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NEWS AND POLICY UPDATE:

Spring 2008

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

HOUSING

  • GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW HOUSING STRATEGY FOR AN AGEING SOCIETY
    On the 25th February the Government’s new housing strategy for an ageing society (‘Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods’) was launched by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a breakfast meeting at No 10 Downing Street. Three service users and the handyman from Coventry Orbit Care & Repair had tea with the PM at the event. This highlighted the importance of housing related services that enable older people to live independently in their own homes.

    The strategy is wide-ranging, covering all types and aspects of housing; mainstream, specialist, owner occupied, rented, current stock and future build, plus housing related services. It includes specific announcements about home adaptations, new money for handyperson services, improved housing advice and information plus the application of Lifetime Homes Standards to all new housing. For Briefing and links see: www.careandrepair-england.org.uk/whatsnew.htm and for the Strategy see: www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingmanagementcare/housingolder/

  • THE FUTURE OF DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS: MORE MONEY & CHANGES ANNOUNCED
    The national funding for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) is to increase by 20% in 2008-9, going up to £146m. This is in addition to the extra £11.5m for DFGs announced in January 08 (for use in this financial year). A number of significant changes are set to be introduced to DFGs in April 08, including raising the grant limit to £30,000 (currently £25,000), ‘passporting’ recipients of certain benefits and giving local authorities a general consent to place a charge of up to £10,000 on a property where the DFG is more than £5,000.

    There are two major changes that might impact on the local availability of DFGs. Local authorities will no longer be legally obliged to match their national DFG allocation (previously a 60:40 division) and they will be able to use DFG monies for ‘wider purposes’ eg. pooled funding for recyclable adaptations. Details: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/modernisationchangespackage

  • SURVEY REVEALS FAILURE OF CURRENT REGIONAL STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS AGEING
    Population ageing is the major driving force in household growth. Regional Housing Strategies (RHSs) and Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) are major determinants of the development of housing, neighbourhoods and the wider environment. But a national survey of all RHSs and RSSs, undertaken by Care & Repair England, reveals that few of them currently adequately address demographic change. In ‘Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods’ the government has called for the ‘refreshing’ of regional strategies. See surveyofrhsandrssjan08.pdf

  • IMPROVING PLANNING OF HOUSING FOR AN AGEING POPULATION
    A number of associated reports were published at the same time as the national housing strategy for an ageing society to support its regional and local implementation. These include:

  • IDeA PUBLISHES HOUSING GOOD PRACTICE GUIDES
    As housing continues to rise up the policy agenda, IDeA have published the first two of five planned guides i) Community leadership and the strategic housing role in local government ii) Good practice in access to housing and good housing services www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6514324

  • CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF REGIONAL MONEY FOR PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING
    Following the welcome news in the Comprehensive Spending Review 07 that more money had been allocated to Regional Housing Pots (£10.4b for 2008-11), some worrying trends began to emerge with regard to how much of that cash would be spent on existing housing stock. The ending of the Decent Homes Targets and the introduction of high targets for the number of new homes to be built, further fuelled concerns that improvements to existing stock might suffer. In the South West Region vigorous local lobbying changed plans to allocate only £5m for private sector housing in 08-9 (compared with £27m in 2007-8). Local authority allocation levels are expected to be announced shortly. Please let Care & Repair England know about the situation in your area. email: info@careandrepair-england.org.uk

  • NATIONAL HOUSING WEEK’S FOCUS: TOMORROW’S WORLD: HOUSING AND CLIMATE CHANGE
    The purpose of National Housing Week, held each year in the first week of June, is to provide a focus for key housing issues and highlight innovation. This year the topic will be ‘housing and climate change’. Examples of good practice will be selected for inclusion at the House of Commons launch event with Housing Minister, Caroline Flint. Please contact Care & Repair England to let us know of any local initiatives for consideration. Housing organisations can also capitalize on this national profile raising week by organising a related local activity. Posters will be available from the National Housing Forum after Easter.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE NEWS

