United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction

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United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
A United Welsh newsletter for providers of support services

Summer 2008
Edition 9

United Welsh
supports
JobMatch...
providing                                  The JobMatch project, which has
                                           been operating in Blaenau Gwent for
opportunities                              the past 3 years, was set up to help
                                           the economically inactive into work
for construction                           and has proved to be an
                                           extraordinary success.

trainees                                   See page 6 for the full story
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
A new staffing structure at United Welsh
    United Welsh has recently undertaken a                       planned maintenance into the Housing & Community
    number of changes to the staffing structure                  Services department, to site it alongside reactive
    within the Housing and Development                           maintenance and to transfer community development
    Departments and we thought you might be                      into the Development & Technical Services
    interested to know the thinking behind                       Department and to rename it community investment.
    these.                                                          We feel this arrangement will strengthen budgetary
       In implementing these changes we were seeking to          control, improve customer service and allow existing
    achieve a number of objectives.                              staffing structures to be developed without significant
       The objectives for the maintenance service included:      additional cost.
    •   closer and more collaborative working between
        planned and reactive maintenance;
                                                                    Within housing we now have two new Heads of
                                                                 Service alongside the Head of Support Services (Chris
    •   more effective and efficient use of human and
        financial resources;
                                                                 Rutson) and Head of Living+ (Wayne Emery).
                                                                 •  The first new post is Head of Property (Luke
    •   providing a seamless maintenance service to
        tenants and improving service delivery in all areas.
                                                                     Mitchell) with responsibility for reactive and
                                                                     planned maintenance, as well as the customer
                                                                     services team.
       The objectives for community development
    included:                                                    •  The second post is Head of Neighbourhood (Jan
                                                                     Waters) with responsibility for all housing
    •   developing a complete and integrated approach to
        community development (including the physical
                                                                     management services in general needs properties
                                                                     - across all our areas of operation.
        regeneration of the areas, as well as social inclusion
                                                                    Within the Development department a new post of
        and sustainability);
                                                                 Head of Community Investment has been created and
    •   creating effective links with developers as
        supporters and funders of projects;
                                                                 we are currently seeking to recruit to this position.
                                                                    This is a brief overview of our restructure and if you
    •   providing opportunities to use these projects as a
        learning mechanism for future development
                                                                 have any questions then please get in touch.
                                                                 Paula Kennedy
        schemes.
                                                                 Director of Housing &
       To achieve these objectives we considered a               Community Services
    number of options and ultimately decided to transfer

