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Improving adaptation services Local Adaptation Agreements

Improving adaptation services Local Adaptation Agreements. Sheila Mackintosh Mackintosh O’Connor Associates. Background. National study of adaptation protocols – ‘Making it work smoothly’ 1 Local partnership agreement in Bristol Local partnership agreement in Devon 2

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Improving adaptation services Local Adaptation Agreements

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  1. Improving adaptation servicesLocal Adaptation Agreements Sheila Mackintosh Mackintosh O’Connor Associates

  2. Background • National study of adaptation protocols – ‘Making it work smoothly’1 • Local partnership agreement in Bristol • Local partnership agreement in Devon2 • Report on protocol for Westminster City Council2 • Review of aids and adaptations service in Dorset2 • Redesign of adaptations service for Bristol City Council 1. With Frances Heywood 2. With The Housing Consultancy Partnership

  3. What are partners looking for?

  4. Key issue - funding • Loss of housing association direct funding (£29m pa versus one-off payment into DFG pot in 2007 of £1.5m) • Increased take-up of DFG by HA tenants • Funding challenges: LAs, HAs • Not enough in DFG pot • No responsibility for HAs to report on adaptation budgets / expenditure • No national guidance - localism

  5. Should HAs contribute ?

  6. HA contributions essential • In some areas HAs dominate DFG spending • HA lack of engagement lengthens queues for everyone • Core function – need proper budgets • Issues of fairness/equality (consistency for tenants, Council tenants v HAs, between HAs themselves) • No input of resources leads to insufficient training, no planning or strategic thinking - ‘just a maintenance thing’ • Need joined up policies for accessible homes • Agreements very time consuming to set up and to monitor • Hard for LAs to enforce compliance

  7. HA use of the DFG

  8. HA budgets – Devon and Bristol The smallest associations are missing as the focus was on the housing associations with the most stock. In Bristol by 2011/12 many HAs had already increased their budgets as a result of the protocol

  9. Local agreements – can one size fit all? • Number and diversity of housing associations – local, regional, national, LSVTs • Bristol/Devon = over 40 HAs @ 15 hold most of the stock • Westminster = 12 HAs own 90% of the stock

  10. Different funding models

  11. Changes in HA budgets after agreement Bristol Launch of local agreement April 2010

  12. Benefits of agreements • Bristol 12 out of 15 HAs signed up • Devon 13 HAs, 9 LHAs and DCC signed up • HA budgets increase / DFG demands decrease • Communication/sharing intelligence/trust • Consistency and fast-track for minor works – reduced demand on OTs • Tenants - direct route and support • Better maintenance/recycling • Better procurement/VFM • More use of housing options/rehousing

  13. Problems that remain • Agreements take time and effort to set up • Sign-up only the start – need on-going management • Easier in smaller unitary authorities • Non-compliance – LSVTs and nationals • Staff changes mean benefits lost • Budgets not secure • Monitoring data hard to obtain • Tenant input vital – scrutiny groups

  14. “Everyone at the Bristol Housing Partnership Management sub group thought it had been a really good project - good outcomes for tenants as well as staff, due to better communication with Bristol City Council and OTs.”

  15. A WAY Forward? A customer focused approach that brings services together

  16. What people want • Comprehensive, accessible information about solutions • Help to understand and evaluate the options • Ability to see and try solutions • Help to assess how they might resolve personal needs • Quick and appropriate service once preferred option chosen

  17. What is needed? • Simpler processes • Quicker service • Breakdown of silos / professional boundaries • End to end service

  18. Examples • Dorset • Knowlsey • Bristol

  19. Dorset proposed structure

  20. Wheelchair Services CIL Services Knowlsey User Led Organisation Sensory Impairment Centre for Independent Living 3rd Sector Age Concern Princess Royal Carers Trust Advocacy Hub Older Peoples Voice Children’s Services Community Loan Store Home Improvement Agency Integrated Adaptations Team Equipment Showroom

  21. https://vimeo.com/41341525

  22. Getting the message out

  23. Bristol - Home Design Centre

  24. Barriers to change • Defence - positional power, continued employment, budgetary control and professional barriers • Inertia - ossified systems, procedures and people • Pressure - unable to resource – people and money, day job difficult enough • Issue invisible - or relegated by corporate priorities

  25. Looking forward • Need to meet the needs of people with disabilities in all tenures • DFGs are only the tip of the iceberg • Inclusive approach vital – including needs of those not entitled to financial support • Need for multi agency working and planning • Centre of excellence / learning for professionals • One stop shop • Not a hidden service • Scope to involve other partners • Mainstream

  26. Contact details Sheila Mackintosh Mackintosh O’Connor Associates Mob: 07920-260616 Sheila@mackintoshoconnor.co.uk

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