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NEWS AND POLICY UPDATE: Spring 2009
Information for the providers and commissioners of housing related services for older and disabled people
HOUSING
- DECENT HOMES IMPROVEMENTS AT A VIRTUAL STANDSTILL
There has been no discernable improvement in the number of properties meeting the Decent Homes Standard between 2006 and 07. The latest English House Conditions Survey data shows that private tenants continue to live in the worst conditions, with 45% non-decent, compared with 34% of owner occupied and 29% of social rented homes. Social tenants (all groups) are less likely to live in non-decent homes in comparison to vulnerable households living in private housing (39% non-decent). Privately owned homes are almost twice as likely to have Category 1 hazards compared to social housing (24% vs 13%). Some 2.5 million homes had at least one of the types of falls hazards and 2.2 million an excess cold hazard. www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/2006headlinereport
*The definition of
a non-decent home changed in 2006. The Housing, Health and Safety Rating Scheme
replaced the Fitness Standard
- FURTHER INCREASE IN PROJECTED NUMBER OF OLDER HOUSEHOLDS
The latest government projections anticipate a 53% rise in the number of households headed by a person 65 years and over, compared with an overall household increase of 29% by 2031. By then this age group will occupy 32% of all households. The other projected significant change is a large rise in the number of single households, up from 13% in 2006 to 18% in 2031. www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1172133.pdf
- RISE IN PRIVATE RENTED HOUSING CONTINUES
The latest figures from the Survey of English Housing reveal that in 2008 owner occupation fell to 68.3% of households (14.6m), and private rented housing rose to 13.9% (3m), up from 12.7% (2.6m ) in 2007. Social rented was unchanged at 17.7% (3.8m). With the economic downturn these trends look likely to continue. www.communities.gov.uk/seh
- SECURITY OF TENURE IN SOCIAL RENTED HOUSING UNDER REVIEW
As repossessions rise and waiting lists for social rented housing increase, pressure is mounting to review the rights of existing tenants to stay put. The issue was flagged up at the recent ‘Future of Housing’ conference in a series of high level contributions by senior representatives, including the Tenant Services Authority, Chartered Institute of Housing and the Mayor’s office for London. www.communitycare.co.uk/
Articles/2009/02/25/110792/making-room-the-social-housing-dilemma.html
- DRIVE FOR ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS IN NEW AND CURRENT HOUSING
In the face of growing evidence about the pace of climate change, the government is considering a package of radical measures. Decarbonising the generation and supply of heat and reducing emissions from existing buildings to nearly zero by 2050 are included. Whole house refurbishment packages for all homes by 2030, a £350m Community Energy Saving Programme for low-income households, financial incentives and encouragement for the development of district heating and combined heat & power systems are just some of the proposals upon which views are sought. The Consultation on the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy runs until 8th May. http://hes.decc.gov.uk/
- SELECT COMMITTEE STANDS FIRM ON BUILDING STANDARDS
The Communities and Local Government Select Committee Inquiry into housing and the credit crunch has rejected pressure from the building industry to reduce planning and building requirements in order to reduce their costs. The Committee said that homes must stand the test of time and should not be built to an inferior standard. There had been concerns that the drive to improve space, energy and Lifetime Homes Standards could all be under threat. There was minimal reference to the impact of the credit crunch on older people (the focus of the submission by Care & Repair England) but the idea of purchasing a limited number of unsold family size homes to then be available for rent was noted.
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmcomloc/101/101.pdf
- GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS £350 MILLION IN 09-10 FOR REGENERATION IN 12 AREAS
The nine Pathfinder schemes and three areas of low demand are to receive a share of this funding via the Homes and Communities Agency to refurbish properties, improve the quality of housing stock and regenerate communities. The areas are: Birmingham Sandwell, East Lancashire. Hull and East Riding, Manchester Salford, Merseyside, Newcastle Gateshead, North Staffordshire, Oldham, Rochdale, South Yorkshire, Tees Valley, West Cumbria.
- NEW GAS REGULATION FROM 1ST APRIL 2009
The Gas Safe Register will replace CORGI gas registration on 1 April 2009. Even if they are already CORGI registered, engineers will still have to register with the Gas Safe Register. All gas engineers have to carry an ID card with a photo and license number which can be checked on-line by consumers. It is illegal for anyone not registered to carry out work on gas appliances or installations. www.gassaferegister.co.uk
- INCLUSION BY DESIGN: EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
This report from CABE offers everyday examples that demonstrate how good design can help to create places that work better for everyone. www.cabe.org.uk/publications/inclusion-by-design
- HOME ADAPTATIONS – ROUND UP
- Details of 2009-10 Allocations for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) to Local Authorities: www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/grantallocations2009-10.xls
- Monitoring the impact of changes to DFGs: In an answer to a Parliamentary Question it has been indicated that more detailed end of year data gathering from local authorities about DFGs in 08-09 will be undertaken.