    Two new support providers for United Welsh

    Hafal (meaning 'equal') are a charity for                    PRESS was established in 1991 and
    people with mental health problems. Hafal                    provides a range of services and care
    operates across all 22 Local Health Board                    packages tailored to the specific needs and
    areas in Wales.                                              wishes of the individual.
       The organisation is managed by the people they                Current services are provided to individuals with
    support: individuals whose lives have been affected by       learning difficulties, through residential, supported
    severe mental illness.                                       living and domiciliary arrangements.
       Underpinning Hafal’s services to clients is their own         PRESS works in several local authorities to support
    unique Recovery Programme. Based on principles of            and encourage service users to understand and
    self-management and empowerment, the programme               exercise their rights, to develop their skills and
    offers clients a methodical way of achieving recovery by     independence and also enable them to become part of
    focusing on improving all areas of their life.               their local community.
       Hafal have recently taken over the management of a            For more information please contact their main
    United Welsh project in Bridgend.                            offices in Ystrad Mynach. This can be done via
       For more information please contact please contact        telephone (01443) 814293, Fax (01443) 816555 or
    their main office on 01792 816 600 or e-mail                 email press1@tiscali.co.uk.
    hafal@hafal.org
2
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
Repairs by                                              Scalding
appointment                                             risks from
In April 2008
United Welsh
                                                        hot water
introduced an                                           Maintenance Officer
appointment                                             Richard Powell tells
system with                                             us why anti-scald
Q u a d r o n                                           valves          are       so
Services for                                            important for people
c e r t a i n                                           living in supported
repairs.                                                housing.
   We introduced
                                                        Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMV’s)
the system because we know
                                                        TMV’s, also known as Anti-Scald Valves are one of the
how frustrating it can be waiting for a repair to
                                                        most established methods of limiting the temperature of
be completed or to wait for an operative without
                                                        water being discharged through a hot water outlet.
knowing when they might call.
                                                        TMV’s should be inspected twice yearly by a qualified
   The appointment system has concentrated on
                                                        person. The table below gives maximum hot water
internal repairs to homes and will allow tenants to
                                                        temperatures for a range of applications.
choose a convenient date and between a morning or
afternoon call.                                         Scalding
   When repairs are phoned through (on 0800 294         Scalds are burns caused by hot liquids; the severity of
0195) the Customer Services Advisor will book an        the scald is expressed in degrees on a simple three
appointment and the tenant will receive written         step scale.
confirmation (unless the managing agent has asked           A third degree burn means the entire thickness
us to send the confirmation to their office, for        of the skin is destroyed - the wound has to be surgically
example women’s refuges). If the appointment is not     removed and the area covered with a skin graft.
convenient, tenants or support workers should               A second degree burn is a burn with blisters -
contact us to rearrange the appointment. This is        with proper treatment many of these will go on healing
important as we need to reduce the number of            without a skin graft.
abortive visits so we can make better use of the            A first degree burn would be like superficial
operative’s time.                                       sunburn where there is no blistering.
   We are looking at ways to improve this system            The highest number of scalds resulting in severe
and have recently invested in a product called OPTI-    injuries is caused by hot bath water. The people most at
TIME which will bridge the gap between our              risk are the very young and the elderly due to their
customer services centre and Quadron’s. The             slower reactions and thinner skin.
system will allow us to allocate work in real time to   Hot water temperatures
operatives based on skills for the job, location and    Scalds result from a combination of water temperature
availability. By using route planning and workforce     and duration of exposure, or immersion. At high
management we believe that we will be able to           temperatures (around 45°c and upwards) scalds can
reduce cost, but more importantly we will be            appear almost instantaneously.
improving the service.                                      However, the skin of children and the elderly is even
Repairs Inspection by Appointment                       more sensitive to extreme temperatures – scalds occur
We have also introduced pre-inspections by              at around 10°c lower for these vulnerable people.
appointment - this is where the work is either
complicated, to the exterior of the home, potentially   Maximum set hot water temperatures
expensive or a rechargeable repair following tenant     Application Maximum temperature (°c)
damage.                                                 Bidet       38
   When the repair is phoned through the Customer
                                                        Shower      41
Services Advisor will discuss and assess the repair
with the person who reports it. If it is deemed         Washbasin   41 (based on running water)
necessary for a pre-inspection to take place an         Bath        44 (bath fill temperatures of more
appointment will be offered.                                        than 44°c should only be
   This process should make better use of                           considered in exceptional
maintenance officers’ time and make the overall                     circumstances and a safe means of
