Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Working in partnership to deliver a successful Disabled Facilities Grant

service

Christian Trevelyan Partnership Manager

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Who is the Partnership

• The Somerset West Partnership was formed in October 2007

• The original partners were Sedgemoor District Council and West Somerset Council

• Taunton Deane Borough Council joined in March 2010• Bound by Partnership Agreement

• There are approximately 101,000 non social houses in the Partnership area and over 22,000 social houses

• Twenty two staff in the Partnership based in three Area offices

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Work of the Partnership

• The Partnership provide the following services;• Disabled Facilities Grants in both Council and Non

Council properties• Recycling of specialist equipment• Repairs assistance through low interest loans with

Wessex Home Improvement Loans and advice• Energy efficiency grants and advice • Voluntary Landlord Accreditation Scheme• Empty Homes • Housing Standards• IMS (Intelligent Mapping Service)

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Budget for DFG’s

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Timescales for DFG’s

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Numbers

• In 2012 -2013 the Partnership processed ;

• Sedgemoor;• 86 DFG’s• 102 LADFG’s• 122 Minor Works

• Taunton Deane• 48 DFG’s• 41 LADFG’s• 211 Minor Works

• West Somerset Council• 31 DFG’s

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Types of adaptations

• The most common adaptations across the three districts in order of highest first are;

1. Wet floor showers2. Straight stair lifts3. Curved stair lifts4. Ramps5. Door widening6. Extensions

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG Process Map

Private Sector Housing DFG Process diagram

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG’s in Practice

• Initial Enquiry Stage• Housing Options considered by the

Occupational Therapist [DFG IS THE LAST RESORT]

• Recommendation recorded by the OT Coordinator

• Recommendation sent by secure email to the Partnership Coordinator and recorded on the DFG Register

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG’s in Practice

• Preliminary Means Test undertaken at this stage if OT identifies that Applicant is not on a Means Tested Benefit

• Letter sent to Applicant informing them that LA has received the Recommendation and the length of time for the adaptation to be completed

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG’s in Practice

Work Type Priority

High Medium Low

Wet floor shower 5 months 7 months 8 months

Stair lift 2.5 months 4 months 6 months

Extension Subject to local restrictions: Planning Regs

Through floor lift 2.5 months 4 months 6 months

Ramp 5 months 7 months 8 months

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG’s in Practice

• The Applicant is allocated in accordance with the DFG Protocol

• DFG Applicant allocated to Aster Living and assigned to Technical Officer in the Partnership

• Council tenant allocated directly to a Technical Officer

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG’s in Practice

EXTRACT OF THE DFG PROTOCOL

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG’s in Practice – Non Council housing

• Aster assist the Applicant with their application

• Application submitted to the partnership• Technical Officer approves the valid

application• Approval issued to Aster Living by secure

email

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

DFG’s in Practice - Council housing

• Technical Officer arranges preliminary visit• Undertakes property survey• Completes application forms with tenant• Draws up schedule of works and uses Fixed Price Quote

menu• Extensions prepared by an outside Architect• Permission sought from Estates Management• Application submitted to the Area Manager for approval• Grant approved and sent by post to the Applicant

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Payment stage

• Payment Stage• Invoice and completion paperwork received from Aster

Living/contractor• Payment made within ten working days• Certified Date letter sent to Applicant via Aster

Living/Applicant• Grant closed• Customer Satisfaction forms through random sample six

months after completion of grant• Process monitored through Exceptions reporting to DFG

Managers Group• All DFG’s mapped on IMS

Somerset West Private Sector Housing Partnership

Balancing partner priorities

• Housing Strategies• Joint Private Sector Renewal Policy• Agree partner priorities• Budget setting/alignment• Partnership Manager appraisal process• Staff appraisal process - Staff secondment/joint posts• Joint IT equipment and software• Hot desking• Increased mobility