2. Annual Conference & Exhibition
Social Care stream
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Annual Conference
& Exhibition
AND Specialist Section – Older People
Annual Conference
19 – 20 June 2017, Birmingham
#COT2017

3. Disabled Facilities Grant and Better Care Funds
Social Care stream
Disabled Facilities Grant and Better Care Funds
Paul Smith Director
Foundations

4. DFG Champions Roadshows June 2017
Changing DFG
June 2017
DFG Quality Standard Consultation

5. “The sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of the expertise of the people on the stage”
Dave Winer

6. Content
What is DFG?
What’s changing
What DFG should be

7. Nearly 30 years of DFG

8. D F G DISABLED Condition that limits senses, movements or activities
FACILITIES
Features that allow you to do something
GRANT
Give Money
Mandatory

10. Typical DFG Process Person contacts Social Services
Occupational Therapist makes assessment
Home Improvement Agency helps with application
Local Authority approves Grant
Contractor carries out works

12. What is the minimum value for a valid DFG application?
There is no minimum value for a DFG in the legislation but you can have a nil grant which logs any contribution against future applications(B)
£30,000 is the maximum value
£1,000 is usually used as a minimum value because equipment and minor adaptations are usually paid for by social services
One LA uses £250 as a minimum – endorsed by the local government ombudsman. If the person isn’t eligible for a DFG then social services will fund up to £1,000 for minor adaptations
A. £30,000
B. £nil
C. £1,000
D. £250

13. How many DFGs can 1 person can have?
No limit on the number of DFGs a person can have – so long as they meet the criteria at the point of application
A. 1
B. 2
C. 5
D. Unlimited

14. Who can’t apply for a DFG?
Council Tenants aren’t allowed to apply for a DFG, although their local authority should have an equivalent way of providing adaptations funded from their housing revenue account
A. A Private Tenant
B. An Owner Occupier
C. A Council Tenant
D. A Housing Association Tenant

15. How long can a LA delay payment for a valid application?
An LA has 6 months to approve a valid application. They can also defer payment but not for any longer than 12 months from the date of the application (C)
A. 24 Months
B. 18 Months
C. 12 Months
D. 6 Months

16. Which is NOT required for a valid DFG Application?
D. An OT Assessment is not specified in the legislation. For District Councils there is a requirement to ‘consult’ social services
A. Builders’ Estimates
B. Owner or Tenant Certificate
C. Details of the Adaptations
D. An OT Assessment

17. Which service/charge is NOT covered by a DFG?
The Housing Renewal Grants (Services and Charges) Order 1996
Includes
(a)confirmation, if sought by the local authority, that the applicant has an owner’s interest,
(b)technical and structural surveys,
(c)design and preparation of plans and drawings,
(d)preparation of schedules of relevant works,
(e)assistance in completing forms,
(f)advice on financing the costs of the relevant works which are not met by grant;
(g)applications for building regulations approval (including application fee and preparation of related documents),
(h)applications for planning permission (including application fee and preparation of related documents),
(i)applications for listed building consent (including application fee and preparation of related documents),
(j)applications for conservation area consent (including application fee and preparation of related documents),
(k)obtaining of estimates,
(l)advice on contracts,
(m)consideration of tenders,
(n)supervision of the relevant works,
(o)disconnection and reconnection of electricity, gas, water or drainage utilities where this is necessitated by the relevant works, and
(p)payment of contractors.
The 2006 guidance does, however, stress that where major items of equipment have been installed, arrangements for servicing and repairs should be made at the time of installation and the costs factored into the grant payable
A. Obtaining Estimates
B. Warranty
C. Help Filling in Forms
D. Financial Advice

18. Access to which room is NOT a ‘purpose’ of DFG?
“facilitating access by the disabled occupant to a room used or usable as the principal family room” – which would usually be the living room
A. Bathroom
B. Kitchen
C. Dining Room
D. Living Room

19. Which is NOT considered by the DFG Means Test?
A. Child Care Costs
B. Student Travel
C. Student Books & Equipment
D. Mortgage Payments

20. How long must you intend to remain living in the property?
A. 5 Years
B. 7 Years
C. 3 Years
D. 1 Year

21. What’s the shortest time taken to process a DFG?
If you’ve got the appropriate systems in place it should be possible to process a DFG in a day
A. One Day
B. One Week
C. One Month
D. One Year

23. Changing Times

24. DFG Funding NOW 1990 - 2014 District Council County Council
(Better Care Fund)
NOW

25. Funding v Regulation
“From the scope for use of DFG funding will be widened ... to support any local authority expenditure incurred under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (RRO). This will enable authorities to use specific DFG funding for wider purposes, which may be more appropriate for individuals than current DFG arrangements allow. Creating greater flexibility will allow the DFG to be used for associated purposes, such as moving home, where this is a more appropriate solution, or funding could be pooled to purchase portable extensions which are suitable for re-use, through improved procurement models.”