service more efficient.                                             preventing access to the hot water
Luke Mitchell, Head of Property                                     should be devised to protect
                                                                    vulnerable people.
                                                                                                                    3
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
Volunteers needed for Person to
    Are you being                                    Person Citizen Advocacy
    served?                                          Sometimes a person with a learning disability needs
                                                     someone to speak on their behalf.
    United Welsh has
                                                     What Is Citizen Advocacy?
    been working with a
                                                     Citizen Advocacy is a long-term one to one relationship between a
    group of support
                                                      person who has learning difficulties (partner) and a volunteer
    providers        to      set
                                                      member of the community (advocate).
    standards for the
                                                        Some people who have learning difficulties can easily become
    United            Welsh
                                                     isolated and over-looked. The citizen advocate helps to change this
    S u p p o r t e d
                                                     by;
    Housing service.
        We now want to consult on                    •   Making sure that their partners rights are respected by helping
                                                         them have a voice that is heard;
    the standards with all support
    providers and tenants.                           •   Helping their partner to develop new relationships and use
                                                         existing resources in the local community.
        Each standard is divided into gold, silver
    and bronze. Bronze shows a basic level of        What does Person to Person Citizen Advocacy do?
                                                     The project has two aims:
                                                     •
    service while silver shows that the service
    is improving. Gold standard is the highest           To identify people with learning difficulties who are in need of a
    standard and admittedly aspirational!                citizen advocate;
    There are slightly different standards for       •   To recruit, prepare and provide continued support for local
                                                         people who wish to become citizen advocates.
    temporary and permanent housing.
        The areas of service covered by the          Advocates
    standards are:                                   These are ordinary members of the local community who vary
                                                     greatly in their skills and experiences. The one thing they have in
    1. Letting
                                                     common is a willingness to enter into a long term partnership with
    2. Safety and Security                           a person who has learning difficulties. Advocates come from all
    3. Accommodation (communal                       walks of life and can represent a wide range of cultures and creeds.
       areas)                                        Advocates need neither formal qualification nor any particular prior
                                                     experience.
    4. Tenancy management
                                                        Things an advocate might do:
    5. Complaints, comments and
       appeals                                       •   Help their partners to express their views in meetings or
                                                         generally with other people;
    6. Information and involvement                   •   Help their partner solve their problems;
    7. Repairs and maintenance                       •   Ensure that their partner is helped to make choices – maybe
                                                         about where to live, what to eat,
    8. Equality and Diversity                            what to wear, who to be with etc.
    9. Environmental Impact
       We have sent the draft standards to
                                                     •   Helping their partner to write
                                                         letters and make telephone calls;
    every service user with The Focus
    newsletter and to all the support providers
                                                     •   Make sure that the other people
                                                         in their partner’s life are doing
    we work with.                                        their jobs properly.
       There will also be a consultation day for
    service users on the draft standards in the
                                                     •   In short, help their partners live a
                                                         valued lifestyle in the community
    autumn.                                          An example of citizen’s
       The working group will be reconvened to       advocacy
    consider all the comments then we will           John, a middle aged man living in
    publish the final version of the standards.      the community, was really keen to
       We would be very grateful                     find out more about computers -
    for your assistance in                           possibly learning how to use them
    commenting on the                                or maybe to go on a training
    standards and in                                 course. With help from his
    encouraging                                      advocate who made some
    service users                                    enquiries, John enrolled on a
    to respond to                                    computer course.
    the                                                 A few weeks later I met with
    consultation                                     John, when asked about the
    and/or attend                                    course he beamed and said how much
    the event later in                               he enjoyed it. He added it was great to meet so many friends.
    the year. Please                                 If you would like further information,
    return all comments to                           phone Jackie Hughes on 02920 753 291or
    Chris Rutson (crutson@uwha.co.uk)                e-mail Caerphilly@persontoperson.f9.co.uk
4
4
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
Development update

