Sheltered housing

What is sheltered housing?

Sheltered housing is accommodation provided for older people aged 60 plus, in self-contained flats with the following benefits to assist an independent life:

  • a Home Support Officer to visit up to once per day

  • a 24hr emergency community alarm system in each flat

  • night time emergencies dealt with by a local Care Centre

  • communal facilities and optional activities

  • guest rooms in some schemes.

If you are interested in residential or nursing home care, please see the Surrey County Council website.

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Who can be considered?

Individuals with a particular medical or social need, age 60 plus who require a higher level of support (e.g. one or more visits a week) to retain their independence.

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Who are the Home Support Officers and what help can they provide?


Home Support Officers provide a support service to tenants of sheltered and supported housing from 8am to 7pm, seven days a week. They will:

  • Complete a support plan with individuals as they take up their tenancy, to ensure their independence is maintained. Support plans are reviewed annually, or more frequently as required.

  • Check on the health and well being of tenants on a regular basis.

  • Access other services for tenants (e.g. District Nurses, GPs and Social Services Home Care packages).

  • Offer short-term support to tenants who are unwell (e.g. provide a hot drink, prepare a snack meal or collect a prescription).

  • Report repairs where someone needs some help to do this.

  • Help in completing forms.

  • Help organise social events at schemes, such as lunches, parties, coffee mornings, quizzes and bingo.

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What services are Home Support Officers not able to provide?

Home Support Officers cannot provide help with the following:

  • Personal care (e.g. help with washing and dressing).

  • Long term assistance, although staff can provide help when people are ill for a short time. Other support, e.g. "Home Care" will be required if more permanent care is required.

  • Lift anyone should they fall.

  • Handle a tenants financial affairs.

  • Administer drugs or medication of any kind.

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Where are the sheltered housing schemes in Woking?


There are 15 schemes covering Byfleet and Woking including:

  • Bridge Court, Horsell

  • Broadway House, Knaphill

  • Stream Close, Byfleet

  • Sutton Avenue, St. John's

  • Vale House, Central Woking

  • Woodlands House, Sheerwater.

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Partially sheltered accommodation

Some accommodation within sheltered schemes is now available to individuals aged 45 plus, with a lower medical or social need, as well as to individuals with higher medical or social needs.

The following supported housing schemes are available:

  • Nightingale Court, St Johns

  • Nottingham Court, St Johns

  • Hartshill Walk, Lakeview

  • Priors Croft, Old Woking

  • Ferney Court, Byfleet

  • Wesco Court, Maybury

Tenants living in any of our schemes may be provided with support at a higher level (sheltered support) or at a lower level (supported) within the same scheme.

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Can I have family and friends to stay?

Yes, we have a number of en-suite guest rooms at some of our sheltered housing schemes that are available to the friends and relatives of anyone living in one of our supported or sheltered housing schemes.

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Contact us

If you require more information about one of these schemes or would like to apply to register for accommodation, please contact Home Support on:

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