Hello from Walsall Disability Forum

1. Hello fromWalsall Disability Forum Welcome to you all

2. “ Opening the door to Partnership through Adapted Housing ”

3. Introduction Andrew Moult Development Officer Walsall Disability Forum and founder member of the Walsall Adapted Housing Service

4. How we started briefly • We discussed our plan with Social Care and Inclusion, Housing and Walsall Partnership. • Over an 18 month period we worked hard to reassure partners of any risks and potential outcomes and impacts. • We set up a steering group that became the board and drove ever forward together.

5. What we achieved in our first year…… • Target was 5 adapted properties • We housed 13 people with a disability or impairment Nearly 3 times more than our set annual target …….

6. What are the benefits…….. • The Housing partners and the local authority saved over 216k in the first year • People with disabilities needing adapted properties were re-housed in properties that met their needs • Local Hospital’s saved on bed blocking • Efficiently and quickly meeting the needs of clients saving the Social Services time and money

7. How do we run the service…. • The service is run and maintained by Partners and the Board. • The service is run on a 27k budget • The service is run with a P/T Admin post

8. How do we pay for the Service? • By means of a subscription from partners who benefit and who hold housing stock. • The Budget is set according to Housing Agencies’ Stock

9. For example…… Subsciriptions were based on property numbers Provider Contribution • Walsall HG £4,500 • WATMOS £1,000 • Caldmore HA £1,000 • Accord HA £1,000 etc,……. Giving a total of £28,189.51

10. Savings in first year DFGs £ 182,500tPCT £10,400RSL £9,650Other £13,900Total £ 216,450Average cost based on these totals is £16,650*Other costs refers to social care and inclusion costs.

11. Process for the client Occupational Therapist or Specialist Service Person assessed for their needs with their family Referral form completed Service user signs up to tennancy Appointment arranged to view property Matched to a vacant property at WAHS

12. Process to recycle a property ☺ Happy customer Housing partners Vacant property inspected Match made at WAHS Referral forms

13. Walsall as a whole…… • 253,000 residents • 54th out of 354 in 2000 for multiple deprivation • 44.3% not own a car, more reliant on public transport • 14.9% BME nearly double national average • Mostly rented accommodation “61,000 homes needed in the Black Country” Express and Star Oct 12 2007

14. The bigger story…….. 20.4% Long term illness Nearly 25% with mobility or arthritic problems 21.6% ageing and 22.4% Disabled or impaired 84% use support services 32.4% live alone

15. Our BME responsibilities Disability Facilities Grants • In the last year 6% BME housed in adapted properties. • 70% applications owner occupier • 30% rented • 75% over £1,000 • 600 requests last year, 450 this year • 192 given last year, 250 available this year • Pot however over 3 years getting smaller.

16. People on our register in 2008 March 2008 of 194 registered clients: 83% White British 7.5% Asian 10.5% Unknowns To date we have just over 200 clients which includes suspended clients.

17. How are clients categorised? • Critical 74 • Substantial 38 • Moderate 28 • Awaiting categorisation 64 • Remainder matched, in process of being categorised, matched or suspended.

18. CAT 1 = 131 CAT 2 = 35 CAT 3 = 24 UN = 4 A fully wheelchair adapted property with lift and necessary hand rails. Property with ramped access and one or two steps. Property with ramped and level access no lift but necessary handrails. Category not assigned Disability Category listings to date…

19. The future • make better use of existing resources/housing; • reduce number of empty adapted properties improving the turnaround time • avoid unnecessary spending on adaptations through Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) • improve the quality and quantity of information about the housing needs of disabled people and existing adapted housing • develop the web site

20. About Walsall Adapted Housing Service …….. • 13 Housing Agencies representing over 90% of the borough housing. • Occupational therapists, Social workers, Doctors, Housing Officers, Hospital professionals. • On average 150 -200 clients at any one time • 4 properties matched in the last 3 weeks

21. How much have we saved so far? A £16,000 B £80,000 C £180,000 D £500,000

22. How much have we saved…. £750,000

23. Savings • Save up to £30,000 per property • Administration and telephone call costs minimised • Quicker turnaround of property and client

24. Executive summary - Out and About Care Service Improvement Partnership NHS “functional impairment and the physical and medical needs of an individual should not be barriers to independence and whole lifestyle needs.” “more responsive and more people centred move towards furthering service around people, not people around services.”

25. The system should work around me

26. But life isn’t a game…………. • We need to remember what are the expectations of our clients • e.g. independence, sometimes they want a direct telephone call • near to family, • A home of their own • Security and warmth

27. Model of Good Practice • We have been recognised as a model of good practice nationally. • We have presented the model in Caimbridge and Leeds during June and July 08. • We have since been asked to give a presentation in Kent this November. • We are very proud of our service and partnership approach.