Bargoed’s new Health Centre and Library
Bargoed
Health Centre
Bargoed is set to benefit from a
new Heath Centre. United Welsh
is transforming the former Job
Centre at Gilfach Street with a
£1.6m investment.
   The 3-storey building was
purchased with £1.1m support
through the Heads of the Valleys
Programme and, when completed, it
will be leased to Gwent Healthcare
 NHS Trust.
                                                                                                             u
    The current health centre is located    demolished to pave the way for the new retail development platea
 above Bargoed’s library on ‘The Square’    and to assist in creating the pedestrian linkage between the
 and these existing facilities are to be    Hanbury Square and the new development.

Bargoed Library
Work is currently underway to create a
brand new librar y and customer service
centre within Hanbury Chapel, Bargoed.
The current librar y will be relocated from
its site on the Bargoed plateau.
   The scheme is expected to include a cafe, library
facilities, a customer service centre for Caerphilly
County Borough Council and a chapel.
   Consultation is currently being conducted to ensure
that the scheme provides the best possible facilities for
the local community

                                                                                                                 5
                                                                                                                 5
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
Training to help people
    get back into work
    Michelle Smith, Construction Trainee
    Co-ordinator for the newly created
    Community Investment team at
    United Welsh tells us about their
    work.
        United Welsh is committed to looking at
    opportunities for      training initiatives and
    potential job creation, utilising social inclusion
    clauses within the procurement process of our
    construction      projects       and      planned
    maintenance programme.
        We aim to work within the communities
    where we provide new developments, housing
    and services, to look at ways our work can
    benefit the wider economy and local
    community       through        skills    training,
    apprenticeships and potential employment.
        United Welsh works very closely with
    JobMatch to identify local people to take up
    the opportunities both JobMatch and United
    Welsh offer within these communities.
        My main role is to develop and maintain
    these relationships and support our contractors and the trainees with any issues
    that may arise. I am also involved in developing local labour construction initiatives
    utilising our Development, Planned Maintenance Program and reactive
    maintenance service.
    Pictured, United Welsh have several people on site at our new development in
    Ystrad Deri, Tredegar .

       JobMatch
                                                                  ation in
       The JobMatch project, which has been oper
                                                                      up to
       Blaenau Gwent for the past 3 years, was set
       help the economically inactive into work.
                                                                        t, the
           Following the success of the project in Blaenau Gwen
                                                                   to role
       Heads of the Valleys Employment Consortium proposes
                                                                      as
       the project out, alongside mainstream programmes such
       Pathways to Work, across the Heads of      the Valley s Area.
                                                                       -
           JobMatch has proved to be an extraordinary success
                                                                      14,000
       over the next 5 years JobMatch aims to engage with
                                                                     existing
       people across the region, and by working with new and
                                                                     through
       partners move 10,000 people into employment, put 4,000
        training and help at least 2,000 to gain qualifications.
                                                                        5452
            For more information on JobMatch contact 0800 066

6
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
The event gave tenants and                                          involved took place at several of the
support         providers        the                                    workshops. We accept there is little
opportunity to comment                                                    point in offering opportunities for
on the strategy and to                                                      tenant participation if there are
discuss different ways to                                                    barriers. Some of the concerns
be involved.                                                                 raised included the timing of
   The general conclusion was                                              meetings, carer needs (tenants have
that people were favourable                                               to care for an adult or child) and
toward the principles outlined in the                                  transport.
strategy and would like to be                                                    To implement the strategy, it
given different opportunities to                                              was  agreed that an action plan is
                                      United Welsh recently held a
be fully involved.                                                            needed   and it is important that
                                      very successful event where
   It was also accepted that                                                  supported housing tenants and
                                     supported housing tenants and
there needs to be a supported
                                    support providers came together support providers are fully
housing representative on the                                                 involved. Therefore, we are setting
                                         to discuss the Tenant
executive of voice4tenants (the                                               up a working group to move this
                                         Participation Strategy.
tenants group that represents                                                 forward. The membership of this
the interests of all United Welsh tenants). As some     group will be United Welsh staff, the Chair of
tenants in supported housing may not be able to give    Voice4Tenants, Supported Housing Tenants and
a long term commitment - due to temporary               representatives from support providers.
accommodation, for example - it was been agreed             If you are interested in being part of this please
that the representation could be shared amongst         contact me on 02920 858 140. The draft action plan
several people. Please contact me if you know           will be consulted on before it is finalised.
someone who may be interested.                              Last, but not least, thank you to everyone who
   Discussions about what stops tenants being           attended the event and made it such a success.

Wendy Doel,                                                    We’ll be sleeping in a tent and living on a diet of
Neighbourhood                                               local meat (guinea pig), rice and beans.
Team Administrator                                             Luckily the organisers (www.justdoitforcharity.com)
& Customer                                                  have provided us with a very scary looking training
Service Advisor                                             programme, to get us ship shape in no time.
with United Welsh                                              Our trek is to raise money for Llamau, who work
tells us about her                                          with young homeless people in South Wales.
trip to Peru – in aid                                       Altogether I need to raise £2750 and if you would like
of Llamau.                                                  to sponsor me, I would be extremely grateful for any
   “As everyone at United                                   money pledged. You can do this
Welsh knows by now I have                                   by visiting www.justgiving.com/
decided to hang up my high heels,                           natashamaguire1
cut off the nails and pack my make-up away to trek the         Please help me in reaching my
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with my friend Natasha.          target and raising money for
   We are leaving in March next year and the trek will      Llamau. Your help and support is
last for 10 days. We will be trekking uphill for 10 hours   very much appreciated. Wish us
a day and that’s not easy for someone who gets              luck!”
shattered just from running up the stairs at home! We
may even experience altitude sickness as we will be         Wendy
2,400m above sea level.

