Eastern Region Housing LIN Meeting 10th December 2014 Frances Auger Information and Advice Service Manager 0203 519 6011 frances.auger@firststopadvice.org.uk

Our Mission ‘To help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care needs.’

How we deliver I&A Access via one phone number and email 25 local and 5 main national partners Access also via any partner organisation Client referrals between partners Support to website users Integration with C&RE Silverlinks Good independent evaluation

Customer volumes 2013-14: Unique website users 4,092,319 20,355 5,866 10,604 Unique website users National advice line clients Local partner clients Older people reached via public events

Funders DCLG (ongoing) Comic Relief (to October 2014) Nationwide BS (ongoing) EAC Big Lottery (C&RE Silverlinks and FS pilot) A majority of funding raised to date has been for local FirstStop partner services

East of England Partners Age UK Norfolk Orbit – Suffolk FirstStop has helped to fund a local caseworker in each of these counties to offer I&A to/for older people when considering their housing and care options and the related finances in later life. The local caseworkers also offer help and support to achieve the desired outcomes.

Age UK Norfolk Age UK Norfolk's housing and care options service has developed as a specialist element within their I&A offer, offering comprehensive advice across all tenures. Age UK Norfolk are looking to develop their service offer to local CCGs with a focus on enabling successful hospital discharge and multi-agency work to reduce falls, based on assessing the health and safety aspects of the client's home environment.

Orbit Orbit's housing and care options service is integrated within their HIA casework team. A key element of the service is providing a comprehensive housing and care options assessment in advance of a DFG application being followed through. The adviser also identifies alternative housing and care options where a DFG either isn't appropriate or would involve a very long wait.

The Care Act 2014 The Care Act 2014 sets out the framework for the future provision of adult social care

Independence Supporting people to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, is a guiding principle of the Care Act

Choice Put in place a system where people have the information they need to take control of their care and support and choose options that are right for them

Control The local authority should assume that the person themselves knows best their own outcomes, goals and wellbeing

Wellbeing - definition ‘Wellbeing’ is a broad concept, and it is described as relating to the following areas in particular:

Personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect) Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing Protection from abuse and neglect Control by the individual over day-to-day life (including over care and support provided and the way it is provided) Participation in work, education, training or recreation Social and economic wellbeing Domestic, family and personal The individual’s contribution to society

More detail is also given in the guidance on wellbeing and includes ‘suitability of living accommodation’

Special Mention! A specific mention is made to the national sources of housing & related information from EAC FirstStop and Foundations (for HIA’s)

Eastern Region Housing LIN Meeting 10th December 2014 Frances Auger Information and Advice Service Manager 0203 519 6011 frances.auger@firststopadvice.org.uk