What else?Alternatives to DFG

Lynn Collingbourne

The funding problem

DFG allocation increased by 5.9% in 2011/12

£20 million extra funding from DH January 2012 BUT.....

Reduction in renewal funding from £1.07 billion in 2008/9 to £300 million in 2010/11 and zero from 2011/12

Supporting People funding reducing year on year with no allowance for inflation

Handyperson funding reduced from £20 million in 2010/11 to £13.5 million in 2012/13 (£10.50 million for 2014/15)

RPs increasingly using DFG

Changing needs?

Changing aspirations of the baby boomersLiving longer, healthier livesDesire to continue living in own homes, not institutional settingsPeople over 65 control 80% UK wealthRequire choice and control and a quick solution once decision made

... need to mainstream accessibility!

The right help at the right time:

Centres for Independent LivingDorset and Bristol

Dorset -The ‘structure’

Customer adviser-

facilitator

The healthy

living zoneThe aids

and adaptation

s zone

The safety zone

The transport

zone

The leisure and

connections zone

The financial

and benefits

zone

The meeting

room and consultatio

n room

The skills training

and education

zone

The guest agency’s

zone

The café and hire a café bar

zone

An impression of how the entrance can be modified to create the front of the house. Behind the door will be a kitchen, bedroom, and lounge area. The door can provide a range of experiential learning opportunities.

The main corridor, there is an opportunity to create a street scene here where information can be displayed through shop windows, and a interactive walkway created to provide experiential training in using aids and adaptations for mobility

Outside, there is a garden area which as well as being aesthetically pleasing lends itself ideally for Gardening aids and adaptations, how to enjoy the countryside, active outdoor living etc. Note the perimeter is a mix of decking and paving and can be adjusted to create a mobility, wheelchair training and assessment area

The move-on option

Barriers to moving

Emotional ties with existing homePotential loss of local support networkSeen as a major disruptionDifficulty in identifying suitable homeComplex application process and CBL systemsDifficulty in going to view homes and envisage how they will ‘work’Stress!

Table 1: General Needs Homes let through Devon Home Choice by Accessibility - 1 April 10 - 31 March 2011

Accessibility Need (Applicant)

Accessibility Details (Property)

1. Wheelchair Accessible

2. Part Wheelchair

3. Lifetime home 4. Step free

5. Max of 3 steps 6. General needs Not specified Total (Properties)

1. Wheelchair Accessible 8 2 0 2 0 1 10 23

2. Part Wheelchair 1 3 0 3 0 11 5 23

3. Lifetime home 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3

4. Step free 8 5 3 23 11 68 116 234

5. Maximum of 3 steps 2 4 4 36 59 252 292 649

6. General needs 10 7 18 40 66 1,147 886 2,174

Not specified 0 1 1 0 2 22 96 122

Total (Applicants) 29 22 26 104 138 1,502 1,407 3,228

For example: 5 of the 234 step free homes were let to applicants assessed as having a Part Wheelchair need and 2 of the 29 applicants assessed

as needing Wheelchair Accessible housing were housed in homes with a maximum of 3 steps.

Tenant scrutiny feedback

Better information neededPhotos and floor plans helpfulUse of icons for accessibility featuresExtend void target for accessible homesUse of ‘home coming soon’ featureAlso looked at incentives and support

Bristol project

2010/11 – adaptation costs over £10k – only 2 of 41 rehoused. Savings for the two movers £48k!Rehousing OT appointed Jan 2012 – aim to rehouse at least 10 households requiring expensive adaptations each yearMenu of discretionary incentives available plus practical help provided by OT/OTA and WEC&RBetter joint working between Adaptations/ HCB/Under-occupancy project/Landlord Services/Development teams20 households moved to date!

Launch of new range

IncluduDesigned to make life easier

for everyone

THCP – www.thcp.org

Lynn Collingbourne lynn.collingbourne@thcp.org

07825 828668