Wendy...
La Conquistadora
Machu Picchu                                                                                                         7
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
United Welsh pledges
    support for Credit Union
    “     Credit Unions have an important role to play in our communities. United Welsh is
    delighted to be offering this support. We’ve been working closely together for some time
    and making this partnership more formal will really help to raise awareness of the
    service and increase membership. Peter Laing, Chair of United Welsh
                                                                                                                    “
    United Welsh has made a firm commitment                    Support will be provided to develop marketing
    to support the valuable work being done by              campaigns and financial inclusion initiatives in order to
    the Caerphilly and District Credit Union.               raise the profile of the credit union and encourage
    Assistance will be provided by United Welsh             more local people to save. In addition, two United
    to raise awareness of the Credit Union and              Welsh employees have been appointed to the Board
    help to increase membership.                            of Directors.
                                                               Credit Unions are not for profit organisations and
                                                            exist solely to serve their members. A dividend is paid
                                                            to members annually on savings, and all Credit Unions
                                                            are regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
                                                            Pictured left, Peter Laing, Chair of United Welsh, and
                                                            Ken Chamberlain, Secretary of Caerphilly & District

                                                           “
                                                            Credit Union signing the Service Level Agreement.
                                                                 We currently have over 2,500
                                                                 members who enjoy a very
                                                           competitive financial service. For as little
                                                           as £2 people can start saving. The Credit
                                                           Union provides great saving opportunities,
                                                           advice on developing a savings habit,
                                                                                                                    “
                                                           and access to low cost loans.
                                                           Ken Chamberlain, Secretary of Caerphilly & District Credit Union

                                Chris Rutson, Head of
                                                                             If you would like to
                          Support Services tells us
                    about the benefits of being a                                know more about
                  member                                                           the Caerphilly &
                     I first joined the Caerphilly and District Credit               District
                  Union in 1998, because I wanted to support an
                                                                                      Credit Union phone
                  organisation which helps people on low incomes to get
                        access to credit without resorting to loan sharks or           029 2088 3751 or
                           other ways of borrowing with high interest rates. I          e-mail:
                            was a housing officer at the time, with two children         Caerphilly@
                             and little spare cash but my small monthly saving,          creditunion.fsnet.co.uk
                             paid directly from my salary soon mounted up.
                                 Since then I have found the credit union a really
                             good way to finance major purchases or projects, at
                             a very low interest rate. In fact they have just
                            helped me to carry out a garden improvement
                            project, with which I am very pleased. At the same
                          time it is a painless way of saving and the credit
                       union is continuing to help people with limited
                       access to the usual sources of credit. I would
                       recommend it to anyone as a way of saving and
                       borrowing.
8
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
Triangle launches ‘Rainbow
                                      Mark’ to bridge the LGB
                                      housing needs gap
                                       Triangle Wales has been granted Welsh Assembly
                                       Government (WAG) funding to address the housing needs of
                                       lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in Wales.

