Housing Adaptations: Options for Change and Improvement - An Analysis of Consultation Responses

6 views on consequential changes & other issues

Introduction

6.1 The Adaptations Working Group recognises that some of these changes to organisational responsibility and funding would require alterations to the policy and guidance framework, and possibly also the legislative framework. These could involve changes to statutory or advisory guidance. However, the Group is not consulting on the action required to implement any of the approaches. Further work would be required to develop an implementation programme, following decisions on any changes to be made.

6.2 The question asked was as follows:

Question 10: Do you have any comments on any other issues related to the future delivery of housing adaptations, which aren’t covered above? If yes, please provide details.

Views on Consequential Changes and Other Issues (Q10)

6.3 The majority (67%) of respondents felt that there were other issues which were not covered in the consultation document. These primarily centred on four key emergent themes:

• Concern over funding;
• Care and repair service;
• The need for review of the current system and greater clarity and guidance; and
• Better communication through partnership-working, to meet individual needs.

6.4 Each of these is considered in turn below.

Reconsider, review and provide further clarification and guidance on the current system (29% of respondents)

6.5 Of those who provided other concerns, a significant proportion took the opportunity to reinforce that the current system of housing adaptations must be reviewed, reconsidered, clarified, and guided to deliver an improved system.

6.6 It was felt by these respondents that the lack of guidance and clarity from key stakeholders at the national level remains a key problem in the current system. It was felt that information and advice are crucial and that more in the way of informing the public; through strategic forward planning and consultation, should be done to mitigate the impact of problems arising later on;

“We need very clear guidance around private lets. This continues to be a problem nationally. Currently we cannot prevent people moving from one private let to another and having to adapt each time. As the person in a private let does not have equity to release we need to ensure that the system allows them also to take responsibility for the adaptation and that the landlord is not automatically expected to pick this up as it may be more difficult to increase rent in this sector…” (Local Authority/Local Authority representative body)

6.7 Respondents also felt that the current system needs to be reconsidered and that any changes must be well-informed, clear, structured, and done quickly to prevent any further problems. Some of these respondents also felt that the current grant criteria needs to be re-visited and more transparent in nature, as it is unfair to certain groups;

“Information and advice are key: and in particular the forward planning aspect for older people so that they have support and info to consider their likely future housing needs before it becomes a huge issue or a crisis. Personal Housing Plans may have a role and if we could re-instate the old age 65 ( or 60) health check that GPs used to have to do for all of their patients - it could include a PHP element. The other most important issue in this challenge is the ‘clout’ of this consultation and the follow up with Ministers. Many of us have been trying to put many of these improvements in place for very many years and it needs strong leadership and direction and power to move this forward!” (Individual)

Concern over funding (20% of respondents)

6.8 Almost one fifth who expressed other concerns mentioned issues relating to availability of funding, as this was considered a major issue when trying to formulate and implement any further changes. This included funding issues requiring further clarity in order to standardise the current funding allocation system;

“Availability of funding will be the major constraint when trying to implement any changes and further consideration should be given to increasing the co-ordination processes and the development of common standards and protocols.” (Housing Association/Housing Association representative body)

6.9 The changing demographic at different spatial scales - locally and nationally - were also recognised, with an increasingly ageing population which will present further pressures on the housing and social care sectors, as well as how adaptations are granted funding, in future;

“The level of funding is the single most key issue moving forward. We have an ageing population who will increasingly reside in non specialist housing or housing not designed for those level of needs and this will create increasing pressure on adaptations funding.” (Housing Association/Housing Association representative body)

6.10 Other comments also drew upon the current funding model, which suggested that the existing structure is overly complex both for those who award funding and those in receipt. This could lead to unfair access to adaptations and will not be sustainable in the long term due to the forecasted rise in demand;

“The current arrangements for the delivery of RSL adaptations support Link in providing an efficient service to our tenants, once the assessment of the requirement for an adaptation has been completed. We would not want a new system to jeopardise our ability to provide this service. It is, however, recognised that the current organisational and funding arrangements can be confusing (for both customers and officers), result in inequitable access to adaptations and are inadequate to respond to the projected increase in demand for adaptations.” (Housing Association/Housing Association representative body)

Encourage partnership working and better communication (19% of respondents)

6.11 A further key theme which emerged from the consultation responses was the need to develop a more sustained and multidisciplinary approach. This includes references that the current system examines individual needs by key professionals who are often involved in treating the tenant as their patients rather than considering wider needs. However, the consultation responses revealed that this system is not necessarily working as well as it could and suggested that partnership and collaborative working between key agencies - such as the patient, their wider family, their carers and advocates - should be encouraged in future, which will better address and meet individual needs;

“Individual needs are currently assessed by professionals who often treat the person as a patient or a tenant or an owner, rather than as someone central to the process. This treatment has been supported by the divisions in funding and responsibility between health, social care, and housing. It is crucial there be a partnership approach which includes the person needing adaptations, their family, carers, and advocates. A more consistent approach to funding is required.” (Local Authority/Local Authority representative body)

6.12 Furthermore, bringing together different social groups and working with them may create new networks and relationships which would, otherwise, have been less likely to exist. Respondents noted that working closely with often excluded groups, such as disabled individuals, will integrate them and help them to voice their individual needs. For example, partnership working with disabled children and their families helps inform them of the different adaptation services that are already in place; how it can meet their individual needs; and building these needs and groups into the strategic planning going forward, shaping future improvements and change - as their agendas are often dissimilar;

“As part of the impact assessment it should be noted how few disabled children or their families respond to consultations such as this. Parents of disabled children do not know that a disabled adaptation service exists until they need it and then they find the confusing and depressing state of play that currently exists, to layer on top of the other practical and emotional issues that need dealt with just as they are at arguably the busiest period of their own life cycle. This excludes them from most carer groups and consultation event meetings…” (Individual)

Care and Repair service (7% of respondents)

6.13 Around 7% of respondents (involving care and repair organisations and local authority/local authority representative bodies) made additional comments in relation to the role of the care and repair service within the adaptations process. This included believing that the care and repair service could be extended and maximised in future to deliver further and improved services, which would thus encourage multidisciplinary working; improved and faster service provision to clients; enhanced knowledge transfer, and greater flexibility. The quote below highlights the benefits of the role of care and repair within adaptations:

“The role of care and repair within adaptations could be extended with options such as projects having in house occupational therapists, which has been tried with success with borders care and repair. This speeds up waiting times, and provides on-site expertise for care and repair staff. Projects could get more heavily involved with hospital discharge and falls prevention if funding was made available, and systems were more flexible.” (Care and Repair organisation)

6.14 The quote below supports the further involvement of care and repair services within the delivery of adaptations.

“Care & Repair services already have a crucial role to play in supporting older people to remain safely and independently in their own homes. This resource should be developed as a central part of a consistent approach to the delivery of adaptations across the country.” (Local authority/local authority representative body)

6.15 There were other issues raised by various different consultation respondents which focused on issues such as the administrative aspects of the adaptations; e.g. the introduction of a register for rented housing for subsequent use, as well as the nature and design of the consultation paper itself, and the desire to become involved in further consultation on the subject.