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NEWS AND POLICY UPDATE:

Autumn 2010

Information for the providers and commissioners of housing related services for older and disabled people

HOUSING
  • THE COALITION’S PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT: MAKING A LINK TO HOUSING RELATED SERVICES
    Whilst there are no specific commitments in the housing section of the coalition government’s published statement of planned actions concerning older people, in the NHS section there is the following statement: “We will help elderly people live at home for longer through solutions such as home adaptations and community support programmes’. In a letter to Care & Repair England, the housing minister, Grant Shapps, said that, ‘Helping older people to live independently is a priority for the Government’. programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk/nhs/

  • NEW NATIONAL ALLIANCE LAUNCHES ‘THE BIG ISSUE: HOUSING & AGEING’
    The newly launched Housing and Ageing Alliance has called upon the government to grasp the opportunity to make better use of housing money in order to cut health and social care costs. In ‘The Big Issue: Housing and Ageing’, the group sets out 12 ideas for Smarter Spending on housing in an ageing society. It argues that at a time of unprecedented demographic change, enabling older people to live independently in their own homes for longer has never been more important and that housing is key to this. www.careandrepair-england.org.uk/pdf/haab.pdf

  • GOOD HOMES IN WHICH TO GROW OLD? LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUP REPORT
    Adaptations, home improvement agencies and handyperson services all get a positive mention in this useful report aimed at local authorities. It recognises the key role of housing in an ageing society, identifies how housing can contribute to better outcomes for older people and result in greater efficiencies noting that ‘addressing the housing needs of older people can substantially reduce the demand for, and cost of, health and social care.’. The report also considers how central and local government can work together to devolve & rationalise the housing & planning framework. www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/12294343

  • NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF OLDER PEOPLE LIVING IN FEAR OF GOVERNMENT CUTS
    An ICM poll for Anchor found 70% of those aged 65yrs+ thought that older people would suffer the worst effects of public spending cuts and 69% thought that councils would slash funding to personal care. The question mark over security of tenure in social housing, housing benefit reductions, and speculation about the future of the Winter Fuel Allowance and Travel passes, are adding to older people’s worries. www.anchor.org.uk/ATDocuments/Putting%20Older%20People%27s%20Issues%20Back%20on%20the%20Agenda.pdf

  • ARE LOCAL AUTHORITIES PLANNING HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR AN AGEING POPULATION?
    The Department of Health and the National Housing Federation are currently surveying all local authorities to build a national picture of the level of service planning concerning older people and housing. Deadline: 15 October 2010 www.surveymonkey.com/s/olderpeoplestrategy

  • NATIONAL CONSORTIUM: PUTTING THE CASE TO GOVERNMENT FOR HELP WITH HOME ADAPTATIONS
    The national Home Adaptations Consortium has called upon the government to make a commitment to continue funding home adaptations for disabled people. The group is arguing that home adaptations are critical to a wide range of government policies. It has published its response to the nine questions posed by the Treasury in the run up to the Comprehensive Spending Review. www.careandrepair-england.org.uk/pdf/hafdp.pdf

  • OMBUDSMAN SLATES COUNCIL FOR REFUSING DFG BECAUSE OF LACK OF HOUSE INSURANCE
    Blaby District Council failed to consider all the circumstances when refusing an application for a disabled facilities grant (DFG), the local Government Ombudsman has concluded, adding that by their actions the council had “..condemned [Mrs F] to inadequate and degrading washing and bathing”. The council refused a DFG for the bathing adaptations that they had assessed as being ‘necessary and appropriate’ for a person with multiple health problems solely on the grounds that the couple did not have house insurance. www.lgo.org.uk/news/2010/sep/blaby-council-criticised-disabled-facilities-grant/

  • UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF THE ENGLISH HOUSING SURVEY
    For nearly 50 years government has systematically collected information about the housing situations of its citizens. Since the 1960s the English House Conditions Survey has been the major source of information, tracking the changes to stock condition. Data from this source was one of the major drivers for growth of home improvement agencies. In 2008 the EHCS and the Survey of English Housing merged to create the English Housing Survey. The cost of this survey is now considered too great and ways of significantly reducing costs are being examined, including reducing the sample size. The Place Survey, Comprehensive Area Assessment and even the 200 year old National Census have all been scrapped.

  • HOME-OWNERSHIP: TIME TO RETHINK PUBLIC POLICY?
    As well as reviewing security of tenure, reducing housing benefit and financial support for home owners, the government is reported to be rethinking the ‘Right to Buy’. The role of the state with regard to housing is clearly in the melting pot. Three recent reports from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (Public Attitudes to Housing, Home Ownership and the Distribution of Personal Wealth, Shared Ownership and Shared Equity www.jrf.org.uk/work/workarea/housing-market-task-force) are useful contributions to this debate.

  • HOME OWNERSHIP STILL THE TENURE OF CHOICE FOR 85% OF ADULTS
    Even though the level of home ownership is falling, it remains by far the tenure of aspiration. A new Council of Mortgage Lenders survey found that 85% of adults wish to be home owners in 10 years time. CML are calling on Government to rethink their related policies. www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/2708 .

