ABSTRACT
The presence of a resident warden is one of the major distinguishing characteristics of sheltered housing. For many years the role of the warden was seen as that of a ‘good neighbour’. The debate about the role and qualities required by the warden has to some extent been conducted in the dark. The question that is posed concerning the issue of an ageing dependent tenant population is the extent to which the warden should be involved in social and welfare duties. Some of the wardens we met appeared to be highly critical of their conditions of service and one or two employers had begun to express fears about rising turnover and the difficulty of replacing staff. There appears to be little agreement amongst employers and commentators as to what experience and qualifications are of importance to a warden. The range of personal qualities required is matched by the division of opinion surrounding the question of children.
