NEWS AND POLICY UPDATE:

Summer 2007

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

HOUSING

• NEW GOVERNMENT, NEW MINISTERS
  With the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, promising to make housing a high priority it is hoped that housing for an ageing population and the quality of private sector housing (see below) will be included in that new agenda. Hazel Blears is the new Secretary of State at Communities and Local Government, Yvette Cooper is Minister for Housing (with a place in Cabinet) and Baroness Andrews remains in post. Alan Johnson takes over as Secretary of State for Health. The policy emphasis on children and families continues, with the creation of a new Department for Children, Schools and Families.

• 2005 ENGLISH HOUSE CONDITIONS SURVEY REVEALS HALF A MILLION VULNERABLE PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSEHOLDS LIVING IN POOR HOUSING
  The latest annual report on English housing conditions in 2005 shows a continuing fall in the number of non-decent homes. It reveals that there are now more vulnerable households living in private sector housing (3.2m) than in social rented (2.8m) (all standards) and that the number of vulnerable people in non-decent private sector homes has risen slightly (by 0.04m). Private rented homes are of the worst standard (41% non-decent), whilst the majority of non-decent homes are owner occupied (3.8m).
  15% of private sector vulnerable households (470,000) live in homes that fail the decent homes standard on any of the repair, fitness and modernisation criteria (ie. excluding thermal comfort). A third of vulnerable people of 75+ years live in non-decent housing – the worst housed sub-group. £15 hard copy (Tel: 0870 1226 236). Free to download: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510679

  	1996			2001		2003		2004		2005
  	%	(No)		%	(No)	%	(No)	%	(No)	%	(No)
  Total non decent homes	45%	(9.1m)		33%	(7.1m)	31%	(6.7m)	29%	(6.3m)	27%	(6m)
  Non decent homes: all private sector	43%	(6.8m)		32%	(5.4m)	30%	(5.3m)	29%	(5.1m)	27%	(4.8m)
  Non decent homes: social sector	53%	(2.3m)		39%	(1.7m)	35%	(1.4m)	31%	(1.2m)	29%	(1.2m)

  Vulnerable HH living in non decent homes	1996			2001		2003		2004		2005
  	%	(No)		%	(No)	%	(No)	%	(No)	%	(No)
  – private sector	57%	(1.43m)		43%	(1.15m)	37%	(1.06m)	34%	(1.03m)	34%	(1.07m)
  - social sector	53%	(1.6m)		38%	(1.1m)	n/k	n/k	n/k	n/k	28%	(0.78m)

• ANALYSIS OF COST BENEFITS OF ADAPTATIONS PUBLISHED BY OFFICE FOR DISABILITY ISSUES
  A new report from ODI, Better outcomes, lower costs: Implications for health and social care budgets of investment in housing adaptations, improvements and equipment: a review of the evidence, provides a very useful analysis of the current evidence base with regard to the potential savings to health and social care budgets resulting from housing adaptations and equipment provision. Full report and Executive Summary: http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/docs/better_outcomes_report.pdf

• DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS (DFGs) LIMIT AND TEST OF RESOURCES UPGRADES DELAYED
  The government’s consultation document on the future of DFGs (Jan 07) announced that the grant limit would be increased to £30,000 ‘immediately after the consultation’. It is expected that a summary of responses to the consultation will be published in July but no date for raising the grant limit has yet been set. Similarly there is no timescale for the updating of premiums applied to the test of resources. There are indications that many local authorities are struggling to keep up with demand for DFGs within existing allocations, with reports that the removal of the means test for disabled children has resulted in a consequent rise in demand for higher value grants.

• MINISTER SETS OUT VISION FOR HOUSING IN AN AGEING SOCIETY
  At a recent high profile ‘Next Decade’ lecture organised by the Fabian Society, Housing Minister Baroness Andrews highlighted the centrality of older people in the housing market, noting that 30% of households are already headed by someone over retirement age. She also commented on the critical impact of housing on older people’s health and well-being.
  “Part of the task of helping [older] people to stay at home involves making the most of our existing housing stock – most of which is in private hands”, said Baroness Andrews, who went on to mention the key role of home improvement agencies in enabling older people to maintain and adapt their homes. The meeting was also addressed by leading Gerontologist, Professor Alan Walker, and the newly appointed Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Sarah Webb. www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1511335