  • ‘SIMPLER AND BETTER’ HOUSING DESIGN IN EVERYONE’S INTEREST
    Why can’t homes be better? This report from CABE, the body set up to improve the design quality of buildings and places, calls for replacement of the current confusing system with a single clear set of minimum housing standards for all new homes. It challenges everyone in the sector to ‘do more with less’ rather than do less and to use the current crisis as an opportunity to bring about longer term improvements. www.cabe.org.uk/files/simpler-and-better.pdf

  • ‘LIGHTING FOR SIGHT’ SERVICE LAUNCHED BY THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST
    Thomas Pocklington Trust has launched a consultancy service to improve domestic lighting. Engineers will work with experts in sight loss to offer consultations to social landlords and others in related professions. The service includes interviews with householders, appraisals of current lighting, practical recommendations, technical information and follow-up support. www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/news/news/news_channels/
    research/lightingconsultancy

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE NEWS

  • NHS REFORM: HEALTH WHITE PAPER IMPLICATIONS
    Strengthen links with GPs is probably the key message for housing, care and support providers arising from the plans for the future of the NHS (‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’). PCTs and health authorities will be scrapped; GP practices will hold the majority of health funding and be responsible for commissioning most health provision. Local councils will take on public health functions, possibly through new ‘health and well-being boards’ and be responsible for the integration of health and social care. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance
    /DH_117353

  • RAISING THE THRESHOLD: ANTICIPATED SHIFT TO ‘CRITICAL’ ONLY FOR SOCIAL CARE
    By next year 80% of councils expect to only help adults whose care needs are assessed as critical and substantial, with a growing number looking at the possibility of helping critical cases only. A special feature in Community Care compares this with 53% of councils helping those with moderate needs in 2006. www.communitycare.co.uk

  • LATEST CARE FUNDING COMMISSION – ‘KEEPING AN OPEN MIND’
    Andrew Dilnot, media commentator, Oxford academic, and the chair of the new Commission on the Funding of Care and Support, has said that he is open minded about the future system. The Commission has been tasked to report within a year. carecommission.dh.gov.uk/

  • 8 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND CARE OPTIONS IN OLDER AGE
    A survey by Counsel and Care has revealed severe misunderstandings of the care system for older people. 74% of people were unsure of the level of care that they, an older friend or relative are entitled to. Perhaps more worrying was the finding that 69% believed their council would help them if they had physical difficulties and only 5% had made provision for their future care. www.counselandcare.org.uk/category/news-category/pdf/exclusive-research-reveals-widespread-confusion-over-care-for-older-people

  • ADASS REPORT ‘PERSONALISATION – WHAT’S HOUSING GOT TO DO WITH IT?’
    The shift from block commissioning to individual purchasing is resulting in uncertainty for housing service providers. This report from ADASS considers the challenges and offers practical guidance to housing, care and support providers about reorganising their services. www.adass.org.uk/images/stories/Policy Networks/Housing Brochure.pdf

  • ADAPTATIONS, HANDYPERSON AND HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES INCLUDED IN THE ‘TOP 10 HIGH IMPACT’ OLDER PEOPLE’S SERVICES
    Birmingham University’s well respected Health Services Management Centre has published a ‘Billion Dollar Question’ report about the top 10 high impact changes that are critical to embedding prevention into older people’s services. Low level, practical housing help measures – repairs, adaptations, safety & security and advice on housing options – are cited as one of the Top 10 preventative measures. www.hsmc.bham.ac.uk/publications/policy-papers/index.shtml

  • TWO NEW BROCHURES FROM FIRSTSTOP: EQUITY RELEASE AND CHOOSING AND PAYING FOR CARE
    A comprehensive introduction to choosing, living in and funding a care home place, plus a guide explaining what 'equity release means, and offering suggestions about selecting the best type of plan, have been published by the national independent advice service, FirstStop, in a similar style to their earlier Housing and Care Options for Older People. Available free from: www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/news/item-firststop-expands-range-of-free-publications-37ec0.aspx .

MONEY
  • HOUSING BENEFIT REFORM
    The Government has set out plans to limit housing benefit according to the number of rooms/ householders and reduce benefit to 90% of the initial award after 12 months for claimants receiving Job Seekers Allowance. Local Housing Allowance will be set on the 30th percentile of local rents and with an absolute upper limit. The latter changes will have a major impact in high rent areas, such as London and the South East, and have fuelled fears about rising rent arrears and evictions. www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Budget/Budget2010/DG_188506

  • SUPPORT FOR MORTGAGE INTEREST FOR BENEFIT RECIPIENTS TO BE REDUCED
    From 1 October 2010 the standard interest rate used to calculate Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) payments will be set at (and then track) the Bank of England’s monthly Average Mortgage Rate – currently 3.63%. SMI benefit has been fixed at 6.08% since January 2009. This change will leave some benefit recipients with a significant shortfall. www.disabilityalliance.org/emergency.htm

