Transcript Adaptations – Where Next?

An Age of Uncertainty?
The future of home adaptations in
a changing world
Sue Adams
Care & Repair England
Presentation
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Emerging policy context with regard
to state assistance with home
adaptations
Ideas being explored by the
National Home Adaptations
Consortium
Practice connections
Who?
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Care & Repair England; national housing
charity aims to address poor and
unsuitable housing conditions amongst
older population, particularly low income
home owners (since 1986)
Pioneered; local Care & Repair services,
Minor works grants, Handyperson,
Housing Options, Healthy Homes, Older
People & “Housing Activism” plus related
policies esp. adaptations and PSHR
Home Adaptations Consortium
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Single aim: ‘To champion quality
provision of home adaptations for
disabled people’ - since 2008
Broad alliance includes: COT, CIEH, CIH,
NHF, Hanover, Habinteg, Foundations,
AgeUK, ADASS, Mencap, MS Society, RL
Glasspool, ACO, Royal British Legion
Think tank discussions - published ‘Is it so
much to ask?’ www.careandrepairengland.org.uk/pdf/dfgc_broc.pdf , and CSR
Submission
Age of Uncertainty………….
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Fundamental shift in thinking
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Revision of ideas around role of the
state vs the individual including
disability and later life (OP=half+ of all
disabled)
Social model of disability and
responsibility of society in enabling
independence and inclusion
Social Model of Disability
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Disability arises from the barriers
presented by society and the built
environment rather than being inherent in
the person themselves
Society should make adjustments to
ensure the inclusion of the individual,
regardless of their differences
Lifetime Homes founded on this vision
Age of Uncertainty: Social Care
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State is re-negotiating its ‘contract’
with citizens and their care &
support, particularly in later life
Dilnot review of adult social care
funding and Law Commission
review of legislative framework
DH White Paper - soon
Age of Uncertainty: Housing
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State’s role in housing – massive
change
100% cut in private housing funding
73% cut to DCLG Capital funding,
end of social housing grant
Localism
[And yet, DFG survived…….]
Age of Uncertainty…..
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There is also a more subtle undercurrent
of debate resulting in a shift in public
attitudes – deserving vs undeserving, use
of assets
Not just theoretical– will impact on front
line thinking and day to day practice
Implications for home adaptations help
Time lag……..
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Between ideological shift and law
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Between policy & implementation
This can be problematic for
practitioners
Long term view…..
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How we got to where we
are today
– a reminder of the foundations
of the system that you are
dealing with
Adaptations: Social Legislation
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Chronically Sick and Disabled Person’s Act
1970 – duty to arrange practical assistance in the
home and any works of adaptation
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NHS and Community Care Act 1990 –
assessment rights (introduced FACS)
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[Children’s Act 1989/ Carers and Disabled
Children’s Act 2000]
New law will ‘wipe slate clean’
Adaptations: Housing Legislation
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1985 Housing Act
1990 Local Government and
Housing Act - Mandatory DFGs
introduced
Housing Grants, Construction and
Regeneration Act 1996 - current
RRO (Housing Assistance) 2002 –
broad power to provide assistance
Future influences
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Personalisation and Individual
Budgets
Equalities Act 2010
Taking the long view……
System over past 40 years moved to
a rights based model with
mandatory entitlement but:
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Mismatch of need and resources
allocated for such a system
Even less money: Survival of
adaptations help may depend upon
benefits to health/ social care costs
Emerging Factors
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Take personal responsibility (plan
ahead/ insurance?) to make
provision for your own care and
changes of circumstances
Fragmentation (whilst voicing
integration) in the face of funding
pressures and reform
Localism – vs public dislike of
‘postcode lottery’
Medium Term Prospects
Off the agenda…….
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DFG Formal ‘Guidance’
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Social Housing ‘Guidance’
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Audit Commission Inspection
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Lifetime Homes Standards
On the Horizon
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DFG ‘industry led’ good practice
guide with DCLG sign up
Health and Well-being Boards
charged with ‘addressing the wider
social determinants of health’
New health service funding systems
Planning reform; drivers for healthy
communities, inclusive design
Last CSR - Against the Odds
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DCLG – 7% rise in
DFG allocation
 No cuts to any LA
 A few large
increases (c.30%)
Big issues
 LAs not matching
allocation
 Rising need
NEXT CSR????
Rising need for adaptations
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Factors impacting on growing need
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Demography
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Health and Disability
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Housing – tenure shift, condition,
suitability
Individual resources- income and savings
Data: Time to Adapt –Care & Repair England
Driver: Demography
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The number of older disabled people is
expected to double from 2.3 million in
2002 to 4.6 million by 2041
On current projections in 2036, 810,000
people aged 75 or more would be living
in properties that they consider unsuitable
for their needs.
The vast majority (c 70 per cent)
567,000 will be owner occupiers
Driver: Lack of suitable stock
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1.4 million individuals reported having
a medical condition or disability that
resulted in them requiring specially
adapted accommodation
22% said they lived in unsuitable
homes
Survey of English Housing – Annual, CLG
Where next?
Thinking ahead
Consortium Think Tank days in preparation
for CSR submission concluded:
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Retain broad Statutory/ National
framework
There is scope of system improvement
and local innovation but alongside
adequate budget setting
Adaptations falls between the cracks investment by one sector (housing)
results in gains by others (social care,
health) – needs champion
Thinking ahead
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Make best use of scarce resources radical system reform, proportionate
administration (small, medium, large
adaptations), break down professional
barriers, best use of stock, cross tenure
Enable self help – holistic, independent,
impartial information for self funders too
Single body responsible for all aspects
Thinking ahead
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Health link key - but conundrum of
medical vs social model of disability
Localism –making the case for
funding, better ‘PR’, tell stories
Role for Health and Well-being
Boards to drive improvement - data,
planning & prevention, include
adaptations in national outcomes
framework
Consortium members will……
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Continue national efforts to gain
recognition of their value
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Social care funding debate
Public health ie. PHWB outcomes
Welfare reform/ HB/ tenancy lobby
Media stories
Self help and sharing good practice
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Design better homes for all (LTH, LTNs)
Guides
Other useful information
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Living Well at Home – APPG
(Housing and Care) Inquiry report
www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?cid=8167
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Coming soon?
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Good Practice Guide to DFG
Chance to contribute to:
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Adaptations Good Practice Case Studies
Contact Details
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info@careandrepair-england.org.uk
Weblink to Time to Adapt Report
www.careandrepairengland.org.uk/timetoadapt.htm