In this edition of Meet the team, we speak with Denise Brend, Head of Housing, who shares an inside look at the work of the Extra Care Team — what they do, how they do it, and why it matters. 

What is Extra Care and where is it based? 

Our Extra Care housing schemes are available exclusively to people aged 55 and over. They offer high quality homes and communal facilities, designed to help residents maintain their independence.  

To be eligible to live in an Extra Care housing scheme residents must be assessed as having a minimum personal care and/or support need of 3.5 hours a week, although they are free to choose how these needs are met. These schemes are not registered care homes. All residents have their own self-contained one- or two-bedroom apartment, which they rent from TCH. We have four Extra Care schemes around Kent:  

• Lawson House, Larkfield 

• Rosewell House, Tonbridge 

• Meadow View Court, Wateringbury 

• Watling Court, Gravesend 

We also have Independent Living Schemes for over 55s who do not need that personal support element. You can  meet the Independent Living team in this article.  

How many people usually live at an Extra Care scheme? 

Each scheme varies in size, with between 51 and 74 apartments. All include full communal facilities and an on-site restaurant. 

How many staff work at an Extra Care scheme, and what do they do? 

Each scheme has a Housing Officer supported by Housing Support Workers (HSWs). Depending on the size of the scheme, there are between six and eight HSWs.  

What does a typical day look like for your team and the residents? 

A usual day starts with a daily welfare check for every resident, unless they’ve opted out. Our team also reports any necessary repairs, coordinates cleaning staff and contractors, and manages the weekly visits from our on-site Handyman. 

What kinds of events or activities do you organise for residents? 

At each of the schemes, there are a range of activities that are put on by staff or organised by residents. We ask the residents directly — usually through surveys — to find out what they’d enjoy. These can include activities as diverse as Bingo, Curling, Arts and Craft, Film or quiz night, and Coffee cake and chat sessions.

What other TCH services can residents access, for example, money support? 

Residents can access a range of support through TCH, including Money Support, Income Team, Service Charge Team, and Antisocial Behaviour ASB team. 

How can someone move into an Extra Care setting – what’s the process? 

We take our nominations from the Local Authority, so you can register and bid through Kent Homechoice. At Lawson House, we also have 20 apartments specifically for veterans, and a separate waiting list for those.