   The first phase of the project was to undertake an        interested organisations – a kite mark signifying an
extensive research project (commissioned by Trothwy          organisation’s commitment and knowledge of the
Cyf and Stonewall Cymru). This research found that           specific housing issues and barriers facing LGB
there was inadequate recognition or understanding of         people.
the housing needs of LGB people amongst housing                  As part of the 'Rainbow Mark', there will be criteria
and homelessness service providers in Wales.                 to meet, and Triangle Wales will follow-up with post-
   The research found that there were many types of          training assessments and monitoring (and perhaps
housing issues that LGB people encounter, including:         even a mystery shopper here and there!). They will
•   Harassment in or around the home                         also be providing certificates, posters and leaflets to
•   Negative reactions, actions and attitudes of other
    people
                                                             participants and helping (where necessary) to re-word
                                                             policies, procedures and documents.
•   Insensitive allocation of housing                            Stephen Brattan, Service Manager of Triangle
•   Lack of tenancy security if a partner leaves or
    dies
                                                             Wales says “It is really important that the particular
                                                             needs of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community
•   Lack of monitoring and evaluation of LGB people,
    meaning that needs can be misdiagnosed or
                                                             accessing housing are addressed. Trothwy Cyf hopes
                                                             that this project assists housing providers in Wales to
    ignored                                                  take that leap forward in addressing a range of
   Consequently, WAG provided the funding to                 equality and diversity issues and providing a fair and
develop a best-practice toolkit and training package to      equal service to those identifying as lesbian, gay or
Local Authority housing and homelessness                     bisexual”.
departments and Registered Social Landlords across               If you are a social housing provider and
Wales.                                                       would like to book some training for your
   This free training is offered to all staff within these   staff (or if you would just like more
organisations to ensure they can ably meet the needs         information), please telephone Sarah Jones
of LGB people experiencing housing problems. Two             or Claire Purvis on 029 20453030
Training and Policy Co-ordinators have recently been         or email: claire.purvis@gwalia.com or
appointed and they will travel across Wales to deliver       sarah.l.jones@gwalia.com
bespoke and relevant training direct to housing
providers. United Welsh have been trail-blazers, and
were the first to host 2 days of training in Cardiff and
Caerphilly in April. Since then, many more housing
associations and Local Authorities have followed suit.
Triangle Wales will also award a ‘Rainbow Mark’ to all

                                           United Welsh is delighted to have successfully attracted
                                           S180 funding in a joint bid with Trothwy Cyf to set up a
                                           private sector leasing scheme operating in Caerphilly and
                                           Blaenau Gwent to open up the private sector to vulnerable

    ...in brief
                                           single people.
                                              A steering group of both our organisations and representatives of the
                                           two local authorities will manage the project.
                                              We are looking forward to working proactively to assist the two local
Private sector                             authorities with their homelessness prevention agenda in this way.

funding bid will
help vulnerable
single people
                                                                                                                         9
United Welsh supports JobMatch... providing opportunities for construction
Where next for Ho
                                “
                                       ...independent research commissioned by the Welsh Assem
                                       saved across a whole range of other social policy areas inc
                                At a time when public funding is under scrutiny and where polic
                                funding for SP alongside a more strategic use of resources is cl

     What’s the picture like across the UK?
                                                                 Jocelyn Davies (Plaid) AM:
     Before looking at Wales, it might be
     interesting to take a look at what is                       “…on the Supporting People grant, we all have
     happening in neighbouring countries:                        concerns about that, and organisations in the
                                                                 field are a bit worried about the redistribution,
         I remember a time when we were quite jealous of
                                                                 as you can imagine. So I wonder whether you
     how things worked in Scotland – but no longer!
                                                                 can give an assurance that no project that is
     The funding stream - Supporting People - no longer
                                                                 currently in demand will be cut”
     exists. The devolved government decided in October
     last year to hand over the funding to local government      Edwina Hart AM (Lab):
     from April 2008 and it is now part of the general           “…I fully appreciate Jocelyn’s comments on the
     settlement.                                                 Supporting People grant, as it is something that
         A new way of working on established outcomes            we are very aware of. I have been lobbied by
     for the whole of public service delivery was                Assembly Members and the groups, and we
     developed between devolved and local government             are taking an interest in what is going on. We
     and many, although not all, funding streams became          are particularly concerned that any changes in
     part of one pot. This means that there is no                the formula should not disadvantage anyone.
     information held centrally, no monitoring, no way of        That work is ongoing, and there will be a report
     knowing how much money is being spent on housing            back to the relevant committee in due course.”
     related support and no knowledge of what services
     are being delivered.                                     As ever, the world of housing related support has
         As the time between the decision being made and      moved on since then, other issues have dominated
     its implementation was so short, LAs are in some         and other processes been set in motion – so where
     cases issuing 6 month contracts while they work out      are we now?
     what they’re going to do next.                              In March this year the Welsh Assembly
         In England competition appears to rule; mergers      commissioned consultants, LE Wales, to carry out a
     are becoming more common and many local                  feasibility study into whether a redistribution formula
     authorities are trying to save money by reducing the     could be established that would be fair and equitable.
     number of providers they work with. Concerns             This will be submitted to the Deputy Minister over the
     around the role and sustainability of specialist         summer so we should expect a decision soon.
     services are rife and funding has been cut centrally.    Cymorth’s position on this issue is clear:
         In Northern Ireland other priorities had meant       There’s no doubt that the way in which SP was set up
     that SP was under the radar and inflationary             led to a “postcode lottery” for people in Wales needing
     increases had been awarded each year – not any           housing related support.
     more. Funding is being cut for the next three years          People living in some areas are able to get help
     as in England.                                           because their local authority was able to “maximise the
         So Wales is the only part of the UK where the        pot” while for others, where for whatever reason the
     next two years will see slight increases in the budget   local authority did not set up as many new services,
     – and while this is clearly good news, especially when   access is much more limited.
     we look around at what’s happening in other areas –
                                                                  We strongly believe though, that
     there are still issues to raise…
                                                              nowhere in Wales are there more services
     What’s happening with redistribution?                    than are needed and even in those areas
     The following exchange took place some time ago          where there is a range of services, there
     now (in March 2007) between the then Minister            are still waiting lists and difficult decisions
     responsible, Edwina Hart AM and our new Deputy           being taken over prioritising what will be
     Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies AM:                 funded and who can gain access.

