To receive a presentation on the work of Careline and Care and Repair.
Minutes:
The Careline Community Services Manager and the Repairs and Adaptations Manager provided the Panel with an overview of the services provided.
The Panel was informed that a Home Improvement Agency was a local organisation dedicated to helping older people, people with disabilities, and vulnerable people to live in safety and with dignity in their own homes. The services were focussed on ensuring that existing housing was fit for purpose and that vulnerable people were able to continue living independently for as long as possible. The Council’s Home Improvement Agency consisted of two teams: Careline Community Service and Care and Repair.
The Careline Community Service offered the following services:
· Community alarms – which allows the client to call for help and receive a response from a 24 hour control centre which securely holds all of the personal and medical information. Once an emergency call is made the operator will ensure that the client receives the appropriate help and support.
· Assistive technology – once a client had a community alarm, there were a range of assistive technology equipment which could be installed which worked via the alarm system. This could be triggered by the client of trigger automatically on their behalf. Examples included smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, bed, chair and property exit sensors.
· Minor adaptations and falls prevention – trained assessors were qualified to specify and install a range of aids including grab and hand rails, half steps, lever taps, secure flooring, removing trip hazards, lighting and supporting hospital discharges.
· Home security – provision of a range of equipment and interventions to help clients feel safer and more secure, which included: key safes, door chains and window locks, spy holes, security lighting etc.
· Energy Efficiency – keeping homes warm and as energy efficient as possible was a vital part of the service and the Careline Community Service could provide radiator foils, door and letter box brushes and edging strips, checking of central heating settings, distribution of winter warmer packs, treating damp and making referrals to other energy efficiency schemes and fuel poverty agencies.
· General Handyperson Service – clients could contact Careline if they were no longer able to complete small jobs within their homes. Careline supported the clients as much as possible and attended to jobs such as changing fuses, light bulbs, small repairs and other minor plumbing and carpentry jobs.
The Care and Repair Service provided the following:
· The statutory function to process Disabled Facility Grants.
· Facilitation of other grants and loans.
· Private repairs and adaptations service.
· Delivery of a range of major adaptations, including stair lifts, level access showers, rams, door widening, complex child and adult cases.
The Careline Community Services Manager and the Repairs and Adaptations Manager highlighted the following:
· A procurement process had been completed to ensure that all local contractors met the highest possible standards.
· The services were registered with Trustmark, the standard applied by the governing body of Housing Improvement Agencies.
· The department had worked on a number of projects and participated in a range of working groups, including Home from Hospital, Winters Pressures Initiatives, Dementia Service Development and re-enablement services.
· Services were provided to Fenland and Breckland District Council via Service Level Agreements.
· The Careline Service extended across North Norfolk, Broadland, South Holland and East Cambridgeshire.
· Careline had Dementia Care Coaches and Dementia Champions and had secured funding to deliver a Dementia Friendly Homes pilot, which would involve researching practical support and interventions to support those living with dementia to stay within their own home for as long as possible.
The Chairman thanked the Careline Community Services Manager and the Repairs and Adaptations Manager for their presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, some of which are summarised below.
In response to a question from Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh, the Careline Community Service Manager explained that Careline did work with the West Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group on a range of initiatives and projects, including the Dementia Partnership, Home from Hospital and Norfolk Older People’s Partnership. Representatives from Careline tried to attend as many meetings as possible.
In response to a further question from Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh regarding Dementia Services, the Careline Community Service Manager explained that Careline was involved with the West Norfolk Dementia Forum which was led by the Clinical Commissioning Group and made up from representatives from the public and voluntary sector. Careline were also involved in the Norfolk-wide Forum for Dementia.
The Vice Chairman asked how the service supported Dementia clients who could not live on their own. The Repairs and Adaptations Manager explained that a Care Assessment would be carried out which would include a financial assessment and the client would be referred to the relevant organisations for assistance.
In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Collop regarding charges for services, the Careline Community Service Manager explained that an hourly rate was charged, which was dependent on if the client was on benefits. £10 per hour plus VAT was charged to clients on benefits and £20 per hour plus VAT was charged to those not on benefits. The client could provide the parts or Careline could purchase them on their behalf. There was an option to pay by monthly direct debit if required and all cases were assessed on their own merits.
Councillor Mrs Leamon questioned if Careline was involved in the Clinical Commissioning Group’s Navigator Scheme. The Careline Community Service Manager explained that she was aware of the scheme which would look at how services were accessed and how referrals were made.
In response to a further question from Councillor Mrs Leamon regarding waiting times, the Careline Community Service Manager explained that there was a seven working days target for installation of alarms and a three week waiting list for the Handyperson Service. Careline also provided a Home Assessment Service which involved a visit to the client’s property and provided advice and assistance on funding streams available and see if they are eligible for free access to care.
In response to a question from Councillor Moriarty regarding Housing Association properties the Repairs and Adaptations Manager explained that the service worked closely with all Housing Associations in the Borough and responded to referrals. If a client had recently moved to a Housing Association property and required adaptations, the Support Officers could look at why the property was taken, for example was it through Homechoice or a mutual exchange and look at the eligibility for adaptations.
The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community, Councillor Lawrence informed the Panel that he was extremely proud of the work carried out by Careline and Care and Repair and highlighted how small adaptations could make huge improvements to the quality of life of clients. He thanked the Careline Community Service Manager and the Repairs and Adaptations Manager for their work and asked that his thanks be passed on to all members of the team.
On behalf of the Panel, the Chairman reiterated the comments made by the Portfolio Holder.
RESOLVED: (i) The presentation was noted.
(ii) That on behalf of the Panel and the Portfolio Holder for Community the Careline and Care and Repair Services be thanked for the services they provided.