Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       Members will recall that the April 2017 meeting of People and Communities Committee approved that, from April 2018, the Council would procure and manage the Home Safety Check and Repair Service on behalf of partners.

 

1.2       This report provides an update to Members on the progress of the Belfast Handy Person Home Safety Check and Repair Scheme to date and the plans going forward.  

 

1.3       The Council’s Home Safety team sits within the Environmental Health Section. The team receives funding from the Public Health Agency (PHA) to deliver the Under 5 Home Safety Check scheme and numerous safety projects with older and vulnerable adults, parents and young children. 

 

1.4       This report also provides an update to Members on the work of the home safety team.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to note:

 

-       That from 1st April 2018 the Council will manage the contract for the Home Safety Check and Repair Service on behalf of partners; 

-       Changes to the equipment criteria for the Family Home Safety Check Scheme;

-       The ongoing home safety project work. 

 

3.0       Main report

 

            Belfast Home Safety Check and Repair Service

 

3.1       This scheme has operated for the last three years and, following an evaluation, it was agreed that the Council would procure and manage the scheme for the next three years.

 

3.2       Following a public procurement process, the contract for this service was awarded to Bryson Energy and the Council will commence management of the contract from 1st April.

 

3.3       This scheme offers residents aged 65 and over (or vulnerable adults) a free home safety visit during which they will be provided with advice, information and home safety equipment (e.g. helping hand grips, magnifier reader, long length shoe horn, jar opener and sock aids) which will be fitted free of charge. Residents can also avail of a reduced rate repair service (£5 per hour for people in receipt of benefits and £15 per hour for people who are not in receipt of benefits). These rates were previously agreed at the August 2015 meeting of the People and Communities Committee. 

 

3.4       Following agreement with the District Police and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) the new contract extends into the area of Home Security/Crime Prevention. Residents aged 60 and over who have been a victim of burglary in their home will be visited by the Crime Prevention Officer and referred in to the scheme, where they will be able to avail of free security equipment (e.g. door chains, window/door alarms, bin locks, key safes, door braces, call blocking devices, property marking kits and electricity timers) which will also be fitted free of charge. 

 

3.5       The objectives of this project are as follows:

 

-       identify vulnerable households using relevant stakeholders/referral partners;

-       reduce the risk of accidents in the home by making it a safer environment;

-       empower people to change their behaviours;

-       develop understanding about risk of accidents in the home by raising awareness and providing educational resources;

-       promote effective training, skills and knowledge in home accident prevention across all relevant stakeholders and groups;

-       improve the evidence base regarding home accidents by collecting relevant data.

-       reduce the risk of crime and the fear of crime perpetrated against vulnerable members of our community; and

-       help minimise the likelihood of repeat victims.

 

3.6       The objectives of this service link directly to the ‘Living Here’ priority of the Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan by supporting older people. The older population of Belfast is rapidly growing: it is estimated that 22% of people aged 60+ are affected by income deprivation which has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing for the residents.

 

3.7       Furthermore, these objectives reflect the objectives listed in the Northern Ireland Home Accident Prevention Strategy 2015-2025 and the provision of a Handy Person service has been made a priority under the Age Friendly Belfast Action Plan, under the Belfast Strategic Partnership supported by the Belfast Health Development Unit. 

 

3.8       A Home Hazard Steering group has been established including staff from the Council, Public Health Agency (PHA), Bryson Energy and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, to oversee and monitor the effectiveness of the scheme.

 

3.9       All occupants that received repair work under the scheme to date were left a Customer Quality of Service (CQS) form to complete and return via free-post.  A remarkable 70% return has been observed, with 100% satisfied to very satisfied responses on the handyperson’s performance and standard of workmanship and overall experience of the Scheme. Evaluation of the project to date has reported that the scheme has had a positive impact on those who have received it.

 

3.10     This project is funded by the PHA, PCSP and BCC.

 

            Belfast Family Home Safety Check Scheme

 

3.11     Council staff deliver the Belfast Family Home Safety Check scheme. This scheme offers families with children (under the age of five) a home visit to provide advice and information on how to prevent an accident. Occupants may also receive a range of home safety equipment (e.g. stair gates, fireguards, cupboard locks, anti-tipping furniture and TV straps, blind cord safety devices, carbon monoxide alarms and safety packs).

 

3.12     In 2016/17, 1,321 checks were carried out across the City. The majority of referrals are received from Health Visitors, Social Workers and Sure Start staff. 

 

3.13     In January 2018, new eligibility criteria was introduced by the Public Health Agency to ensure that families living in the most deprived areas and who are affected by income deprivation are receiving the safety equipment they require. Families who do not meet this criteria can still receive a home safety visit for advice and information.  

 

3.14     This service links directly to the ‘Living Here’ priority of the Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan by being committed to ensuring children and young people are safe. Five out of the ten most deprived wards in NI are in Belfast and it is estimated that 39% of children in Belfast live in income deprivation.  This scheme aims to alleviate some of the risks to these children.

 

3.15     Customer surveys are completed on a quarterly basis with a 10% random sample population.

 

            Home Safety Project Work

 

3.16     The Public Health Agency (PHA) provides annual funding for a range of home safety projects across the City.

 

3.17     The Council organises an annual falls prevention project targeting older people across the City. This year the project theme was ‘Foot Care for Falls Prevention’ and we worked with a BHSCT podiatrist to deliver the workshops to 533 individuals from 28 community groups across the City. Evaluations were completed with a sample population to assess knowledge increase and behaviour change.

 

3.18     The Council’s Home Safety Officer also delivers an annual Community Family Safety Project in conjunction with the City’s Sure Starts. In 2017/2018, we delivered 32 workshops to 253 parents on the topic of burns and scalds and blind cord safety. At these events we also provided heat proof pouches and blind cord safety devices free of charge. 

 

3.19     We organise annual visits for primary 7 pupils from schools across the City to visit the Risk Avoidance Danger Awareness Resource centre (RADAR) where they learn about: home safety; fire safety; road safety; anti-social behaviour; e-safety and bus safety. In addition to the funding received from the PHA we also received funding from PCSP which allowed us to pay for the centre admission fees for 2,186 pupils from 46 schools across the City in January-March 2018.

 

3.20     The projects delivered by the home safety team aid toward delivering outcomes from the Belfast Agenda including ensuring ‘Belfast is a safe City for all’ and ‘Everyone in Belfast experiences good health and wellbeing’.

 

3.21     Financial & Resource Implications

 

            The City Council contribution is included within existing budget estimates.

 

3.22     Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

            There are no relevant equality considerations associated with the proposed scheme.”

 

            The Committee noted the update.