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NEWS AND POLICY UPDATE:
Winter 2002/03

This briefing is aimed at the providers and commissioners of housing related services for older and disabled people

HOUSING & REGENERATION

  • DECENT HOMES TARGET TO BE EXTENDED TO PRIVATE SECTOR
    For the first time the Government is to set a target for local authorities to improve private sector stock. The new PSA target is:

    "By 2010, bring all social housing into decent condition with most of this improvement taking place in deprived areas, and increase the proportion of private housing in decent condition occupied by vulnerable groups".

    Details of the specific targets for improved private sector housing are expected to be announced shortly, as part of John Prescott's statement about the 'Communities Plan' (see below). The introduction of these targets for 'vulnerable' households should significantly influence local housing authorities which are currently working on their private sector housing renewal policies.

  • COMMUNITIES PLAN - STILL WAITING
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is understood to be finalising the Communities Plan, with Ministers continuing to negotiate with the Treasury about resource levels. The plan will set out the shape of housing, planning and regeneration, including details of the latest English House Conditions Survey as a background to allocation of funds. Further details about the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders, money for growth areas in the South East, Decent Homes standard application, private finance initiatives and development of regional housing bodies will be included. The announcement may be delayed until February 03.

  • END TO FITNESS STANDARD
    Legislation will be introduced in this Parliamentary session to replace the existing housing fitness standard with the Housing, Health and Safety Rating (HHSR) scheme, forming part of the Decent Homes Standard. Details on HHSR and decent homes available on ODPM website .

  • HOME OWNERSHIP CONTINUES APACE
    90% of the houses built in the last financial year were for owner occupiers (Source:annual housing statistics from ODPM).

  • TACKLING RUN DOWN PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING
    A Good Practice Guide about addressing the needs of run down private sector housing has been published by ODPM (www.housing.odpm.gov.uk/hrs/hrs170/index.htm). The guide focuses primarily on demolition and redevelopment, particularly in areas of low demand. However, in examining good practice in renovation, the guide notes the role of local authorities in encouraging residents to be less dependent on grants and make greater use of loans and equity release.

  • QUALITY AND CHOICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE'S HOUSING: THE STORY SO FAR
    When the Government took the step of setting out its vision for older people's housing in 2001, it set up an independent development group to take forward the strategy set out in 'Quality and Choice for Older People's Housing'. The achievements of the group over the past year are set out in 'The Story So Far'. Information and advice on housing and support options are highlighted as one of the key areas for development in 2003. (www.housing.odpm.gov.uk/information/olderpeople)

  • FUNDING FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES (HIAs)
    Following the announcement last October by Department of Health (DH) and ODPM of an extra £14.7 million for HIAs over the next 3 years, further details of the distribution of the ODPM part of these extra funds (£5.2m) have been announced.

    Current levels of ODPM grant for HIAs will continue in 2003-4, but instead of the money being channelled through local housing authorities, the grant will be ring-fenced within the Supporting People budget. Therefore the majority of the extra funds will be available for the years 2004-5 & 2005-6. In September 2003 ODPM will invite the local commissioning bodies to bid for these extra funds.

    The £9.5m allocated by DH (for hospital discharge and health related HIA services) will be allocated via social services authorities: £1.5m in 2003-4 (expected to ensure continuation of existing schemes) and £4m for each of the following 2 years. Details are still awaited about the allocation of these funds, but it is anticipated that there will be close ring-fencing to ensure that they are targeted at HIA services.

  • IMPACT OF END OF SINGLE REGENERATION BUDGET
    Many community and voluntary sector groups running social regeneration projects have been left short of funding following the introduction of single-pot funding and end the of SRB. This is in line with predictions that the regional development agencies, who control the single-pot, and whose remit is primarily economic regeneration, would be less likely to support community based services. This particularly impacts on projects supporting older people who are technically 'economically inactive'. See www.urbanforum.org.uk

  • GENERAL HOUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE - NEW RESEARCH
    Recognition of a wide diversity of needs and aspirations must be at the heart of planning future housing provision for older people. This is one of the main conclusion of a recent report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation: "Planning for the majority: The needs and aspirations of older people in general housing" by Nigel Appleton. A summary is available at www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/N32.asp