• HOME INFORMATION PACKS
  Following on from a legal challenge by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Government has announced that Home Information Packs (HIPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) will be phased in. From August 1 2007 a HIP and EPS will be required for the sale of properties with four bedroom properties or more. Dates for smaller properties have not yet been announced. http://www.communities.gov.uk/
  index.asp?id=1150984

• THREAT OF EVICTION RISES IF TENANTS COMPLAIN ABOUT PROPERTY CONDITION
  A new report by Citizens Advice Bureaux highlights the problems that private sector tenants may face, including eviction, if they raise disrepair issues with their landlord. Noting that a million non decent homes are currently in the private rented sector (see item above) this report calls for legislative change to end ‘retaliatory eviction’ and the related use of Section 21. www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_20070613

• WHITE PAPER ON FUTURE PLANNING SYSTEM PUBLISHED
  ‘Planning for a Sustainable Future’ sets out proposals for reform of the planning system, improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency in land use planning. www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510503

• MAJOR CHANGES AHEAD IN HOUSING PROVISION AND REGENERATION
  As previously reported, Communities England is to be created to take over the functions of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and various programmes, including Neighbourhood Renewal, Pathfinder and Decent Homes. Further details have now been put forward in ‘Delivering Housing and Regeneration: Communities England and the Future of Social Housing Regulation’. The proposal to transfer some of the current housing and regeneration delivery functions of Communities and Local Government to Communities England could have significant consequences for the wider housing sector. Consultation closes 10 Sept. www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1511392

• FUTURE OF SUPPORTING PEOPLE
  Communities and Local Government has set out how it will be taking forward the Supporting People programme. Based on four key themes: Service users at the heart of the programme; Enhancing partnership with the Third Sector; Delivering in the new Local Government landscape, and, increasing efficiency and reducing bureaucracy, the report emphasises the key role that the third sector can play in future provision. SP will be incorporated into Local Area Agreements by April 09. www.spkweb.org.uk/Subjects/Supporting+People+Strategy+-+DCLG/Supporting+People+Strategy.htm

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE NEWS

• RADICAL NEW VISION FOR THE FUTURE DELIVERY OF COMMUNITY EQUIPMENT
  The Department of Health has published a radical new model for the future provision of Community Equipment. Whilst there are currently no plans to enforce adoption of the model by statutory means, a very clear steer is being provided based on a retail market model. Service users would be given a prescription to use towards payment for equipment in shops run by companies or charities. A possible comparison is the transformation of optical services away from the NHS to the current variety of providers in the High Street. Open forum events to explain the model in more detail are scheduled to take place in all regions between 10th July – 1st August. http://www.csed.csip.org.uk/ce.html

• DH PUBLISHES GUIDANCE ON ELIGIBILITY FOR NHS FUNDED CARE
  The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care aims to clarify the decision making process for deciding whether someone is eligible for NHS continuing healthcare or NHS-funded nursing care. It sets out the main responsibilities for the NHS and local authorities based on primary legislation, and explains the influence of key court cases. It comes into force in Oct 07. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/
  Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/ DH_076288

• CARE SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP NETWORKS MERGED
  The Housing LIN is a useful source of information for providers, particularly their ‘Housing with Care Matters’ newsletter. The new weblink for this information, as well as for the Telecare and Commissioning LINs, is now being hosted by the Integrated Care Network. www.icn.csip.org.uk

• THE ROLE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED SERVICES
  This useful briefing provides a succinct overview of the organisation of public health from the national to the local. It includes weblinks, data sources and practical examples and would be helpful to anyone delivering, planning or commissioning cross sector services. http://www.icn.csip.org.uk/index.cfm?pid=486&catalogueContentID=1928

• HEALTHY HOMES, HEALTHIER LIVES – NEW DVD/CD-Rom
  This new free resource has been launched by the Housing LIN. Produced by Care & Repair England, the film illustrates how housing conditions impact on the health and well being of individual older and disabled people, whilst the associated resource materials provide facts, figures and policy data. To order a copy email full postal details (name, title, organisation, address) and preferred format (CD-Rom or DVD) to housinglin@cat.csip.org.uk referencing message ‘Healthy Homes’.

