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care and repair
STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE
Section Two: About Care and Repair
Services and Target Group
Care and Repair services in Scotland have the key objective of enabling older and disabled owner occupiers to remain living in their own homes through providing assistance with housing repairs, improvements or adaptations. The provision of advice and information is a central part of Care and Repair's role, as well as providing practical assistance with grant applications and co-ordinating repairs. Increasingly, Care and Repair services have become involved in other related activities such as small repairs and handyperson services.
The criteria for accessing Care and Repair services vary between local authority area. The core target group for Care and Repair services is older owner occupiers aged 60 and over. However, some Care and Repair services extend their provision beyond this client group to include:
- owners of any age group with physical or mental disabilities, or with special housing needs
- private rented sector tenants (who are older/ disabled)
- crofting tenants (particularly in the Highlands and Islands) 1
As the environment in which Care and Repair services in Scotland operate can differ significantly, guidance and best practice information has supported the development of activities which target those client groups most in need, meaning that eligibility criteria are flexible dependent on local need. Many Care and Repair services therefore have prioritisation strategies in place which aim to focus delivery on those most in need in the local area.
Development of Service
In Scotland, Care and Repair was initially established in two pilot areas in 1985, and was subsequently rolled out to eight local authority areas in 1987. In 1991 an evaluation 2 of these Care and Repair services was commissioned by the Scottish Office and Scottish Homes, and this report recommended that Care and Repair services should be established in other local authority areas throughout Scotland. Scottish Homes (now Communities Scotland) was given the strategic responsibility for co-ordinating the funding of Care and Repair services in 1993. The Care and Repair Forum Scotland was also established in 1993, with the aim of providing publicity, information, training and support to local services.
Since 1993, the number of Care and Repair services in Scotland has expanded significantly. As at summer 2004 there are 35 Care and Repair services in operation in Scotland, covering 29 local authority areas. A further two local authorities are in the process of examining the feasibility of establishing services. Although most Care and Repair services operate at a local authority level, some target particular localities within the local authority area.
Organisational Models
Of the 35 Care and Repair services currently operating in Scotland, seven are currently independent, constituted organisations, and the remaining 28 sit within a larger organisation which acts as a 'managing agent' for the service. The managing agent is the organisation which has legal and financial responsibility for the service, and is also the employer of all Care and Repair staff. In most cases a local Registered Social Landlord has taken on this role, although in some areas the local authority or other local organisation has taken on this role.
A number of Care and Repair services were initially established within a managing agent structure, and have subsequently become independent organisations. In addition, some of the projects established more recently have developed an agreement with a managing agent for an initial start up period, with a view to becoming independent in the future.
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