  • HOUSING CORPORATION PUBLISH POLICY ON HOUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE
    The Housing Corporation have set out their vision and policy position on future housing for older people. The policy supports the Government's priorities, as set out in 'Quality and Choice for Older People's Housing', and explains the contribution that the Corporation will make to achieving these aims, both through direct provision of housing and also through development of new services. It recognises that most older people want to stay in their own homes and therefore the Corporation will take on board older people's needs in consideration of design and planning of the general housing stock. See www.housingcorp.gov.uk

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE NEWS

  • DELAYED DISCHARGE FINES GOING AHEAD
    Despite widespread opposition, the Government is going ahead with its controversial proposals to enable NHS providers to recharge social services for the cost of hospital care where discharge of patients from hospital is delayed. The Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Bill is progressing through Parliament amidst widespread concerns about its negative impact on relationships between NHS and social services.

    Interestingly, £100m a year is to be transferred from the NHS budget to social services to help to tackle the problems that result in delayed discharge. Health secretary Alan Milburn said that this should provide a positive incentive to make the system work.

  • MORE MAJOR CHANGES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
    Further reform of social services was outlined by Alan Milburn, who declared his intention to "tear down the traditional service boundaries" in his speech to the National Social Services Conference. A greatly enhanced role for the voluntary, private and charitable sectors is envisaged by DH and a report has been commissioned to look at how these non-statutory sectors could play a bigger part in the delivery of social services.

    Specialised services for children will be brought together through Children's Trusts whilst NHS and social care services for older people will be reshaped and brought together under Care Trusts.

  • THREE YEAR FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
    The DH has announced its focus for social services for the next 3 years. In 'Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The Next Three Years' the Department proposes a simplification of planning for service delivery, with just one plan drawn up by the Strategic Health Authority with LA input. With regard to targets for services for older people, the aim is to increase the number supported at home to 30% of the overall number receiving support by 2006. By December 2004 assessments of older people must commence within 48 hours of contact and equipment should be provided within 7 working days. See www.doh.gov.uk

MONEY

  • PENSIONERS MISS OUT ON BENEFITS
    An estimated £930m -£1,860m in benefits went unclaimed by pensioners in 1999-2000 according to recent research by the National Audit Office. 'Tackling pensioner poverty: Encouraging take up of entitlements' concludes that although 2 million pensioners were living in low income households, 25-33% do not claim the Minimum Income Guarantee. It states that the Pension Service cannot tackle pensioner poverty on its own and notes the application of best practice from the take up work of voluntary sector bodies and local authorities. This may be of particular relevance to the ODPM review of the future of HIAs and its suggestion that benefits advice should not be part of the core HIA service. further information www.nao.gov.uk/publications/nao_reports/02-03/020337es.pdf

  • COMMUNITY FUND
    In line with its stated aim of targeting resources at the most disadvantaged people in areas which have received less than their fair share of lottery funds, the Community Fund has announced its 'Countryside Communities' initiative. It will work with the Countryside Agency to target deprived rural areas which have not adequately benefited from Community Funds (King's Lynn, West Norfolk, Fenland, North Norfolk, Boston, West Lindsey, Shepway, Dover, Sedgemoor). This is in addition to the Fair Share scheme targeting 77 deprived areas, both rural and urban. www.community-fund.org.uk

  • IN KIND DIRECT
    This organisation receives goods from UK companies and sells them to voluntary organisations at a saving of up to 90%. Amongst the wide range of goods available are office equipment and supplies. An annual registration fee is payable, but environmental and social welfare organisations can now register at a subsidised rate of £25+vat. Details www.inkinddirect.org.uk tel: 020 7204 5014

  • MONEY FOR HOME ACCIDENT PREVENTION INITIATIVES
    The Department of Trade and Industry Modernisation Fund Grant Programme for 2003-4 has £1.1m for community based practical home accident prevention initiatives. Grant levels will be between £10,000 and £50,000. The deadline is very close - Friday 17th January. See www.dti.gov.uk/homesafetynetwork/mm_intro.htm