Home Adaptations

Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee Inquiry into Home Adaptations July 2013 The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales and holds the Welsh Government to account. An electronic copy of this report can be found on the National Assembly’s website: www.assemblywales.org Copies of this report can also be obtained in accessible formats including Braille, large print; audio or hard copy from: Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee National Assembly for Wales Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA Tel: 029 2089 8505 Fax: 029 2089 8021 Email: [email protected] © National Assembly for Wales Commission Copyright 2013 The text of this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context. The material must be acknowledged as copyright of the National Assembly for Wales Commission and the title of the document specified. Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee Inquiry into Home Adaptations July 2013 Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee The Committee was established on 22 June 2011 with a remit to examine legislation and hold the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising expenditure, administration and policy matters encompassing: Wales’s culture; languages; communities and heritage, including sport and the arts; local government in Wales, including all housing matters; and equality of opportunity for all. Current Committee membership Christine Chapman (Chair) Peter Black Welsh Labour Welsh Liberal Democrats Cynon Valley South Wales West Janet Finch-Saunders Mike Hedges Welsh Conservatives Welsh Labour Aberconwy Swansea East Mark Isherwood Gwyn R Price Welsh Conservatives Welsh Labour North Wales Islwyn Jenny Rathbone Ken Skates Welsh Labour Welsh Labour Cardiff Central Clwyd South Rhodri Glyn Thomas Lindsay Whittle Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru Carmarthen East and Dinefwr South Wales East The following Members were also Members of the Committee during this inquiry Ann Jones Joyce Watson Welsh Labour Welsh Labour Vale of Clwyd Mid and West Wales Contents Chair’s Foreword ............................................................................................................. 7 The Committee’s Recommendations ................................................................... 9 1. Introduction............................................................................................................ 13 Terms of Reference....................................................................... 13 Method ......................................................................................... 14 2. Background ............................................................................................................. 15 Introduction ................................................................................. 15 Social Justice and Regeneration Committee Review (2004) ............. 15 The Jones Review (2005) ............................................................... 16 Equality of Opportunity Committee inquiry (2009) ......................... 16 Progress implementing the Jones Review (2010) ............................ 17 Welsh Government Housing White Paper ....................................... 18 3. The role of the Welsh Government ........................................................... 19 Introduction ................................................................................. 19 The progress made since previous inquiries .................................. 19 Leadership and Strategic Direction ................................................ 21 Accountability .............................................................................. 23 Legislation .................................................................................... 23 Impact of Welfare Reform ............................................................. 24 Minister‘s view.............................................................................. 24 Our view ....................................................................................... 26 Recommendations ........................................................................ 26 4. The adaptations system.................................................................................. 28 Introduction ................................................................................. 28 General views of the adaptations system ....................................... 30 Social housing and PAGs ............................................................... 32 Small Scale Adaptations ................................................................ 33 Rapid Response Adaptations Programme ...................................... 34 Single point of access ................................................................... 35 Provision of Information ............................................................... 36 Minister‘s View ............................................................................. 38 Our view ....................................................................................... 39 Recommendations ........................................................................ 40 5. Disabled Facilities Grants .............................................................................. 41 Introduction ................................................................................. 41 Variations in delivery times of DFGs .............................................. 41 Variations in approach .................................................................. 44 Best Practice ................................................................................. 45 Scrutiny in Local Authorities.......................................................... 46 Corporate Leadership ................................................................... 47 Collaboration ................................................................................ 48 Occupational Therapists ............................................................... 49 Our View ...................................................................................... 51 Recommendations ........................................................................ 52 6. Performance monitoring ................................................................................. 54 Introduction ................................................................................. 54 The narrow scope of the performance indicators ........................... 55 The effectiveness and reliability of the current performance indicator .................................................................................................... 55 Monitoring customer satisfaction .................................................. 57 Monitoring longer term outcomes ................................................. 58 Minister‘s View ............................................................................. 59 Our view ....................................................................................... 59 Recommendations ........................................................................ 60 7. Funding and resourcing home adaptations ........................................ 62 Introduction ................................................................................. 62 Funding for DFGs ......................................................................... 62 Funding from other budgets ......................................................... 64 Means Test ................................................................................... 65 Self funding .................................................................................. 67 Physical Adaptation Grants ........................................................... 67 Stock Transfer organisations ......................................................... 68 Accessible Housing Registers ........................................................ 68 Recycling equipment .................................................................... 71 Minister‘s view.............................................................................. 72 Our view ....................................................................................... 73 Recommendations ........................................................................ 74 Witnesses ......................................................................................................................... 75 List of written evidence ........................................................................................... 77 Chair’s Foreword ―The right to inclusion, to the dignity and maximisation of independence that an adaptation can bring is just that: a right, not a privilege.‖ This quote comes from a contributor to this inquiry and crystallises many of the conversations we‘ve had during the course of this inquiry. For many people, home adaptations are a lifeline – they allow people to live a full life. Imagine feeling trapped in your own home, as some people do – it‘s difficult to think of it as being a ―home‖ then. As Assembly Members, we frequently hear horror stories from our constituents about long waits in inappropriate accommodation. Sometimes the place they call home no longer suits their needs and changes need to be made. These are vulnerable people in difficult situations – they

Load more