• MODERNISING ADULT SOCIAL CARE – WHAT’S WORKING
  This report assesses the progress being made towards the modernisation of social care, particularly with regard to the agendas set out in Independence, Well-being, and Choice (2005) and Our Health, Our Care, Our Say (2006), utilising nine DH commissioned studies. One of the conclusions is that there has been ‘real achievement in terms of consistency…..and effective targeting of resources’ but that this ‘has reduced local flexibility to pursue preventative work’. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/
  PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/ DH_076203

• COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFILES WEBSITE PROVIDES EASY ACCESS TO DATA
  Community Health Profiles are available for every local authority area in England. They provide concise, graphic, comparable overviews of health in a particular area, clearly showing where there are important problems with health or health inequalities. The profiles can be used with other local information to target action to improve the health of local people. www.communityhealthprofiles.info

MONEY

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCES GRANT FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR 2008 -9
  The Department of Health’s Section 64 grant funding priorities for 2008-09 have been published. The overarching theme is ‘Making a difference to the quality of people’s lives’ and the strategic cross- cutting theme across the four priorities is ‘Cross-cutting proposals that enable third sector organisations to contribute their expertise to the development of improved health and social care services’. Detailed priorities are set out under four key headings: i) Personalisation of services and maintaining independence & dignity for older people and disabled people 2) Promoting health and well-being 3) Improving access, information and choice 4) Innovation in service delivery. Applications can be made online from early July 07. www.dh.gov.uk/section64.

• EAGA PARTNERSHIP CHARITABLE TRUST FUNDING
  EAGA Partnership Charitable Trust supports projects and research in two areas i) the relief of fuel poverty and the promotion of energy efficiency ii) vulnerable consumers – multiple needs and preferences. Priority is given to proposals with a wide geographical focus and potential to inform or influence national perceptions and policies. Local projects will only be considered if they demonstrate innovation, policy relevance and wider applicability. www.eaga.com/charitable/charitable_trust.htm

• LOAN FINANCE TO IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS FOR VULNERABLE OWNER OCCUPIERS
  This research by DZT looks at the suitability and likely take-up of loans and equity release packages for the purposes of house repairs, maintenance and improvement in order to reduce the proportion of vulnerable private sector households living in non decent homes. www.comunities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509305

• EARNED INCOME OVERTAKES DONATIONS IN CHARITY SECTOR
  In their annual ‘state of the sector’ survey, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) found that just over half of the income that charities receive now comes from trading rather than grants and donations. Whilst the annual rise in income is continuing overall, more than 10% of charities moved up or down an income band and the income for smaller charities declined, creating a ‘volatility’ in the sector. It is suggested that key contributors to these trends are short term funding arrangements and the shift from grants to contracts. www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/almanac07

NEWS

• GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER PEOPLE EXPERIENCE QUALITY OF LIFE DECLINE
  28% of older people (65+) feel that their quality of life has deteriorated in the past 12 months, whilst 13% are often or always lonely (6% in 2006) according to Help the Aged’s new Spotlight Report 2007. With 21% of pensioners still living below the poverty line, the report also highlights the fact that pensioners’ disposable incomes are actually shrinking and that inflation for ‘fixed’ expenditure such as fuel, housing related costs and food is much higher than the official rate. The report provides a useful overview of facts and figures about ageing and sets out the policy challenges, but unfortunately does not make the links to housing conditions. press.helptheaged.org.uk/_press/_spotlight.htm

• GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OLDER PEOPLE’S NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS
  The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published two research papers that look in broad terms at ageing, need and aspiration. Measuring Resources in Later Life: A review of the data found that whilst age itself is not a strong predictor of hardship, ‘ small but significant proportions of older people live on such low incomes… that they are unable….to keep their homes in a reasonable state of repair’. In the second study, Understanding Resources in Later Life: Views and Experiences of Older People, good health was identified as the most important resource and the family was also seen as key. Avoiding debt emerged as a strong theme, but this was lower amongst ‘younger older’ people. www.jrf.org.uk

• CREATING AN OLDER PERSON FRIENDLY CITY CENTRE
  This readable, practical and entertaining report, produced by the Elders Council of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, provides a useful model for both planners and other local groups who want to make sure that their town or city centre is designed to make it welcoming and accessible to all generations. www.elderscouncil.org.uk/newsletters/downloads/Report.pdf

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  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

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  Previous Newsletters

  • 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.