Date

November 2003

Reporting Area

Housing & Supported Living

Lead Director

Jane Ashman

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

Leadership

Updates on July 03 report

Focus groups established to address communication issues for hard to reach staff as part of the action plan resulting from the staff feedback survey. It has been agreed that Annual Reports will be produced to inform wider council on actions and progress within housing services in response to staff comments regarding their perception of being a low profile service.

The Somer Housing Group has been appointed as the preferred partner to build and manage the `extra care' elements of the new "Centres of Excellence"

Head of Housing & Supported Living

March 04

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

Leadership

New items

The Housing and Supported Living Management team attended a two day equalities workshop focusing on service audits, impact assessments, and the Authority's requirements and expectations of RSL's and contractors. The

Management Team has agreed to meet quarterly to provide a clear steer on equalities issues and review progress against Action Plans and targets.

Head of Housing & Supported Living

On-going

People Management

Updates on July 03 report

The management of the Community Alarm Service has been transferred to the Occupational Therapy (OT) service with effect from the beginning of November 2003.

Agreement has been reached that the remaining frontline housing staff will move from North Parade Buildings to Lewis House.

Management Structure for frontline housing services has been established and working well.

Operational housing staff have received training on Making a reality of equality and Getting to grips with the Race Relations (Amendments) Act 2000. The aim of this training is to promote good race relations within all Housing services

Occupational Therapy Team Manager

Group Manager (Housing)

Nov 2003

Spring 04

People Management

New items

A Social & Housing Services Workforce Development Group has been established to agree the priorities for action to ensure an adequate supply of suitable skilled and trained staff to meet the future requirements of the service.

Head of Housing & Supported Living

On-going

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

Policy and Strategy

Updates on July 03 report

The review of the pilot for the Homeseekers Register is underway and due to report in December.

The review will consider how to lessen the impact of the pilot on the length of stay in bed & breakfast

Group Manager (Housing)

Dec 2003

A workshop on the Affordable Housing Strategy was held for senior staff and relevant portfolio holders in October.

A workshop was held in October for officers and portfolio holders to kick start the review of progress and confirm the priorities for the Housing Strategy for Bath & North East Somerset 2002-2011. The reviewed and updated Strategy is due for submission to GOSW by February 2004.

The housing strategy for the Drug Action Team has been published.

The Review of Homelessness and the Homelessness Strategy document was completed and published as planned at the end of July 2003

Agreement in principle has been reached to use one of Somer Housing Groups sheltered housing schemes to provide social and recreational activities for stroke survivors in the locality. Consideration is being given to the provision of Community Based Respite for Older People within sheltered housing as an alternative to hospital, nursing or residential care.

The draft strategy is to go out to consultation, it is proposed that the Overview & Scrutiny panel drive this consultation process.

Work with Somer Community Housing on developing their "drugs policy"

The needs of this group are currently being mapped to establish what activities should be developed/expanded.

Somer is to provide estimates of the compensation for loss of rental income would be required to make properties available for provision of respite.

Strategic Director / Head of Housing & Supported Living

Planning & Partnership Manager

Strategic Director / Group Manager (Community Cohesion)

Head of Housing & Supported Living

Dec 2003

February 2004

Dec 03

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

Policy and Strategy

Updates on July 03 report

Policy and Strategy

New items

The backlog of outstanding nominations under the Choice Based lettings Pilot have now been cleared and a report of the review is due in January 2004.

A rural housing strategy has been drafted in partnership with North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The strategy is intended to support a bid to the Housing Group for funding for a 3 year programme of investment in rural housing and a rural enabling officer (REO) post.

The role & objectives of the REO are the subject of negotiation between the three local authority partners and the voluntary organisation managing the REO. The Rural Housing Strategy cannot be finalised until agreement has been reached on this issue.

Group Manager (Housing)

Housing Services Manager

Jan 2004

March 2004

Resources

Updates on July 03 report

Received confirmation of arrangements for the allocation to the authority under the transitional arrangements following the withdrawal of the Local Authority Social Housing Grant. Currently working with strategic resources team to ensure new funding arrangements are taken account of within the Council's Capital Strategy and Financial Plan.