  • SOCIAL CARE REFORM GRANT: HALF A BILLION POUNDS TO TRANSFORM SOCIAL SERVICES
    The Department of Health has published details of a new ring-fenced grant to help councils to redesign and reshape their systems in line with the vision set out in ‘Putting People First’. The new Social Care Reform Grant is worth £85 million in 2008/09, £195 million in 2009/10 and £240 million in 2010/11. The grant is part of a series of measures intended to bring about a radical change to Social Care, with an emphasis on personalization, early intervention and preventative approaches to promote independence and well-being. For grant details, including the amounts payable to individual local authorities, see: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/
    Lettersandcirculars/LocalAuthorityCirculars/DH_081934

  • DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S VISION FOR WORLD CLASS SERVICE COMMISSIONING
    As part of the current agenda for transforming health and care services, the DH has published a series of documents relating to improved commissioning, calling on PCTs to deliver long term improvements in the health and well-being of local communities. With the sub-title ‘adding life to years and years to life’, the vision statement calls for a shift from ‘diagnosis and treatment to prevention and well-being’. www.dh.gov.uk/worldclasscommissioning

  • TARGETING INTERVENTIONS AT THOSE MOST AT RISK OF CARE HOME ADMISSION
    Systems for identifying people most at risk of a hospital admission and targeting preventative interventions are widely used by the health sector (eg PARR or the ‘Combined Predictive Model’). Work has now started on creating a similar modelling system to predict those who are most at risk of care home admission in order to target ‘upstream’ interventions aimed at maintaining a person’s ability to remain living independently. The Kings Fund have published an initial report: Predicting who will need costly care: How best to target preventative health, housing and social care programmes,/I>. www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/other_work_by_our_staff/predicting_who.html

  • EVIDENCE THAT COMMUNITY BASED CARE CAN ENABLE OLDER PEOPLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY
    Through a survey of 89 different randomized controlled trials researchers have assessed the effectiveness of complex interventions to help older people live safely and independently at home. These interventions—including preventative home visits—improved individuals’ chance of living at home, improved their physical function, reduced falls, hospital admissions and nursing home admissions. The Lancet, Volume 371 Issue 9614 Article: Beswick A E et al.

  • VALUING PEOPLE: CONSULTATION ON THE NEXT THREE YEARS OF LEARNING DISABILITY POLICY
    The number of older people with a learning disability is set to rise significantly over the next few years (see Care & Repair England’s latest report ‘Living on the Edge’). The Department of Health is seeking views on the priorities for learning disability for the next three years. ‘Valuing People Now – from progress to transformation’ builds on the original Valuing People vision based on the themes of rights, independence, choice and inclusion. There is a welcome emphasis on enabling people with learning disabilities to live independently in their own homes and increasing home ownership. Deadline: 28th March 08 www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_081014

  • WATCH THIS SPACE….SOCIAL CARE GREEN PAPER AND SERIES OF STRATEGIES DUE SOON
    A series of new government social care related strategies, including the social care green paper, the Strategy for Carers and the national Dementia Strategy are due out soon. Check: www.dh.gov.uk

MONEY

  • LLOYDS TSB FOUNDATION MAINTAINS FUNDING LEVEL
    Lloyds TSB Foundation is one of the largest grant making trusts in the UK. The amount of money that it has available to fund local charities is largely determined by the profits of the Lloyds TSB group – it receives 1% of their pre-tax profits. It has been confirmed that the Foundation will receive £37.1m in 2008, £26.8m for use in England and Wales (where £24.3m was spent in 2007). www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk

  • MONEY FOR HOME INSULATION – WITHOUT A MEANS TEST
    Under the government's carbon emissions reduction target (Cert) scheme, energy companies are required to spend £1.5bn over the next three years to install energy efficiency measures in the homes of people on low incomes and the elderly. British Gas is offering both cavity wall and loft insulation free of charge to every homeowner in the UK who is over 70, (or under 70 and receiving certain benefits). The offer is not limited to British Gas customers. Tel: 0845 6052535 (details were not on the website at the time of going to press).

