Older Persons’ Partnership2 September 2009

OLDER PERSONS’ PARTNERSHIP

A meeting of the Older Persons’ Partnership was held on 2 September 2009.

PRESENT: Councillor Rostron (Chair), Councillors Porley, Purvis and Whatley.

OFFICERS:J Burgess, P Dyson, S Harker, S Hodge, C Lunn, M Quinn and S Raja.

**PRESENT BY INVITATION: E Briggs, G Chester, D Diggins, J Evans, L Fawcett and

M Woods.

** APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Dryden and Lancaster.

**DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made at this point of the meeting.

**MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2009 were submitted and approved as a true record.

CORRESPONDENCE – STANDARD ITEM

There were no items for this meeting.

MIDDLESBROUGH SENIOR CITIZENS’ FORUM UPDATE – STANDARD ITEM

The Forum had started a petition for internal seating to be provided at The Mall and Hill Street Shopping Centres; 5000 signatures had already been attained. A local newspaper was to feature an article covering the story within the next week. A meeting with the Managers of the two shopping centres would take place on 14 September 2009.

The Chair congratulated the Senior Citizens’ Forum on the progress that had been made in respect of this issue.

Representatives from the Forum attended an Intergenerational Day at the MTLC on 28 July 2009. Representatives from the Forum had also attended a recent event in Darlington regarding the proposed merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged to form a single organisation.

The next event to be hosted by the Forum would be an International Day in October 2009.

NOTED

UPDATE ON THE OLDER PERSONS’ HOUSING STRATEGY

The Principal Housing Strategy Officer tabled a briefing note in relation to the Older Peoples’ Housing Strategy, together with details of its four main objectives. These objectives were as follows:

  • Ensuring Older Peoples’ Needs are Included in Development;
  • Enabling People to Stay in Their Own Homes;
  • Enhancing the Options for Accommodation-based Services;
  • Improvements in Joint Working.

Members were provided with details of the initiatives under each objective and the actions being taken to address them.

It was highlighted that the primary focus for the strategy was to ensure that it took the needs of older people into account. This would include developing ‘future-proof’ lifetime homes for older people, and ensuring that sufficient support was offered in order to allow people to remain in their own homes.

The Local Authority worked closely in partnership with private sector organisations with regard to new-build to ensure that sufficient suitable accommodation was provided within housing developments to meet the needs of older people.

In relation to objective four, the Principal Housing Strategy Officer invited members of the Older Persons’ Partnership to become involved in the process of refreshing the current older persons’ housing strategy. Members were invited to contact the officer directly if they wished to make any comments. The updated strategy would be presented to the Partnership at a future meeting.

NOTED

staying put agency

The Staying Put Agency (SPA) Co-ordinator gave a Power Point presentation about the Agency. Middlesbrough SPA had been in operation for almost 18 years and was one of over 250 Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) throughout the UK. The core role of HIAs was to help clients who were older, disabled or vulnerable to repair, maintain or adapt their homes. It was explained that agencies played a key role in enabling clients to remain in their own homes.

It was highlighted that the Staying Put Agency undertook the following work in order to assist their clients:

  • Advice and Advocacy – an impartial, independent advice service was offered and referrals to other organisations made, where appropriate;
  • Financial Matters – explored funding options with individuals;
  • Technical issues – a dedicated technical team was available to assess properties and provide assistance with issues such as thermal comfort and home safety;
  • Assisted with the delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme (DFG’s);
  • Assisted with the delivery of Older / Vulnerable Persons Financial Assistance (Loans);
  • Private works – assistance could be offered to clients who wished to fund works privately, thus removing the fear of appointing illegitimate tradesmen;
  • Middlesbrough Mobile Adapt and Mend Service (MMAMS Handyperson Scheme) – the purpose of the scheme, which had been in operation since April 2006, was to carry out minor adaptations and minor essential repairs;
  • Disabled Persons Re-housing Assistance Scheme (DPRAS) – as an alternative to adapting existing property, work was being undertaken with local estate agents to develop a register of already-adapted properties that were available to purchase on the open market.

It was explained that Foundations, who were the National Co-ordinating Body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), had awarded Middlesbrough ‘Quality Mark’ status. To achieve this, the agency had to demonstrate that procedures had been put in place and that the service offered to clients met the required standards. The Agency was commended by Foundations and was rated highly around their ‘Customer Involvement’.

