Abbeyfield & Wesley is a housing association and charity which provides a range of high quality housing options for older people – independent living in sheltered housing with scheme supervisors; supported sheltered housing which has higher staffing levels and provision of meals; and residential care which is staffed 24 hours a day.

Abbeyfield & Wesley was formed in 2013 following the merger of Abbeyfield UK (NI) and Wesley Housing Association, two organisations which each had over 55 years of providing accommodation and services to older people.

Abbeyfield & Wesley believe that:

  • Older people have an important role to play amongst their families, friends, and in their community.
  • Overcoming loneliness and insecurity can make all the difference to an older person’s wellbeing and quality of life.
  • Local people have an essential part to play in helping older people in their community.

Supported Sheltered Housing

Supported sheltered housing provides a housing option for those older people who require more support and housing management than is provided by traditional sheltered schemes, but for whom residential/nursing care would provide an inappropriate level of care. Although personal care is not provided in supported sheltered houses, residents can receive care from outside agencies as they would in any domiciliary setting.

A typical house offers:

  • Independence with security

Residents have their own door keys and can come and go as they please, but also have the support and security provided by staff, the helpline and personal door entry system.

  • Privacy

Residents have their own private bed-sitting room which they furnish themselves.

  • Home-cooked meals

Meals are freshly prepared by staff and residents enjoy the companionship of eating together at mealtimes.

  • Support

Residents no longer have to worry about shopping, cooking or the maintenance of a house and garden. Staff provide a range of support in addition to provision of meals, including contacting doctors, healthcare professionals, hairdressers, transport services, etc; reminding residents about aspects of daily living such as mealtimes, getting ready for appointments, how to use the door entry system, etc; encouraging residents to take part in activities and retain a link with the local community.

In Northern Ireland, Abbeyfield & Wesley operates the following supported sheltered houses:

Area

/ House Location / Number of resident places
Causeway / 30 Quay Road, Ballycastle
130-132 Ballymoney Road, Ballymena
1 Trinity Drive, Ballymoney
8 Lever Road, Portstewart / 8
10
8
10
East Antrim / 74 Doagh Road, Ballyclare
10 Model Avenue, Carrickfergus
21-23 Glassillan Grove, Greenisland
1A Merville Garden Village, Newtownabbey / 7
7
10
10
North Down / 63 Ballyholme Road, Bangor
30 Bloomfield Road, Bangor
2A Ward Avenue, Bangor
43 Church Road, Holywood / 8
8
10
9
Ards / 1 Barnagh Close, Donaghadee
9-11 The Parade, Donaghadee
156 Greenwell Street, Newtownards / 8
10
7
Southern / Scarva Street, Banbridge
98 Sloan Street, Lurgan / 7
10
Downpatrick / 51A Market Street, Downpatrick / 10

Other housing provided by Abbeyfield & Wesley

There are 4 sheltered housing schemes, two in East Belfast, one in Newtownabbey and one in Carrickfergus, providing 95 flats and bungalows. Nine general needs flats and bungalows designed for older people. Palmerston, a Residential/EMI care home has 20 beds for elderly people with dementia and 18 beds for frail elderly people.

General Information

Central Office,2 Wesley Court, Carrickfergus, BT38 8HS

Telephone number: 02893 363558

Email Address:

An approved charity with Inland Revenue number XN60438

Registered housing association with DSD No 46

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR APPLICANTS

Please use these notes to assist you in completing your application.

  • Do not enclose CVs.
  • All sections should be completed in black ink and capitals or typescript.
  • Put your name on any additional sheets of paper and indicate to which section of the application form they refer.
  • Incomplete applications will be rejected.
  • Use the Job Description and Personal Specification for applicants to assist you in assessing if you meet the criteria for this post. Criteria may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.
  • Shortlisting can only be undertaken on the basis of the information provided.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Abbeyfield & Wesley is an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. The information requested in this form is to enable us to obtain a rounded picture of you. Personal information will not of itself be used to disqualify your application. We aim to provide equality of opportunity to all persons regardless of their religious belief; political opinion; sex; race; age; sexual orientation; or, whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo gender reassignment.

MONITORING

Please return the Monitoring Form in the specific envelope.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS (POCVA)

All information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.

This post involves substantial access to vulnerable adults, therefore, as part of the selection process, Abbeyfield & Wesley requires an Enhanced Disclosure Check to be carried out through Access Northern Ireland. Following interview, the preferred candidate will be offered the post subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Check. This will include verification of identity, and a report on the preferred candidate’s full criminal history (including spent and unspent convictions), cautions, disqualifications from regulated or care positions, and any other material considered by the police to be relevant to the position applied for. (Further information is available on