- DFG Allocations Formula - a task group, consisting primarily of local authority grant officers, is working with CLG on this issue.
- Funding adaptations in housing association stock is examined in the report Making it Work Smoothly. This covers adaptation agreements between providers and local authorities and recommends changes. Publication and model agreement from: www.habinteg.org.uk/pages/adaptations_has.html
- FUTURE HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCY PROJECT HANDYPERSON REPORT PUBLISHED
This report covers the provision of handyperson services in England, not only those provided by home improvement agencies but also other providers. Aimed at both commissioners and providers of services, it includes mechanisms of delivery, funding models and links to further information.
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/hiahandypersonservices
- MONEY IN PLACE FOR GROWTH OF HANDYPERSON SERVICES
Communities and Local Government (CLG) have formally announced the amounts of money allocated to every top tier local authority who responded to the offer of funding announced last November.
To find out how much each local authority has been allocated for 2009-2010 see:
www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/1159092.pdf
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE NEWS
COUNCILS WARNED: SPEND SOCIAL CARE REFORM GRANT ONLY AS INTENDED OR PAY IT BACK
The level of Social Care Reform Grant paid to every Social Services Authority rises significantly to £195m in 2009-10 (up from £85m in 2008-09). The Dept of Health has written to authorities to emphasise that the funding can only be used for the purpose intended ie. to move towards prevention, promoting independence and personalisation, and not to meet general funding shortfalls.
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/LocalAuthorityCirculars/
DH_095719
FEWER OLDER PEOPLE HELPED BY SUPPORTING PEOPLE OR SOCIAL CARE
The number of households funded by the Supporting People programme has fallen by more than 180,000 in the last five years. Older people were the biggest losers, decreasing from 919,201 in 2003-04 to 808,487 in 07-08 www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6502453. Money spent on personal social services for older people fell by 1.7% in 07-08 compared with the previous year, including a 2.5% fall in home care (data from www.ic.nhs.uk ). A third of charities report that they are turning people away because of lack of capacity (www.charity-commission.gov.uk)
ALL CHANGE AT HOUSING LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
From April 2009 the Dept of Health’s Care Services Improvement Networks will no longer exist and their network webpages will be transferring to a new site: www.dhcarenetworks.org.uk
JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION CALL TO MAKE IMMEDIATE CHANGES TO ADULT SOCIAL CARE
JRF is calling for a £775m package of immediate reforms to make the adult care funding system fairer. It points out that not only would any proposals for reform in the government’s forthcoming social care green paper take many years to implement, but also could be held back by the current economic climate. JRF propose a series of actions in the short term, including use of equity release with deferred payback to meet the costs of care at home. www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/care-funding-options.pdf
COMMON ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR ADULTS – PUTTING HOUSING IN THE FRAME
The stated aim of developing a Common Assessment Framework is to reduce the level to which people have to give the same information over and again to different parties involved in their health, care and support provision. The proposals set about creating a framework “which will encourage improved multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working”. The extent of data sharing of data is a topical and somewhat contentious issue, and Question 6 concerns data sharing going beyond health and social care to a wider range of services such as the housing sector. Consultation closes: 17th April 09 www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_093438
AT A GLANCE: MAJOR POLICIES SO FAR IN 2009 AND LINK TO HOUSING
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Living Well with Dementia: National Dementia Strategy from Dept Health: Aims: Increase awareness of dementia, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and improve the quality of care. Specifics: Dementia specialist in every general hospital and care home, training and information, enable more people with dementia to live in their own homes for longer. Comment: Whilst it has a housing related objective concerning housing options and telecare, it does not adequately address the ‘bricks and mortar’of the home adaptations and improvements that can help to support a person to live in their own home. www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/Olderpeople/
NationalDementiaStrategy/DH_083358
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Valuing People Now Three Year Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities plus delivery plan from Dept of Health: Key messages: Equal treatment, enable independence, informed choice. Housing Specific: Move away from residential settings to supported living across tenures. Comment: The emphasis is on younger people and accessing owner occupied sector rather than older people who are already in that sector. The practicalities of supporting ongoing owner occupation in the long term, including repair and adaptation, are not fully addressed. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/
PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093377
-
Comprehensive Area Assessment Framework, Audit Commission. Key messages: Comes into force on 1st April 09 taking a holistic approach to considering how well local public services are performing and improving people’s lives. Specific: Will look at how well sectors are operating both individually and also jointly with other partners. Comment: Some concerns about lack of specific drivers for housing measures such as effective delivery of adaptations and general housing stock improvements.
www.audit-commission.gov.uk/caa/framework.asp
AND ANY DAY NOW…….
