Issue - items at meetings - DFG Lean Systems Report

Issue - meetings

DFG Lean Systems Report

 

 

Meeting: 19/04/2010 - Performance Management Board (Item 95)

95 Disabled Facilities Grants - Lean Management Process Report pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Minutes:

The Strategic Housing Manager gave detailed background information and explained that his team had been chosen as a pilot to apply the Lean Management Process to a review of the Council’s involvement in approving applications and monitoring the progress of adaptations under the Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) scheme.  However, from June 2010 the new Home Improvement Agency (HIA) for Worcestershire would come into force, dealing with all DFGs irrespective of whether it was a council tenancy (in the case of Redditch), Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) or private sector dwellings.  The Review Team had been involved in setting up the new HIA, which aimed to ensure consistent policies and procedures across the county and to include some of the savings identified in the review.

 

The Strategic Housing Manager advised that last year performance had improved in terms of the element of the process that had been done in house and effectively, all the budget had been committed by December. This meant that high priority cases received after that date could not be processed and potentially the Team was in danger of allocating less needy cases grants earlier in the year.  The Strategic Housing Manager advised that it would be beneficial if the budget could be divided up over 12 months and allocated on a monthly basis and that this phased process was being put in place. 

 

The Strategic Housing Manager gave information on, and Members discussed, the following issues arising from the report:

 

  • The allocation of funding in the future, particularly in light of the ageing population.  The Government had allocated the same level as the previous year, £310,000 despite a higher bid being put forward. 
  • The reasons for formulating the countywide HIA; this provided a stronger voice to argue for housing resources into housing and grants and also attracted additional money for supporting people in respect of fast hospital discharge scheme and handyman services.
  • The Kick Start funding bid, which was primarily an equity release scheme for owner occupiers to improve their homes, but could be used to top up DFGs where a current DFG was capped at £30,000 if the works needed were above that. 
  • One of the aims was increased customer satisfaction. In view of the timescale for DFGs to be completed it was difficult to increase satisfaction.  The aim was to make their experience as painless and the services as seamless, as possible. Often it was highlighted that other services could be brought in, for example home safety, trips and falls advice.  The service could be improved, although it may not impact on how quickly people received adaptations.
  • Redundant equipment that is in a private house.  A 3 year service agreement was included within the grant for some equipment, for example on a stair lift, after that the person was responsible for its maintenance and when redundant it was often of limited value.  However, BDHT was currently working on a recycling scheme and tried to re-use at least straight stair lifts wherever possible.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95