10
ousing Related Support?
mbly demonstrated that for every £1 spent on SP; at least £1.68 is
cluding health and wellbeing and community safety.
cymakers are looking to use funding more effectively, additional
                                                                                         “
 early a smarter way to target public funding on what works.

        As with any public services to vulnerable people,
    the current situation – where access is ruled more by
                                                             •   The new funding allocated must be used for
                                                                 addressing the mismatch in available services and
    opportunity than need – is not desirable or                  need and not for funding other public services.
    acceptable.
                                                             But can we afford it?
       However, it would be equally unfair, if
    due to changes in how a funding stream                   The argument against the above approach is cost but
    was distributed a vulnerable person in one               this is not valid – independent research commissioned
    part of Wales lost their support, so that a              by the Welsh Assembly demonstrated that for every £1
    person in another part of the country could              spent on SP; at least £1.68 is saved across a whole
    be helped.                                               range of other social policy areas including health and
                                                             wellbeing and community safety.
       Cymorth Cymru’s position on re-distribution is
    clear and based on straight forward principles:              At a time when public funding is under scrutiny and
                                                             where policymakers are looking to use funding more
    •  We accept that the way in which SP was
       introduced was more opportunistic than strategic
                                                             effectively, additional funding for SP alongside a more
                                                             strategic use of resources is clearly a smarter way to
       and that there is now a mismatch between levels
                                                             target public funding on what works.
       of social deprivation and the number of services
       available.                                            Finally…

    •   This is not the fault of the Welsh Assembly, local
        authorities, providers – nor – and most
                                                             I’m glad to say that our position has the support of a
                                                             range of partner organisations including:
        importantly – the people who need services. It
        was the result of how the UK government
                                                             •   Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru

        implemented the programme.                           •   Community Housing Cymru

    •   The current arrangements are not fair to             •   Denbighshire County Council
        vulnerable people living in parts of Wales where
        few services were set up when SP was                 •   RNIB Cymru
        introduced.                                          •   Rough Sleepers Cymru

    •   Equally, re-distributing SP so that a well used
        service in one part of Wales loses funding so that
                                                             •   Shelter Cymru

        a service in another part of Wales can be            •   WCVA
        established is unjust.                               We will be submitting a report to the Deputy Minister
    •   Re-distribution therefore must be accompanied by
        additional funding so this doesn’t happen.
                                                             that will flesh out this position and put forward how the
                                                             contribution of housing related support and related
                                                             services can be maximized further.
    •   All current services should be protected – a
        vulnerable person currently using a service
                                                                 Our thanks to members who have contributed
                                                             ideas and if any others would like to contribute, please
        should only lose it because they do not need it
                                                             contact Joy at joykent@cymothcymru.org.uk
        anymore and projects should only be closed or
        remodeled because they aren’t working or aren’t      Joy Kent, Cymorth Cymru
        needed.

