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NEWS AND POLICY UPDATE:

Spring 05

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

HOUSING

  • LATEST ENGLISH HOUSE CONDITIONS SURVEY RESULTS
    The overall condition of the housing stock in England has significantly improved since 2001, according to the English House Condition Survey (EHCS) results for 2003. The ODPM survey shows the number of dwellings failing to provide a decent standard of accommodation has fallen by 370,000 since 2001 - from 7.1m (33 per cent of the total) in 2001 to 6.7 million (31 per cent) in 2003. The most vulnerable and disadvantaged households, those living in the most deprived areas and those living in the social rented sector have gained the most from this improvement. Although vulnerable households remain less likely to live in decent homes than others, the proportion of private sector vulnerable households living in decent homes increased by 6% (to 63%). 1.1 million vulnerable households now live in non-decent homes in the private sector, compared to 1.2 m in 2001. www.odpm.gov.uk/ehcs. Further details to be published during 2005.

  • EXTRA CARE HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT
    21 extra care housing schemes in 20 Local Authority areas have been given the go ahead at a cost of £40m to Dept of Health. Housing 21 and Hanover Housing each have 4 schemes. By far the biggest grant (£9.8m) goes to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to develop extra care in a retirement housing style village in Hartlepool. When announcing the results minister Stephen Ladyman said that he expects most future extra care schemes to be developed by the private sector. Details: Housing LIN website http://www.changeagentteam.org.uk/
    index.cfm?pid=107

  • NEW RULES FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN THE HOME
    New Building Regulations came into force at the start of January 05 which drastically increase the controls over carrying out electrical work in homes. All electrical work now has to be carried out by a 'competent person' - usually a qualified installer who is registered with a recognised body. They will provide a signed BS 7671 electrical safety certificate for all types of electrical work. For full details see http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_buildreg/documents
    /page/odpm_breg_033675.hcsp     and revisions details.

  • ODPM 5 YEAR HOUSING STRATEGY - OLDER PEOPLE MENTIONED
    Sustainable Communities: Homes for All is the ODPMs five year strategic plan for future housing provision. The focus is very much on new build and helping people into home ownership (Social Homebuy being a key initiative) with the themes of choice, opportunity and quality running through the strategy. There are welcome additions which acknowledge the ageing of the population and the challenge of making homes decent in the private as well as the social rented sectors. There are references to the important role of adaptations, home improvement agencies and accessibility of new homes to meet the needs of an ageing population. www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_about/documents/
    divisionhomepage/033927.hcsp

  • DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS - WINNERS AND LOSERS
    Details of individual local authority allocations for DFGs reveal a very mixed picture with some authorities' grant allocations down by as much as 33% and others up by as much as 54%. The national budget of £103.3m is up by 2.1% compared with 2004-5. www.odpm.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2004_0328

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE NEWS

  • COMMUNITY MATRONS TO CO-ORDINATE THE SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH LONG TERM CONDITIONS
    There are an estimated 17.5m people with chronic conditions in the UK, 250,000 of these classed as serious conditions. The government has announced plans to better co-ordinate comprehensive care for people with long term health problems and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. 3,000 community matrons are to be recruited. Whilst broadly welcomed some concerns have been expressed about the capacity of health focussed professionals to address the housing, welfare benefit and social support issues that can be so critical to enabling people to live independently and manage their health condition.
    'Supporting People with Long Term Conditions' www.dh.gov.uk

  • GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW LONG TERM CONDITIONS NATIONAL SERVICE FRAMEWORK
    This latest NSF is aimed at better addressing the needs of the 10m people in the UK who have neurological conditions. Quality Requirement 7 specifies the provision of 'timely, appropriate assistive technology/ equipment and adaptations to accommodation' and there is mention of addressing housing, needs in the joint assessment plans. www.dh.gov.uk/longtermnsf

  • NATIONAL TARGET ON OLDER PEOPLE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY MET AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
    New figures from Department of Health reveal that more older people are being supported to live independently in their own homes. The government target of ensuring that 30% of older people receiving care from social services do so at home has been met two years ahead of schedule. The main reason for this appears to be an increase in those receiving home care (60,700 in 1998 vs 87,100 in 2004) because the decrease in the number of older people living in residential/ nursing care homes is small (206,080 in 1998 vs 202,180 in 2004). www.dh.gov.uk

  • KINGS FUND COMMISSIONS FUNDAMENTAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE
    The King's Fund has commissioned an independent review into the long term demand, supply and funding of social care for older people in England over the next 20 years. This one year, in depth inquiry is being undertaken by Derek Wanless, author of the government's review of NHS funding in 2002. The aim is to publish the resulting report in time for the 2006 government spending review. www.kingsfund.org.uk/news/news.cfm?contentID=276

  • PREVENTION TECHNOLOGIES GRANT
    The collaborative charged with guiding the effective use of the £80m being allocated to Social Services for Preventative Technology has consulted on a draft circular and anticipates finalising this by mid summer. However, social services, health and housing departments are expected to be considering already how they will spend the money coming to them in 2006. Planners and providers may find both the draft circular and 'Getting Started with Telecare' (publ. Jan 05 by ICES - www.icesdoh.org/article.asp?page=156 ) of interest. Keep up with developments via the Collaborative website - www.info.doh.gov.uk/etpc/etpc.nsf

