Care & Repair

1. Care & Repair Working within the Scheme of Assistance 3rd May 2013 Liz Dickson Private Sector Officer

2. Session Content About SHBVN Overview of the Scheme of Assistance Adaptations Care & Repair within the Schemes of Assistance Discussion

3. About SHBVN • Set up as benchmarking service by local authorities 17 years ago • Owned and controlled by its members • Services offered include • Benchmarking • Practice Exchange Forums • Self assessment and Peer Review • Use of services is free to members • Set up to deal with Housing Management issues

4. Practice Exchange Forums • The forums are practitioner led learning networks and each forum meets at least 4 times per year. Members keep in touch between events through the members’ website and discussion forums. The current forums are: • Asset Management • Homeless & Housing Support • Housing Management • Local Housing Strategy • Private Sector • Service Improvement & Scrutiny • Welfare Reform

5. www.shbvn.org.uk

6. Private Sector Post • Part time post created in 2008 and funded for 3 years by Scottish Government • Support LAs implement the Housing Scotland Act 2006. • Including the introduction of the Scheme of Assistance

7. Private Sector Post • SG extended funding to Dec 2011 • LAs now directly fund the post on an annual basis • Funded secured until March 2014

8. Private Sector Post • Discussion Forum • Practice Exchanges • Consultations • Liaison with Scot Government • Circulating information • Representation on working groups

9. 1 2 3 4 Information on sale of house Tenancy deposits Housing standards Scheme of assistance 10 5 General and supplementary HMO Licensing 9 8 7 6 Rights of entry Repayment charges Mobile homes Miscellaneous Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

10. 2 Scheme of assistance LAs can assist owners with: • Repairs • Improvements • Adaptations & reinstatement (incl. tenants) • Construction or conversion • Sale or purchase of a house • Fire escapes and other fire precaution work

11. 2 Scheme of assistance • Forms of assistance: • Grants • Loans • Practical Assistance • Training, Information & Advice

12. 2 Scheme of assistance • SoA should support housing strategy outcomes for improving private housing conditions and meeting needs on disability adaptations • LAs will have regard to the resources available when developing and reviewing the SoA

13. 2 Scheme of assistance Section 72 Housing (Scotland)Act 2006: A local authority must prepare and make publicly available a statement: • Criteria for provision of assistance types of case & forms of assistance • Approved expense (grant or loan)

14. 2 Scheme of assistance • The 2006 Act removed the obligation on LAs to provide grant assistance when enforcement action taken • LAs had to look at providing other forms of assistance • Most LAs have significantly reduced or completely removed the availability of housing grant for repair and improvement

15. SoA – Approaches of Some LAs to Grants • Mandatory grant for adaptations only • Limited discretionary grant for repair/improvement in mixed tenure estates to help meet SHQS • Limited discretionary grant for repair/improvement in specified priority investment areas only • Minimum value of works to access grants • Grant dependent on failure of specific elements of the Tolerable Standard or disrepair rating

16. SoA – Approaches to Other Forms of Assistance • Specifying and undertaking works within mixed tenure estates (to achieve SHQS) • Information leaflets and web-based advice and information materials • Trusted Trader schemes • Contribution towards professional fees for voluntary common repair projects • Pre-application inspections • Assistance to move • Care & Repair service

17. Where does Care & Repair fit? Advice and Information – to all client groups Procurement of building services incl. planning & project management Adaptations Dealing with client with complex needs Enabling works Assistance to make applications for grant Arranging statutory consents One stop shop Small repairs & handy

18. 32 Schemes of assistance • 37 Care & Repair Services

19. ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO PROPERTY IMPOVEMENTS OLDER OWNER OCCUPIERS • What can the SHCS tell us about the quality, comfort and suitability of the homes of older owners? • What have LAs been doing through their SoA to assist older homeowners maintain their homes? • What issues are confronting LAs? • What more could be done for the benefit of older owners? ◊Newhaven Research

20. Scotland 2010-11

21. SOA spend: % adaptations and C&R (2011-12)

22. Postcode lottery element of SoA funding is compounded by LA policy and practice variations: • Differences in level of spend • Assessment of need (functional V quality of life) • Prioritisation for adaptations (eligibility criteria) • Discretionary funding for extensions & those not eligible for 100% grant • Budget management and creative use of resources • What is being funded (counted) • Timescales • Questions regarding the role and value for money of Care and Repair in some quarters ◊Newhaven Research

23. Suggestions • Nationally and locally revisit strategy for assisting older & disabled people maintain their home in context of reshaping care agenda • Improve performance monitoring to better understand how LA are engaging with the repair & adaptation needs of older & disabled people • Improve understanding of the requirement for repair and adaptation work through Housing Needs and Demand Assessment HNDA • Explore the possibility of greater user charging for care and repair services ◊Newhaven Research

24. Adaptation working group. Established in early 2011 Remit: Consider ways in which the current delivery systems for housing adaptations could be streamlined to improve outcomes and also whether there is a need for fundamental change to the systems for the organisation and funding of adaptations services across all tenures.

25. Membership • Age Scotland • Beild,Hanover and Trust Housing Assocs. • Care and Repair Scotland • College of Occupational Therapist • COSLA • Housing Options Scotland • Joint Improvement team • Scottish Federation of Housing Associations • Scottish Housing Best Value Network

26. Housing Adaptations: Options for Change and Improvement • The consultation ran from 31st May to 27th July 2012 • Allrespondents all were of the view that there were some issues with the current system. • there was majority support for nearly all of the streamlining changes proposed, although most felt that these would not be sufficient to address all of the issues. • Whilst there was a consensus that change was needed, opinions varied with regards to the most appropriate arrangements for organisational and funding responsibility.. • Amongst service users there was most support for the individual option for the delivery of adaptations.

27. Adapting for ChangeFinal report of the adaptations working group- Nov 2012 • Main recommendations of the report: • Strategic leadership from the local authority • Focus on the individual • Single point of access with a lead agency – “one stop shop” • A single funding pot • A broader outcome- focused service; and • Streamlined local partnership working and governance.

28. Can you help? • Are you interested in working with SG in developing and delivering some of the piloting work they are hoping to take forward as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the Adaptations Working Group. Contact: • Jackie Walder on 0131 244 5527 or • Jackie.Walder@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

29. Discussion

30. Is Care & Repair value for money • Increasing your “value for money” • LA’s perception of C&R • Turning the current financial climate an opportunity • Can you put a value on feeling safe, secure and comfortable in your home • Tendering • Charging for services • Other sources of funding - NHS - fundraising • Expanding the client group