Cheshire East Hotspots Scheme Alastair Bain Care & Repair Team Leader Cheshire East Council

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT? Introduction Quick look at Fuel Poverty What the Primary partners do: - –Cheshire East Strategic Housing Services –Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service –Cheshire East Benefits Team HOTSPOTS

Introduction Since July 2010, Cheshire East Council has been working with the NEA and various partners on a referral system linked to fuel poverty, income maximisation and fire safety. The scheme was launched on the 16 th March But why did we want to introduce a “HOTSPOTS” scheme?

Householders that spend more than 10% of income on fuel (subject to change) Fuel Poverty “The inability to afford to adequately heat the home”

Why is fuel poverty an issue? Health impacts Quality of Life Economic impacts Impact on health service capacity Reinforces cycle of deprivation Social Exclusion

Causes of Fuel Poverty Low income Poor insulation standards Inefficient or expensive heating systems Inefficient or expensive appliances Under/Over-occupation Rising fuel prices Cold, damp & unhealthy homes

Consequences – Less Economic Well-being Poverty and household incomes: There are currently 4m (33%) one-in- three children living in poverty in the UK [source: End Child Poverty 2009] 1.3m UK children are living in a household with an income of less than £7,000 p.a. 3m single pensioners (70%) survive on less than £10,000 per year 45% of pensioner couples receive pensions of less than £15,000 per year

25% Roof Insulation Savings: £50 - £180 10% Windows Savings: Up to £135 15% Floor Insulation Savings: £20 - £70 35% Wall Insulation Savings: £130 - £160 15% Draughts Savings: £20 Consequences – Cold homes Where does the heat go?

Consequences - Inadequate Whole House Heating Whole house heating requires: Efficient Boiler / Good Controls: Savings £190 - £230 per year Cheapest Tariff Option Understanding of Budgeting / Meter Reading / Bills Fuel Debt Advice Income Maximisation

Consequences - High Fuel Bills Average price increases since 2000 to 2012: –Gas: up 252% –Electricity: up 107% The average amount paid per week for fuel in December 2011 is: - £23.46pw In January 2000 it was: - £12.04pw The average annual combined bill for oil and electricity is now approx: - £1,375 Coal and electricity is approx: - £1,422 The elderly, children, disabled and long term sick tend to spend longer periods of time at home and so their heating bills are likely to be higher than the average!

Fuel Poverty by Household Type NEA 2007 – based on modelled EHCS data Couple, no dependent child(ren) aged 60 or over - 14% Single person aged 60 or over - 35% Single Person under % Couple, no dependent child(ren) under % Lone parent with dependent child(ren) - 10% Couple with dependent child(ren) - 6% Other multi- person household - 5%

Cold, damp homes and winter mortality and morbidity In England between there were on average 25,290 excess winter deaths (EWD) each year between December and March 40% of these deaths are from cardiovascular disease and around 30% from respiratory disease In Britain a cold spell during a mild winter is followed:- –Two days later by a sudden rise in heart attacks –Five days later there is a big rise in the number of strokes –Twelve days later by a big rise in respiratory illness Its estimated that for each EWD there are another eight emergency admissions

In Cheshire East 14 lower super output areas in the 20% most deprived in England Building Research Establishment have highlighted these areas as having:- Low levels of thermal comfort Most likely to have category 1 hazards for excess cold 14.48% of vulnerable people living in a property with a Standard Assessment Process (SAP) rating of 35 or lower in Health inequalities were highlighted as a concern in 2009 Comprehensive Area Assessment

Responsibilities Who is responsible for ensuring vulnerable people live in warm, damp free homes? The individual or family member? Housing providers? Health and Social Care? Utilities? Central Government? Local Government? Answer: In reality it’s everyone’s responsibility and we all have an important role to play however small “Multiple housing deprivation appears to pose a health risk that is of the same magnitude as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.’’ The Black Report, 1980

How to recognise and assess the signs of fuel poverty Identifying those at risk requires an understanding of: Groups with increased vulnerability to the cold Health conditions related to cold homes Significance of what your client / patient tells you What you see when you visit Asking the right questions

Triggers for action: Home is usually too cold Home is draughty Person has respiratory problems Fuel bills are too high Getting into fuel debt Stays in bed to keep warm Wants to stay in hospital because it is more comfortable Uses prepayment meter to avoid incurring debt What you may HEAR

Triggers for action: Cold Large differences in temperatures between rooms Patients / Clients hands cold to the touch Damp Sense of gloom Depressed atmosphere What you may FEEL

What you may SEE Mould stains on walls or curtains Peeling wallpaper or paint Ventilation points blocked Householder wearing too much clothing Children constantly have runny noses, rashes, ear infections, conjunctivitis Children often off school Children emotional / tired Triggers for concern :

Triggers for action: Portable bottled gas heaters Partial or no fixed heating system Heating controls absent / not working / switched off Visual evidence that heating appliances are not being used e.g. dust on heating elements What you might SEE

Solving the problem requires a multi-agency response Identify fuel poor and why in fuel poverty Income too low to afford heat Fear of high bills Home subject to high heat loss Heating system inadequate / broken down Don’t use or understand controls Income maximis- ation Insulation Access to grants Improve- ments New system Get advice on use of controls Budgeting Monitoring Debt Advice Ways to pay for fuel Cheapest tariffs Responding to fuel poverty

CHESHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

Community Safety Team… Our local Community Safety teams consists of: Full time Advocates Part time Advocates Home Safety Advisors Deaf Persons Advocate Volunteers Partner Agencies

Data provides us with evidence that those most at risk from fires, are also more vulnerable through living arrangements and lifestyle factors : Head of the household is aged Single parents with young children Households with smokers Households with financial difficulties Rented property Houses in poor condition Households with elderly persons / disabilities Households with alcohol/ drug problems Households was a victim of crime in the last 12 months Profiles – National

