Hoban, say that correspondence and meetings with the residents affected tell a very different story and they want full-time managers re-instated immediately.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“Residents I have spoken to feel vulnerable without an onsite manager and have claimed they were not adequately informed about the changes or what will happen in the future. I along with my Lib Dem colleagues will be pressing for an urgent solution to this very unsatisfactory situation.”

Cllr Hoban (Alexandra) adds:

“Social Services continue to make great claims about their improvements, but this situation once again raises questions about the Council’s ability to consult with and provide a satisfactory level of service for a vulnerable section of our community.”