26. RRO Examples Revise / remove means testing Top-up grants over £30k
Hospital discharge adaptations
Preventative adaptations – e.g. for dementia
Repair / remove hazards
Adaptations on prescription
Pooled funding for minor/major adaptations
Help and support to move home

27. Use of RRO Policies
Since 2008 LAs have been able to develop their own policy to improve the delivery of DFG
47% of Local authorities do NOT use a RRO policy for adaptations

28. DFG Spend Under RRO
Amount of DFG allocation spent on RRO initiatives in 2016

29. Use of ‘Prescribed Form’
Since 2008 LAs have been able to develop their own more ‘user-friendly’ and less bureaucratic forms
45% of Local authorities still use the ‘prescribed form’

30. DFG Processing Times (2016)

31. Inspiring Change

32. Barriers to Change
Permission or Efficacy?
DFG

33. MOST EFFECTIVE IN COMBINATION
Lone Wolves
Build change by expertise and information – through advocacy, oversight, contributing to committees, public comments and other forms of consultation
LEAST EFFECTIVE
Mobilisers
Build change by mobilising people – being able to call on large numbers of people to contribute, engage in and take action
MOST EFFECTIVE IN COMBINATION
Organisers
Build change by growing leaders – identifying, recruiting and supporting future leaders in a distributed network: building a community and protecting its strength

34. REBEL

35. Troublemakers v Rebels
Complain
Create
Me-focussed
Mission-focused
Anger
Passion
Pessimist
Optimist
Energy-sapping
Energy-generating
Alienate
Attract
Problems
Possibilities
Alone
Together

36. Foundations Workplan 17/18
All Ships Rise

37. DFG CHAMPIONS ROADSHOWS
groups/dfgchampions

38. DFG Champions Roadshows
Consultation on the 10 Quality Statements
DFG Quality Standard Consultation

40. 10. Value for money
Local Authorities provide value for money home adaptations
Regular review of specifications
Efficient procurement through frameworks / tender portals
Engagement with the supply chain
Management of contractors
Aspirational design / client choice
Recycling

41. 9. Housing Options
Disabled people will be supported to move home if they want to.
Housing options advice
Register of adapted properties (across tenures)
Support to move home available
Accessible/adapted new build

42. 8. Tenure neutral approach
Disabled people can access assistance with adaptations regardless of their tenure
Protocols in place with housing associations
Equivalent procedures for retained council housing
Awareness raising with private landlords

43. 7. Assistance Policy
Local Authorities have a policy in place that allows DFG funding to meet local needs
Current Housing Assistance / RRO policy that addresses:
Works costing more than £30k
Use of the test of resources
Appeals process (not fettering discretion)
Appropriate (minimal) bureaucracy
Review process

44. 6. Timescales
Disabled people know from the outset how long an adaptation is likely to take to complete
Timescales are published as part of service standards
Timescales are monitored and reported
Prioritisation is used where appropriate
NHS Number is logged against all cases
Benchmarking with other areas

45. 5. Staffing
Local Authorities deploy staff to deliver efficiently and effectively
Single person responsible for customer journey
Co-location of staff (OT, caseworkers, technical officers)
Trusted assessors
Disabled staff

46. 4. Combined services
Disabled people do not have to search out other services
Single holistic assessment
Home adaptations are delivered collaboratively with other complementary services including:
Equipment and minor adaptations
Handyperson services
Repairs and affordable warmth
Home from hospital
Telecare and assistive technology, etc…
Includes support for ‘self-funders’

47. 3. Public information
Disabled people know where to go for help and support with home adaptations
Availability of assistance and support is publicised
Good quality public information is designed in consultation with disabled people
GPs and community health workers are trained
Initial point(s) of contact are well known, and include triage and signposting
#DFGChampions

48. 2. Co-production
Disabled people are involved in the design of adaptation services
Service users are involved in reviewing and improving delivery of services
Could be as part of an advisory group / user board
Satisfaction surveys and feedback are monitored and used to improve delivery

49. 1. Commissioning
Local Authorities understand the needs in their area and hold a joint commitment to meeting them.
JSNA or other needs analysis
Representation at Health & Wellbeing Board or a subcommittee
Senior officer commitment
Concordat between Districts and Counties
Funding allocated in accordance with need
Memorandum of Understanding on housing and health

50. Paul Smith | Director of Foundations pauls@foundations.uk.com

51. Annual Conference & Exhibition
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Annual Conference
& Exhibition
AND Specialist Section – Older People
Annual Conference
19 – 20 June 2017, Birmingham
#COT2017