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Age of Opportunity - Revised National Strategy for Ageing Society (previously ‘Opportunity Age’) from Dept for Work and Pensions. www.dwp.gov.uk
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Adult Social Care Green Paper – Dept of Health www.dh.gov.uk
MONEY
- GOVERNMENT MONEY TO HELP VOLUNTARY SECTOR DURING THE RECESSION
Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises sets out government plans to help these sectors during the recession. Details of how to apply for the £10m Volunteer Brokerage scheme for unemployed people and a £15.5m Real Help for Communities: Targeted Support Fund for small and medium providers are expected in April 09, followed later by a £16.5m Modernisation Fund. www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/real_help_for_communities.aspx
- SAFETY OF RESERVES FOR CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS
In the face of high profile losses by some charities as a result of the banking crisis, the extent of coverage by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme has come in for some close scrutiny. As things currently stand, the £50,000 compensation limit applies to both eligible individuals and many organisations. Whilst there are calls to raise this limit for charities, at the moment it may be prudent to spread the risk by using a number of separate financial institutions to deposit funds. www.fscs.org.uk
- FUNDING FOR OLDER PEOPLE TO “LIVE OUT A DREAM”
Stannah Stairlifts have launched a ‘Think Again’ fund. Each month one older person will be given money and help to live out an unfulfilled dream. Winners so far have taken a balloon ride, snorkelling trip and coast to coast bike ride. www.stannahstairlifts.co.uk/en/the-think-again-fund-2.html
- FAIR SHARE GRANTS
The £50m Fair Share programme was set up to target 77 local areas which may have missed out on Lottery funding in the past. Grants of between £5,000 and £250,000 are available for projects that meet at least one of the locally set priorities. Fair Share is managed by the Community Foundation Network and administered by local grant-making bodies, primarily Community Foundations. Follow links from www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_fairshare_uk.htm
- FULL COST RECOVERY PACKAGE FOR FREE
The ACEVO Full Cost Business Planner (FCBP) enables organisations to cost multiple projects and allocate overheads across activities. The template is applicable to both small and large voluntary organisations. The FCBP toolkit also includes a Business Plan Writer. For information and free download of Full Cost Recovery Toolkit: www.fullcostrecovery.org.uk/main/index.php?content=home
- REVIEWING THE IMPACT OF CHANGES TO BACKDATING HOUSING & COUNCIL TAX BENEFITS
The period of time that a payment of HB/ CTB can be back dated was reduced in October 08. The Dept for Work and Pensions are assessing the impact of this change. Anyone who has advised clients who have been adversely affected by this change can submit a short questionnaire to DWP using the following link. The feedback period runs from March to end July 09. www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2009/hb-ctb-backdating-questionnaire.asp
- INFLATION RATE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR OLDER PEOPLE
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has reported that older people are facing a much higher inflation rate than average, partly because they spend a higher proportion of their income on food and household fuel. People over 80 had an inflation rate of 7.1% compared with an average of less than 1% for those under 50 years. www.ifs.org.uk/publications/4454
NEWS
AUDIT OFFICE CONCLUDES THAT WARM FRONT SCHEME IS BADLY TARGETED
The Audit Office’s review of Warm Front concludes that despite being set up to alleviate fuel poverty it is failing to target resources at those in greatest need. As a consequence of the means test 57% of vulnerable households in fuel poverty do not qualify, but nearly 75% of qualifying households are not necessarily in fuel poverty. Thousands of people living in fuel poverty do not go ahead with work because of the top up money they have to find.
Whilst concluding that most charges were ‘competitive’, gas and oil boiler replacement charges ‘were at the higher end of the range’. The report makes a number of recommendations for improved delivery, including quality assurance assessors seeking alternative quotes for more expensive works. www.nao.org.uk/publications/0809/the_warm_front_scheme.aspx
- ‘BABYGLOOMERS’ SUPPORTING BOTH OLDER PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Almost one in ten working age adults are providing financial help for their parents. A Norwich Union/ Daily Telegraph survey reports that more than 1.3 million adults aged between 17 and 65 are paying their older parents more than £250 each month, with some paying up to £1,000. Pensioners are facing a dramatic fall in income from savings and investments and this is cited as the likely main cause.
- FUTURE COMMUNITIES: RE-SHAPING OUR SOCIETY FOR OLDER PEOPLE
This informative Help the Aged report considers how the communities of the future can be made good places in which to grow older. Through ‘future-gazing’ and identifying key trends it goes on to develop a set of practical recommendations as well as posing a set of challenging questions for everyone to ponder. For this and other recent reports see: http://policy.helptheaged.org.uk/_policy/default.htm
- BBC PROGRAMME ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE AND HOUSING IN LATER LIFE – COMING SOON
The BBC and Open University have teamed up to make a new programme, Silverville, which follows the lives of residents of a new retirement village in Milton Keynes (dates to be announced). A free booklet about options for living in older age, The Price of Old Age, is also available via the weblink. www.open2.net/silverville/index.html
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 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.
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