Outline business case to use some transitional capital to purchase properties for temporary use to move families out of bed & breakfast accommodation.

Head of Housing & Supported Living

Dec 03

Resources

New Items

A potential overspend of £269,000 is predicted within the Elderly Peoples Homes budget. This is in part due to increased staffing costs that have been exacerbated by National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) requirements for increased staffing levels, higher than normal usage of agency staffing to fill vacant posts, and key members of staff on long-term sick leave.

In order to minimise this projected overspend, the following action is being taken:

_ Line managers and Personnel representatives working together to reduce long-term sick leave.

_ Special recruitment events planned.

_ Shorter, simpler job application process being developed.

_ Negotiations with NCSC around staffing requirements ongoing.

Group Manager (Housing)

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

Process

Updates on July 03 report

The first review of a Supporting People funded service has been completed the draft report is due to go to the commissioning body early in November.

Some slippage has occurred within the Supporting Living Continuous Improvement Review - this is now due to be finalised and presented to Overview & Scrutiny in January 04

Reflection on the first review has highlighted areas for improvement. In particular:

_ Ensure clarity at the start of the review about what the review will cover and what it will not cover.

_ Commissioning Body to provide clear strategic direction for services for individual groups of people to provide context within which reviews will be undertaken.

_ Feedback to Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on shortfalls of the current Quality Assurance framework.

Performance Manager

Group Manager (Housing)

Jan 2004

Nov 03

Process

New Items

An Occupational Therapist has been seconded on a part time basis to Housing and Supported Living Services to undertake medical assessments of housing applicants. This is intended to speed up homelessness decision making which should reduce the length of stay for some people in bed and breakfast accommodation.

A Bed & Breakfast (B&B) task group has been established. The group has drawn up an action plan to reduce the usage of B&B accommodation for homeless people and they are now leading the implementation of the plan.

Careful monitoring of speed of decision making to assess the impact of this initiative

Housing Services Managers

Group Manager (Housing)

3 monthly

Performance Targets

No

%

Green

4

57

Amber

2

29

Red

1

14

Ref

Indicator

Status

Comment

62

% of unfit private sector dwellings made fit or demolished as a direct result of B&NES action

4.2%

1.4%

1.7%

1.75%

0.905%

(end of Aug-03)

Amber

Cost of repairs, particularly to Georgian properties, can be excessive. A great deal of the stock is listed and subject to stringent rules & regulations. Thus these targets are extremely challenging for B&NES

64

Amended

Number of private sector vacant dwellings returned to occupation or demolished

N/a

10

8

8

2

(to 31/8/3)

Amber

183

NEW

Homeless households (a) average time in B&B, households with children

(b) average time in hostels, households with children

N/a

N/a

(a) 7.5 weeks

(b) 10.2

weeks

(a) 4 weeks

(b) 10

weeks

(a) 7.3 weeks

(b) 16.8

weeks

Red

Figure for 2003/04 to date is 12 months to Sept 03 average.

Local 8

New affordable housing units

N/a

92

78

110

134

Green

Figure for 2003/04: progress to date is the number planned, all have funding and 41 are completed.

Local 9

% of affordable housing on brownfield sites

N/a

84%

91%

60%

87%

Green

Figure for 2003/04: progress to date is from information available on 119 of 134 planned for 03/04.

Local 90

% of new Registered Social Landlord homes to required lifetime standards

N/a

84%

54%

50%

66%

Green

Figure for 2003/04: progress to date is from information available on 134 planned for 03/04.

Local 91

Number of new call alarms provided to elderly and vulnerable people

N/a

311

315

250

175

(up to end of Sept-03)

Green

Number of Staff

% of workforce

Grade

1117

Lowest

Highest

Disabled Staff

28

2.5%

Manual worker 1

Hay Grade

G

Disabled Staff (DDA definition)

21

2%

Manual worker

1

Hay Grade

G

Disability status not revealed

36

3%

Manual worker 2

Hay Grade

J

Black and minority ethnic staff

39

3.5%

Manual worker

1

Hay Grade

I

"Other White" minority ethnic staff

22

2%

Manual worker 1

Hay Grade

I

Ethnicity details not revealed

25

2%

Manual worker 4

Hay Grade

J