Main causes of fires in the home in the UK:- Accidents while cooking account for 53% of domestic fires (62% of all fires began in the kitchen) Electrical equipment / wiring causes approx 9% of fires Heating appliances – 9% Smoking causes almost one third of all accidental fire deaths each year in the UK Malicious Ignition – every week in the UK 2 people die and over 60 are injured as a result of arson

Home Safety Assessments… Our FREE Home Safety Assessments offer fire safety advice in each room of the house, tailored to the individual’s lifestyle and surroundings This advice is vitally important even if there are smoke alarms already fitted FREE smoke detectors will be fitted if appropriate – 10 year batteries. Specialist alarms may be arranged for hearing impaired clients

What are we doing about this?... Home Safety Assessments (HSAs) – we are aiming to offer every house in Cheshire a HSA by ,000 completed in 2009/10, and on target to complete 60,000 this year. 60% of these will be to vulnerable individuals.

Home Safety Assessments… We respect the client’s confidentiality and aim to reassure and raise the confidence of the occupier. CF&RS has to have the occupier’s consent to enter the property No powers of entry for HSA purposes – you can assist if there are concerns We can signpost individuals to services that may be able to help them further

Remember the 6 sense fire safety campaign The ‘6 Sense’ steps are as follows: 1. PLAN - plan your easiest escape route. 2. TEST - fit a smoke alarm and test regularly. 3. CHECK - check all appliances frequently. 4. CARE – take extra care around the home. 5. CLOSE - close doors to prevent fire spreading. 6. CALL - get out and call 999 at the first sign of fire.

CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL BENEFITS TEAM

Benefit Visiting Team Our aim is to maximise the income of the residents of Cheshire East We want to make sure the right people get the right benefit at the right time How do we do it? –We offer a home visiting service to help those who have difficulty getting into our offices –We train our visiting officers to recognise potential entitlement to other benefits –We can either refer the customer or signpost them to the relevant agency to claim their additional entitlements

What happens with a referral referral received Phone call to customer – trial calculation to assess any entitlement Home visit arranged if necessary to complete forms or collect information Referral passed to DWP/Pension Service/CAB

CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL CARE & REPAIR AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING TEAMS

What can we help with? Cheshire East Council are the hub for the Hotspots scheme, but as part of that process, we also carry out the giving of energy efficiency advice, which includes ways of saving money on the bills, as well as looking at fuel tariffs and bills. This advice can be either over the phone or in person, with a visit to the actual property. If required, further investigations can be carried out and got back to the resident. If the property is privately or socially rented, the Decent Homes Team will be informed and they can take the necessary action against the landlord.

What does the advice cover? Energy efficiency Grants and offers Referrals to local schemes and installers Renewable energy Choosing the technology Grants and offers Referrals to local schemes and installers Water conservation Top tips Sign posting

The HOTSPOTS REFFERAL SYSTEM

What is Hotspots? Tool to build effective referral networks to improve Housing Standards Fire Safety Income Maximisation Health and Well-being Reduction in health inequalities Financial Inclusion All of which can contribute towards reducing fuel poverty

What is Hotspots? Hotspots is an ‘in kind’ referral initiative between partners that has minimal core costs Relies on there being a core referral agency which administers referrals – Cheshire East Council Private Sector Housing (New Home Improvement Agency from 1 st November 2011) Core primary partners who can make and receive referrals - two-way referral mechanism Secondary partners – one way referrers

What is Hotspots? Core Partners – two way referrals into and out of Hotspots Cheshire East Private Sector Housing Advise on Private Sector Housing Team services Advice on Cheshire East Care & Repair service Cheshire East Benefits Section Maximise uptake of benefits Identify fuel debt issues Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Improve home safety

What is Hotspots? Health Services Children’s Services Voluntary Agencies Social Services Police/Community Safety Local Area Partnerships Social Housing Providers/ RSL’s Energy Suppliers CAB Proposed Secondary Partners – one way referral into Hotspots

How does it work? Hotspots Energy champions receive: Awareness raising on: The impacts of Fuel Poverty The referral network How to complete the referral cards Hotspots referral cards designed to be completed only by trained staff Hotspots presentation for delivery to frontline staff

What happens? 1.Staff visit client 2.Staff member promotes Hotspots and completes card * Fire Service promote to under 65s 3.Staff member leaves tear off strip with client and posts the card 4.Card received and processed within 5 working days by Private Sector Housing

Then what? Within 5 working days: Private Sector Housing contact client by phone Clarify what type of advice is required Where appropriate provide Private Sector Housing Services Inform client which agencies will be contacting them s sent to appropriate agency

Then what? Within 5 working days of receiving client contacted by: Care & Repair Provides advice on saving energy and/or refers to energy efficiency grants or schemes Benefits Section Trial Benefits Calculation completed Processed in house or referred to PS or JCP Fuel Debt Advice offered – referred to CAB Fire Service Client contacted about a home fire safety visit/smoke alarm if required Client supported in most appropriate way

When a customer contacts the core referral agency directly: They are prompted as appropriate to have A home safety fire check Energy Advice Benefits Entitlement Check Fuel Debt Advice If appropriate offered Private Sector Housing Services

The process that Primary Partners will follow. But we need assistance, by: - Once you have received a referral from Cheshire East, the partner needs to: - –Contact the client within the timescales agreed. –Carry out any necessary visits, etc. –Advice Cheshire East Council of the outcome.

Outcomes Every month we will report to all partners, the number of referrals received and the outcomes. For the householders, the improvements will be in their: - Health Quality of Life Economics Health Service Deprivation Social Inclusion