Gascoigne House
Leeds City Council is developing Extra Care housing to meet the care needs of older people. This specialist housing will:
• Support the health and well-being of older people who wish to live independently
• Provide an alternative to residential care
• Ensure that older people have a wider choice of housing and care options
• Increase the supply of affordable specialist homes for older people
Questions and Answers
1. What is the Gascoigne House Extra Care scheme?
Gascoigne House is a purpose-built scheme for residents age 55+ with care and support needs. Extra Care provides housing care and support in a community that is all under one roof. Individuals and couples with care needs can live independently in their own homes with planned care and 24/7 on site support.
2. What accommodation is available and how much does it cost?
Gascoigne House has 47 x 1 bedroom and 13 x 2 bedroom apartments. The apartments can be adapted to meet individual needs as they change over time. All apartments have an open plan kitchen and lounge, with a large wet room style shower room. The openings and turnings throughout the apartment and building are wheelchair accessible.
2023/24 costs:
• Rent
•Service Charge
• Core Care 24/7 wellbeing charge
Rent
o £149.80 for a one-bedroom apartment per week
o £181.90 for a two-bedroom apartment per week.
Service Charge
£84.39 per week for all residents. This covers Housing Officers on site Monday to Friday to:
o provide housing related support
o deal with tenancy management issues
o ensure building and grounds are looked after
o help facilitate activities
The service charge also includes:
o communal area utility and cleaning costs
o buildings insurance
o external window cleaning
o costs associated with maintaining communal areas
Approximately £59.85 of this charge is housing benefit eligible for those who meet the criteria
Core Care 24/7 wellbeing charge
approximately £50 per week. A care provider will be available on site 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies. You can arrange for the care provider to deliver extra support such as help with personal care or administration of medicine for an additional charge.
• Utilities and other costs
• Each apartment has an individual meter for utilities. Residents will be responsible for household utilities such as Council Tax, water, electric or any telephone or TV packages.
3. Are the apartments furnished?
The apartments are not furnished. Residents can carpet and furnish their home to suit their needs and choice.
All the apartments have a modern, open plan kitchen with vinyl flooring and an electric oven and hob. There is space for a fridge/freezer. Plumbing and electrical points for a washer/dryer are provided.
The wet room style bathroom has a shower and is fitted with special non-slip flooring.
Network points for phone and broadband are in the lounge and main bedroom. Accounts would need to be set up by the resident
Support can be provided to help source furniture if required.
4. What else does Gascoigne House have to offer?
We want residents to feel at home, enjoy their time and the opportunity to socialise with their family and friends.
Our extensive facilities for residents and their guests include:
o A warm and welcoming lounge area which leads directly onto the furnished patio and communal gardens
o A therapy bathing facility for residents
o Communal gardens with raised planting beds and a potting shed for residents who wish to garden
o An ensuite guest room is available for family and friends for a small nightly charge
o A multi-function room for a range of activities or that can be hired for private events such as birthday parties
o A magnificent orangery and roof top garden terrace with far reaching views (for residents and their guests only).
We will support and promote activities that keep residents independent and active along with a feeling of being part of the wider community.
The bistro style café and hair and beauty salon, are open to non-residents too. This enables residents to meet with others in the local community
5. Who can apply to live at Gascoigne House?
To apply, you must meet the criteria below:
• You have housing and care needs usually associated with, but not restricted to, older people
• Leeds is your normal place of residence, or you have a close family association
• You have demonstrable care and support needs and/or housing that is unsuitable to meet your health and social care needs, this may include:
o Age-related frailty
o Physical/mental health issues
o Multiple health problems
o Sensory impairment
o Loneliness and isolation
o Safety and security
o You have a current or predicted need for 24-hour, seven day a week access to emergency and planned support and/or an ability to benefit from this service
o You have an eligible need as assessed by Adult Social Care under the Care Act (2014) and as defined by the national eligibility threshold via a community care assessment that is undertaken by the Adult Social Care team
6. How do I apply for an apartment at Gascoigne House?
You can email our Extra Care Housing Team at Gascoigne.House.Enquiries@leeds.gov.uk. If you already have a social worker, please provide their name when you make an enquiry.
7. How do I get assessed for a place in extra care?
When we receive your enquiry, we will explore your eligibility for Extra Care with you. This will include asking about your current housing and care and support needs. Our team will talk you through the process.
If you are eligible, you will then have an individual assessment with Adult Social Care to determine your level of care and support needs.
If you already have a social worker, you can request that they act on your behalf and send their assessment and referral for Extra Care to: Gascoigne.House.Enquiries@leeds.gov.uk
8. How are the apartments allocated?
A Nominations Panel has been set up to agree allocations to Gascoigne House.
Individual care hours for eligible applicants are discussed at the Panel Meetings. The applicants are allocated into a high, medium, or low care need banding. When an apartment becomes available, an allocation will be made to fit with the care hours available.
9. Support moving into Gascoigne House
Once you have been allocated an apartment our Housing Team will contact you. We will work with you to make sure that all your housing needs are met. This could include a financial assessment to make sure that you are claiming all benefits you are entitled to.
We will also make an appointment with our Occupational Therapist who will assess for any adaptations you may need. We will arrange a meeting on site with you where our team will share our service offer and undertake a viewing of the scheme and its communal areas.
10. Is there a laundry room on site that I can use?
There isn’t a communal laundry on site. Plumbing and electrical sockets are in place in each apartment for you to fit your own washer or washer/dryer.
The Care Provider will have access to an on-site laundry. You may arrange for them to wash your laundry as part of your care package.
11. Is there parking available with my tenancy?
Parking is not a condition of tenancy. Parking spaces are not allocated to an apartment but are available for all residents, visitors, and staff.
There are 24 general parking bays with an additional 6 disabled blue badge holder bays. 4 of the parking bays have access to electric charging points. There is also a designated ambulance bay and pick up points in the car park.
12. I have a mobility scooter is there somewhere to charge it?
There is an accessible scooter room with charging points on the ground floor near to the main entrance. You can rent a scooter charging space in the store for a small annual fee which covers the cost of electricity. Spaces are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.
13. Can my family come and stay with me?
Yes, it is your home, and you are welcome to have family and friends to stay. As an alternative to them staying in your apartment, there is a self-contained guest room that can be booked for a small nightly fee. The room is equipped with two single beds, a seating area, kitchenette, and wet floor shower room.
If you have any other queries, please email our Extra Care Housing Team at Gascoigne.House.Enquiries@leeds.gov.uk or call them on 0113 5350010.