  • NEW £10M INVESTMENT FUND FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES GOING AHEAD
    Following the consultation in Autumn 07, the Office for the Third Sector has announced that the proposed £10million Risk Capital Fund for Social Enterprises will be run as a 'pathfinder investment scheme' based on a model whereby the Government's £10m will be matched by private and independent investors. One or more independent fund managers will be appointed following a tender process. It is expected that the fund will open to applications in Autumn 08. www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/

  • BIG LOTTERY FUNDING AND OLDER PEOPLE: RESEARCH PUBLISHED
    This report examines the impact of Big Lottery (BIG) funding on older people and considers current and potential future opportunities. It will be used to inform BIG decisions about future priorities for funding from 2009. One of the conclusions is that with regard to older people future BIG funding could make a useful contribution in the fields of health and social care, independent living, poverty and social exclusion, employment and education and active citizenship. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/er_res_older_people_research.pdf

  • REVIEW OF ALL THIRD SECTOR FUNDING FROM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
    Important grant funding streams for third sector organisations, including Section 64 and Opportunities for Volunteering, are being reviewed by the Department of Health. The Consultation closes on 20th March 08. www.dh.gov.uk

NEWS

  • CHARITY COMMISSION PUBLISHES GUIDANCE ON PUBLIC BENEFIT
    Under the Charities Act 2006 all charities have to demonstrate that they are operating for the public benefit. New statutory guidance is now available explaining what is meant by ‘public benefit’. From 1st April 2008 all organisations wishing to be recognised as charities must demonstrate explicitly that their aims are for the public benefit. Previously the law presumed this to be the case for charities that ‘advance education, or religion or relieve poverty’. Charity trustees have a new duty to report in their Trustees’ Annual Report on their charity’s public benefit. www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publicbenefit/default.asp

  • CRANFIELD TRUST FREE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICE
    Registered charities and not for profit organisations which are addressing issues of poverty, disability and social exclusion can apply to the Cranfield Trust for help via a free management consultancy service. The examples of support that can be provided include reviewing an organisations business plan, staffing issues and marketing. See www.cranfieldtrust.org/

  • COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLISH UPDATE ON NATIONAL INDICATOR DEFINITIONS
    Detailed definitions of 168 of the 198 National Indicators that will form the foundation of assessment of local authorities and partner organisations’ performance have been published. The final Handbook is expected to be launched at the end of March 08. www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nationalindicatorsupdate

  • OUT OF SITE, OUT OF MIND – NEW REPORT ON SOCIAL EXCLUSION FROM AGE CONCERN ENGLAND
    This readable, hard hitting report shows graphically just what ‘social exclusion’ means to older people. It argues that severe social exclusion straddles income, class, ethnic and gender boundaries and means that people are cut off from the things that most people take for granted. Age Concern is calling for the government to take the problem seriously and put the issue back on its policy agenda. www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/Documents/Out_of_sight_out_of_mind_Feb08.pdf

  • SOCIAL INTERACTION KEY TO SUCCESSFUL AGEING
    A range of studies have shown that high physical, mental and social functioning are all important components of ageing well. However, a new report from ILC-UK, ‘Successful Ageing and Social Interaction’ identifies increasing indications that older people can experience good mental health even if physical health is poor, and that social interaction in particular may be important. www.ilcuk.org.uk

  • DIGITAL TV SWITCHOVER: EASY TO USE PRODUCTS GUIDE
    The independent research charity Ricability has been commissioned by government to produce consumer test reports on easy to use digital TV products. With the switchover from analogue to digital starting this year, many older and disabled people will be looking at options for new equipment and this site offers some useful information. www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/index.htm

  • INSPIRING, INCLUSIVE DESIGN BECOMING PART OF THE MAINSTREAM?
    There are signs that a growing number of major retailers are increasing the range of items that they sell which assist independent living. They are responding to an important and growing market - by 2020 almost 50% of Europe's adult population will be over 50 and at present 1 in 7 of Britain's population is classed as disabled (Source: Future Foundation). Marketing products as ‘easy to use' rather than mentioning ‘disabled' or ‘older' is emerging as a favoured approach. B&Q are promoting their ‘can do’ range, whilst plumbers merchant Graham’s have launched ‘Living Works- The Inclusive Bathroom Guide: A Design guide for Occupational Therapists and Housing Professionals’ (www.livingworks-bathrooms.co.uk)

    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 an Industrial and Provident Society with Charitable Status Reg 25121

    Previous Newsletters
    • 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.