  • 9 OUT OF 10 THINK OLDER PEOPLE ARE DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL TOO SOON
    A poll of social care practitioners carried out by Community Care magazine reveals that 90% of social care professionals working with older people think that they are being discharged from hospital too early. 93% think that if older people's care needs had been met sooner the admission to hospital could have been prevented. www.communitycare.co.uk

MONEY

  • £60m ANNOUNCED FOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR OLDER PEOPLE PROJECTS
    This new grant from Department of Health aims to encourage councils in England with their NHS, local government, voluntary and community sector partners to devise innovative approaches to enabling older people to live independently for longer and avoid emergency hospital admission. Deadline for expressions of interest to DH: 12th May 2005. Successful applicants invited to submit full plans by 2nd September 2005. Decision by 30th September 2005. Funding for 2 years would begin April 2006. For details and application pack go to www.dh.gov.uk and search Partnerships for Older People Projects.

  • GUIDE TO GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED 2004/5
    A new edition of this invaluable directory has been published. It is a key reference book for anyone looking for charitable funds for individuals and has detailed listings of over 2,500 charities. Price £29.95 from Directory of Social Change (tel 08450 777707 or www.dsc.org.uk).

  • MORE MONEY FOR WARM FRONT GRANTS - AND NEWS ON CONTRACTS
    The DEFRA has announced that Eaga Partnerships are the preferred bidders for the contracts to manage Warm Front in all 4 geographical areas from June 05. An additional £140 million was allocated to Warm Front for 2005-2008. Defra's spending on fuel poverty will be £172 million in 2005/6, £201 million in 2006/7, and £251 million in 2007/8.

  • BENEFICIARIES OF £13 MILLION FROM DWP FOR PENSION TAKE UP INITIATIVES
    The Department for Work and Pensions has announced the 170 successful bidders for their Partnership Fund. The organisations with have by far the highest number of successful bids are Age Concern and CAB groups. The only specifically listed home improvement agency is Manchester Care & Repair. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/news/archive/english/2005/25_01_05.asp

NEWS

  • FUTURE THINKING ABOUT HOUSING AND OLDER PEOPLE
    The challenges and opportunities that an ageing population brings particularly with regard to housing design, healthy ageing, use of technology and lifestyle choices are some of the topics covered in a new collection of discussion papers published by the Housing Learning Information Network - Futurecare@home. Available from www.changeagentteam.org.uk/housing or email housinglin@e-a-c.demon.co.uk

  • NATIONAL FALLS AWARENESS DAY
    Help the Aged is promoting and co-ordinating a National Falls Awareness Day on July 19th. They are encouraging local organisations to hold events and link in with local health professionals. More information on the day is available on their website at www.helptheaged.org.uk/fallsday. Here you can register events or download more information. Local action packs are planned - to request one email falls@helptheaed.org.uk with your name and address.

  • REDUCING HEALTH INEQUALITIES INITIATIVES WILL FAIL IF LEFT TO NHS
    This is the conclusion of new research from the Kings Fund which warns that Primary Care Trusts remain driven to prioritise acute care over health promotion despite a plethora of public health targets. The wisdom of giving the public health leadership role to the NHS, as set out in the white paper 'Choosing Health', is questioned and anyone working in the wider housing/ health improvement sector may relate to many of the conclusions of 'Managing for Health'. www.kingsfund.org.uk

  • DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION BILL -SAFEGUARDS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE LIVING IN PRIVATE RENTED HOUSING
    An amendment to the Disability Discrimination Bill has been agreed at its Third Reading which will make it more difficult for private landlords to withhold permission for improvements to their property that meet the needs of a disabled tenant.

  • VOLUNTARY SECTOR DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SERVICES -RULING FROM CHARITY COMMISSION
    Charities are to be allowed to deliver whole public services that public authorities previously had a duty to provide as long as they are sufficiently independent of councils. A landmark decision by the Charity Commission has allowed two limited companies to become charities and deliver the councils leisure services, thus opening the way for creation of charitable bodies to deliver other public services.

  • 'IMPROVING LIFE CHANCES OF DISABLED PEOPLE' - REPORT FROM PRIME MINISTER' STRATEGY UNIT HERALDS RADICAL CHANGES AHEAD
    This report sets a new agenda for the ways that government acts to improve the quality of life of disabled people. A key proposal is creation of an individualised budget that a disabled person controls and can use 'to get whatever type of support [they] need including equipment, personal assistance, housing adaptations, help with transport to work or something else entirely'. Centres for Independent Living are seen as potentially a key part of the future delivery. Housing is mentioned both with regard to new build and adaptation of the existing stock - a Briefing on the housing aspects of the report is available from Care & Repair England. Full report from: http://www.strategy.gov.uk/output/Page5046.asp

    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
    info@careandrepair-england.org.uk
    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 supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
    Care & Repair England is an Industrial and Provident Society with Charitable Status Reg 25121

    Previous Newsletters
    • 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.