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care and repair
STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE
Section Three: Care & Repair Context
The environment in which Care and Repair services operate is influenced by both the national and local policy agenda. This section sets out the key aspects of the strategic context which have an impact upon Care and Repair services in Scotland.
Policy Context - The Housing Improvement Task Force
The Housing Improvement Task Force was established to explore the problems of housing quality in the private sector in Scotland, and in 2003 it produced its final report - 'Stewardship and Responsibility - A Policy Framework for Private Housing in Scotland'. This report made a number of recommendations on how the condition and overall quality of housing in the private sector could be improved.
One key theme of the report is that overall, responsibility for the maintenance of properties within the private sector lies with the owners themselves, and that mechanisms for ensuring that owners take this responsibility are required. However, the HITF also outlined a 'Scheme of Assistance' which should be available to owners, particularly older, vulnerable and disabled individuals. This scheme aimed to bring together various forms of assistance for the repair, improvement and adaptation of properties and was intended to extend beyond grants made by local authorities to include a range of other options for owners.
Within the proposals for this scheme, the HITF clearly outlines the importance of the provision of Care and Repair services:
"Each local authority should ensure that there is the capacity in its area to provide disabled and older people with the equivalent of at least the current core services of Care and Repair schemes together with services to carry out small repairs ancillary to improvement works; 'handyman' services; advice on loans with access to grants for arrangement fees; and for those assessed as needing them, whether or not on a payment basis, preventative small repairs services." 3
Care and Repair services are therefore perceived as valuable, with the HITF believing that this type of service should be available in each local authority area. The HITF clearly places an importance on information and advice and minor forms of assistance such as small repairs, as well as support and assistance accessing grants for undertaking larger scale adaptations and building works. The HITF states that no national model should be imposed on the delivery of these services, and that instead delivery should be flexible and based on local circumstances. However, it does suggest that the delivery of these services by an organisation seen as independent from the local authority is likely to maximise take up of these services.
In addition to the recommendations highlighted above, the Housing Improvement Task Force also recommended that national standards should be developed for the delivery of Care and Repair services.
The Scottish Executive has committed to introducing a Private Sector Housing Bill which is expected to provide the legislative basis for driving forward many of the HITF recommendations.
Funding Context - Private Sector Housing Grant
Private Sector Housing Grant, which funds public assistance for private housing, was introduced in 2003/04. Allocations to local authorities have been made for 2004/05 and 2005/06. Communities Scotland's budget used to part fund the revenue costs of Care and Repair services will transfer to local authorities from 2005/06 onwards, and will be added to the allocation of Private Sector Housing Grant. This is intended to bring together capital funding for the provision of grants for major repairs and adaptations, which may be accessed through Care and Repair services, and revenue funding for the running costs of the service.
The provision of Care and Repair services should therefore be integrated in the local authorities' planning for private sector housing investment and contained within their Local Housing Strategies. In some areas, Service Level Agreements are in place with local authorities which specify the service which Care and Repair will deliver in return for the receipt of this funding . In order to ensure that Care and Repair services continue to be adequately funded, it is therefore vital that close linkages are maintained between local authorities and Care and Repair services and that activities fit with the local strategic context.
Linkages with Housing and Community Care
Local Housing Strategies
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 introduced the requirement for all local authorities to produce a local housing strategy which assesses housing provision and related services across all tenures within the local authority area. In particular, the Act stated that local housing strategies must assess the need for, and availability of, accommodation designed or adapted for people with special needs.
As such, there should be linkages between the priorities set out in the local housing strategy and the activities undertaken by Care and Repair services. Many local housing strategies clearly identify specific local priorities for meeting the needs of older or disabled people requiring aids or adaptations, and Care and Repair services should ensure that the services provided by their organisation fit with the overall priorities and strategy for the local authority area.
Community Care and the Joint Future Group
The Joint Future group was established in late 1999 with the aim of making recommendations to improve partnership working between agencies and to ensure better outcomes for people using services, and their carers. In 2000, the Joint Future group made a series of 20 recommendations, many of which related to the improvement of service provision for older people. Recommendations of particular relevance to Care and Repair services include:
- The Scottish Executive should set out a programme of change requiring agencies to locally integrate equipment and adaptation services with the rest of community care services
- Local authorities, health boards, NHS trusts and Communities Scotland should draw up local partnership agreements, including a clear programme for local joint resourcing and joint management of community care services collectively or for each care user group individually
Overall, the Joint Future group recommended a more joined up approach to service delivery, both locally and nationally, with joint resourcing and joint service management. The Scottish Executive has stressed the importance of Care and Repair services within the Joint Future agenda - "Care and Repair is the type of service which fits the new frameworks envisaged by the Joint Future Group report" 4.
Linkages with other organisations and agencies, such as those delivering health, social care and housing services, have always been important in the provision of Care and Repair services. Care and Repair services are a key component within the menu of care services in the local health, housing and social care systems in Scotland and many activities require liaison with 'on the ground' professionals such as occupational therapists.
Whilst in some areas relationships with others in the local health system have developed successfully, in other areas Care and Repair services have reported difficulties engaging other agencies in their activities. However, the continued emphasis on the Joint Future agenda means that Care and Repair services will need to continue to ensure that their activities complement those of other agencies operating in their local authority area, and contribute to achieving agreed local outcomes.
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