The following points were highlighted in respect of future development proposals:

  • The Agency had secured resources to employ additional staff;
  • Focus upon the renewal of the ‘Quality Mark’ status would be made;
  • Mobile Working would be introduced to speed up the referrals process;
  • Waiting times for adaptations would be monitored;
  • Service Mapping would be carried out;
  • Events to promote the agency would be identified.

A question was raised regarding means testing and access to the Agency’s services. It was stated that although the Agency was governed by mandatory legislation, individuals who found themselves over the threshold limit could still seek preliminary advice.

The Staying Put Agency Co-ordinator distributed ‘Middlesbrough Staying Put Agency’ information packs containing further details about the Agency for Members to take away with them.

NOTED

INTRODUCTION TO INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR OLDER PEOPLE (ILOP) PROJECT

The Independent Living for Older People (ILOP) representative gave a verbal report and tabled information about the project.

It was explained that the ILOP project was launched on 27th October 2005 and currently worked in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and two charities, which included Age Concern Teesside and WRVS. The project was currently funded through the “Working Neighbourhoods Fund” which would end in March 2011.

ILOP had three full time and two part time members of staff, and over the life of the project had received over 1,900 requests for one or more of its services. It had also recruited 104 volunteers.

It was highlighted that the aim of the project was to provide low-level preventative support to enable people over the age of fifty to live active lives and gain confidence in their local communities. Services were provided where there was a need to reduce social isolation and combat age discrimination. ILOP offered a holistic service to its users, which included befriending, assisted shopping and transport, all facilitated through volunteers and a handyperson service. Advice and advocacy work and activities were also provided by members of staff.

A leaflet detailing the Handyperson Scheme was tabled for information and it was explained that the service provided low-level DIY work and gardening tasks at a nominal rate. It was noted that the only criterion required to access this service was that applicants had to be over the age of fifty.

The ILOP representative explained that the project also worked closely with Cleveland Fire Brigade and Cleveland Police. “Operation Strongbow” had been devised in order to help keep vulnerable older people safe by offering advice and practical assistance with home safety and security. The service worked on a cross referral basis with the Staying Put Agency and the Middlesbrough Home Energy Project, and also forwarded the government endorsed “Trustmark” list of tradesmen to service users if tasks were too large for ILOP’s handyperson service.

It was explained that ILOP’s services were facilitated through the assistance of 104 very dedicated volunteers, who supported housebound or isolated older people by enabling them to maintain their independence and providing opportunities to enhance social inclusion. Through befriending, a diverse range of services were offered, which included regular visits for a chat; help with letter writing or reading; provision of information regarding other agencies; being present when workmen called and assistance with shopping and transport. It was highlighted that there had been 1,851 befriending tasks and 682 assisted shopping/transport tasks undertaken in the year April 2008 - March 2009.

Regarding partnership working, Members were informed that referrals for ILOP’s services had been received from various services and organisations. These included: Health and Social Care; OT’s; Cleveland Fire Brigade; Staying Put Agency; “Operation Strongbow”; Home Energy Project; Age Concern and Working Pensions. In addition, referrals were also made from self-directed individuals / family members. Statistics representing the breakdown of these referrals were presented as follows: Health and Social Care – 47%, Self-directed – 29% and Organisations – 24%.

The Partnership was informed that since October 2005, 954 individuals had attended 87 ILOP activities, which included a shopping bus; health walks; chair based exercises; line dancing; information days; quizzes and day trips.

In respect of the advice, information and advocacy service that was offered by ILOP, it was highlighted that 474 individuals had accessed the service during the period April 2008 – March 2009. This service included assisting with form completion and answering various enquiries. Furthermore, it was noted that service users continued to contact ILOP in order to request signposting advice or advocacy work.

Members were informed that ILOP’s staff continually attended community events and meetings to help raise the profile of the project and to network with other likeminded organisations, ensuring that information regarding service users’ requirements was kept up to date.

The Senior Citizens’ Forum representative expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Forum for all of the assistance that the ILOP project had given to the older people of Middlesbrough.

A question was raised in respect of how the Senior Citizens’ Forum could become involved with “Operation Strongbow” and work with Cleveland Police to tackle bogus offending. The Older Persons’ Partnership Manager informed Members that at the last “Operation Strongbow” meeting, it had been suggested that a representative from the Senior Citizens’ Forum be invited to join the “Operation Strongbow” board. The outcome of this proposal was currently being awaited and would be reported to the Partnership at a future date.

NOTED

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