    •   Where the formula demonstrates that more
        services should be developed, this should be
                                                                         Contact Cymorth Cymru
                                                                              Tel: 029 2055 3687
        done with new money over a number of years                                  Email:
        until the number of services across Wales                         info@cymorthcymru.org.uk
        matches the levels of need indicated.

                                                                                                                         11
Earlier this year Oak              The strategy was trialled through a pilot

     Cardiff County Council Re-settlement strategy                          House signed up to
                                                                            the Cardiff County
                                                                            Council Re-settlement
                                                                                                            scheme which included Oak House (as well as
                                                                                                            four other hostel/supported accommodation
                                                                                                            providers), Cardiff County Council and all RSL’s
                                                                            strategy as one of five         with properties in Cardiff. The aim was to focus
                                                                            pilot projects in the           on a small number of referring organisations to
                                                                            city. David Owen from           create a coherent workable system.
                                                                            Cardiff County Council             With excellent co-operation from all the
                                                                            and Kieran Towler,              organisations involved the pilot proved a success
                                                                            manager         of      Oak     and is now being expanded to include all other
                                                     House, tell us about their progress.                   hostel/ supported accommodation providers
                                                         Cardiff is well served with a range of             within Cardiff.
                                                     temporary accommodation in the form of direct             Kieran said: “The setting up of the agreement
                                                     access hostels and a variety of other types of         was very easy and the Council have worked in a
                                                     specialist secondary supported accommodation.          very pro-active way listening to the people
                                                     However, the lack of access to permanent settled       involved in the pilot and making any changes
                                                     accommodation for service users who are ready          through good consultation.
                                                     to move on can be dispiriting. It also reduces the
                                                                                                               So far Oak House has benefited from two
                                                     availability of this type of accommodation for
                                                                                                            people moving-on; one to a housing association
                                                     those who desperately need it.
                                                                                                            property and the other to a Council property.
                                                         The need to address this issue and develop a       From a hostel point of view, the fact that one of
                                                     more co-ordinated, integrated city-wide                the conditions for the person moving on is that
                                                     resettlement strategy was recognised by the            they receive floating support gives added peace
                                                     multi-agency          Homelessness        Strategy     of mind that this person will succeed and
                                                     (Accommodation) Group.                                 maintain their tenancy.
                                                         It was decided to devote an allocation of social      The process has been well explained by the
                                                     housing solely to resettling vulnerable individuals    Council with the dedicated officer taking the time
                                                     who could not manage in the private sector, from       to come to the project and explain the strategy to
                                                     hostels, certain hospitals and supported lodging       staff, and this has enabled us to make sure that
                                                     schemes. This would both assist the Council in         we are placing the right people through the
                                                     carrying out its statutory duty towards homeless       service.
                                                     people in Cardiff and prevent bed blockages in
                                                                                                               All in all our experiences so far have been
                                                     much needed supported accommodation.
                                                                                                            positive and are definitely helping with the issue
                                                         Due to applicants’ vulnerability (which could      of bed blocking. I hope there is future scope for
                                                     be related to issues like inexperience of living       this service to spread wider and further assist
                                                     independently or health difficulties), floating        with residents’ move on.”
                                                     support would be provided to help tenants
                                                                                                               For more information speak to Kieran
                                                     resettle into communities thus reducing the
                                                                                                            at Oak House on 02920 444 524 or
                                                     likelihood for tenancy failure and anti-social
                                                                                                            contact the Housing team at Cardiff
                                                     behaviour.
                                                                                                            County Council on 02920 872 000.
                                                         The re-settlement strategy gives the
                                                     opportunity for single people to receive one
                                                     priority offer of accommodation after they pass an

                                                     “
                                                     application process with the Council.

                                                             The setting up of
                                                     the agreement was very
                                                     easy and the Council
                                                     have worked in a very
                                                     pro-active way listening
                                                     to the people involved in

                                                                      “
                                                     the pilot and making any
                                                     changes through good
                                                     consultation.
                                                     Kieran Towler,
                                                     manager of Oak House
12
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