  • ENABLING DISABLED PEOPLE TO ACCESS MORTGAGES – PROBLEMS AHEAD?
    The pioneering initiative, MySafeHome, which has worked with mortgage providers to break new ground in enabling disabled people in receipt of welfare benefits to become home owners, is concerned that the reduction to the interest rate that DWP will pay benefit recipients (SMI - above) puts the future of the initiative at risk. www.mysafehome.info/

  • CARERS NEED CREDITS: SCHEME TO BUILD UP CARER’S NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS
    A quarter of a million people caring for an ill or disabled friend or relative could be missing out on a top up that protects their basic and second State Pensions in later life. If a person is providing 20+hrs per week of unpaid care (and not claiming Carer’s Allowance) they can apply for ‘Carer’s Credit’ through which they would be awarded credits to their National Insurance record. The Government & Carers UK are calling for people to help identify hidden carers and encourage more people to ensure they are claiming all they are entitled to. www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/News/
    250000carersmissingoutonpensionprotection

  • INCOME TAX CONFUSION – UNDERPAID? OVERPAID?
    HM Revenue and Customs is sending out letters to people who have paid the wrong amount of tax since 2008. Over the past 2 years, around £2bn has been underpaid, with around 1.4m taxpayers owing an average of £1,400 each. However, £1.8bn has been overpaid, so 4.3m people are due a rebate. Following public outcry the government announced that if the tax owed is less than £300 it will be written off. If people receive letters about their tax and are worried about what they should do, useful information is available from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group. www.litrg.org.uk/news/index.cfm?id=806

  • HACT GOLDEN JUBILEE PROJECTS COMPETITION: DEADLINE 4TH OCTOBER
    Hact is making funding and support available for projects that could make a difference to vulnerable and marginalised people. Selected projects will receive an initial grant of up to £5,000 to enable them to finalise their project proposal and support to secure further funds from charitable foundations. http://hact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/HACT-Golden-Jubilee-Projects-INFORMATION-PACK.pdf

  • BIG LOTTERY YOUTH PROGRAMME LAUNCHES, STILL WAITING FOR OLDER PEOPLE’S PROGRAMME
    Big Lottery has announced a new Youth in Focus funding programme, but the anticipated investment in projects targeting the needs of older people is now listed on the website as ‘rolling out from 2011 onwards’. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

NEWS
  • VOLUNTEER FILM MAKING FROM THE MEDIA TRUST
    The Media Trust has a scheme to help smaller voluntary organisations to capture their work on film. They match organisations with a professional filmmaker who will work with them to make a short (up to 5 minute) film for £1,000. The film will be broadcast on the Community Channel and groups will receive guidance on marketing and distribution www.mediatrust.org/get-support/productions/volunteer-films

  • SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE FOR SMALL VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
    The Yorkshire and Humber regional ICT champion has produced a guide for small voluntary and community organisations about using social media. "Social Media Guide for Small Voluntary Sector Organisations - So you think you want to use Social Media?" www.wmictchampion.org.uk/sites/
    www.wmictchampion.org.uk/files/8CF9C457d01.pdf .

  • ARE YOU READY? EQUALITY ACT IMPLEMENTATION FROM 1ST OCTOBER
    The vast majority of the Equality Act provisions come into force on 1/10/10. These relate to discrimination and unequal treatment in a wide range of situations. Summary guides for the public, employers and voluntary groups from:www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010/equality_act_2010_what_do_i_n.aspx

  • THE CULL OF THE ACRONYMS
    Hardly a week goes by without the announcement of the abolition of more national and regional organisations. Regional structures and their associated bodies (RDAs, GOs etc) are being disbanded. The Tenant Services Authority was one of the first housing casualties; the Audit Commission’s demise came as a surprise to most people. The closure of the General Social Care Council and transfer of regulation of social workers to the Health Professions Council, combined with a question mark over the Social Care Institute for Excellence, are adding to fears about the ‘medicalisation’ of social problems.

  • THE BIG SOCIETY – WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
    The Third Sector Research Centre has published a report which explores the main commitments of the Big Society agenda and the ideology behind them, and considers the potential impact on the third sector. www.tsrc.ac.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=PwhvBXnPGAU%3d&tabid=716

    This News and Policy Update is produced by Care & Repair England
    The Renewal Trust Business Centre, 3 Hawksworth Street, Nottingham, NG3 2EG
    Tel/ Fax: 0115 950 6500
    Email Care & Repair England
    www.careandrepair-england.org.uk

    Every effort has been made to ensure the information above is correct. However, Care & Repair England cannot accept any responsibility for errors and omissions.

    Care & Repair England is an Industrial and Provident Society with Charitable Status Reg 25121

    Previous Newsletters
    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2010 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2009 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2009 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2009 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2008 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Autumn 2008 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2008 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2008 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2007 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Autumn 2007 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2007 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2007 edition) can be viewed here

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2006 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Autumn 2006 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2006 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2006 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2005 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Autumn 2005 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2005 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2005 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2004/05 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Autumn 2004 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2004 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2004 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2003/04 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2002/03 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update briefing paper (Spring 2003 edition) can be viewed here.