ANNUAL REPORT 2013/14

Transcription

1 All older people shall live in homes that enhance their quality of life. DENBIGHSHIRE CARE AND REPAIR ANNUAL REPORT 2013/14 Unit A11 Trem y Dyffryn Colomendy Industrial Estate Denbigh Denbighshire LL16 5TX t: f: e: enquiries@gofalathrwsio.com w: your-community/denbighshire-care-repair/

2 Who are we? Denbighshire Care and Repair s aim is to help older people to remain as independent as possible in their own homes, in comfort, safety, warmth and security. What do we do? We provide advice and practical assistance to older people regarding repairs, improvements or adaptations whilst offering a hand holding caseworker and technical officer support service for the lifetime of our clients. Our service is available to homeowners and private tenants in Denbighshire who are over 60 years of age. Our Core Service We provide: Healthy Homes Check carried out by our Technical Officer and Caseworker which would identify any repair needs, maintenance or adaptations to prevent accidents or the deterioration of existing health conditions; Co-ordination of all the services needed to successfully complete the work; Casework Service assessments resulting in individual, tailored services and solutions for clients to include:- benefits and income maximisation, advise on funding, completing forms, referring to appropriate bodies on client s behalf; Administration providing support with obtaining estimates from builders and co-ordination of approved contractors; Technical Assistance recommending reliable contractors with our list of Approved Contractors, obtaining estimates, drawing plans and schedules of work and inspecting the quality of building work; Advice & Guidance signposting clients to relevant organisations; Monitoring the quality of repairs and building work; Support offering a handholding services.

3 Chair s Report 2013/14 It gives me great pleasure to present Denbighshire Care & Repair s Annual Report for the year 2013/2014. The Agency aims to provide quality services to its clients and the year 2013/2014 has been as busy as previous years. I am pleased to say that the organisation remains a key provider of services to the older population of Denbighshire. Here are some of the year s highlights:- Winter Warm packs: The Agency secured funding from Keep Well This Winter to purchase and issue 100 Winter Warm Packs this winter again for clients, homeowners over the age of 80 and those older people living alone in their own homes within Denbighshire. Ark Project Big Lottery funding received working along Voluntary Sector Consortia headed by Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council to fund a 12 month post for 2 a week handyperson service to the flood affected homes in Denbighshire. Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardening Service is continuing to develop as a sustainable service that enhances the delivery of the Core Care & Repair Service. During the year the Agency further developed the service renting a polly tunnel from a local Nursery to grow plants to sell to clients who are unable to visit garden centres. Providing bedding plants, hanging baskets and planters that are made by the Agency s Handyperson recycling the off cuts from mopstick rails used in their RRAP adaptation work. This growth project is now linking in with Intergeneration Working with a local high school s Design & Technology students. The new venture is called Bryn Bella Plants. A fantastic display of Bryn Bella Plants were on sale at the National Eisteddfod held in Denbigh. The new growth project has been a huge success and has been a very complementing service to the well-recognised Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardening & Handyperson Service. Health Support for RRAP Services - Denbighshire Care & Repair applied for Unscheduled Care Seasonal Funding on behalf of the 6 North Wales Agencies resulting in the award of Winter Pressures money from the BETSI Cadwaladr University Health Board totalling 30,000 ( 5,000 per Agency) for the period December 2013 March Denbighshire Care and Repair was identified as the lead Agency to control the 30k spends. Using the recognised Care & Repair Cymru formula to identify cost savings to Health and Social Services locally, Denbighshire Care and Repair has saved a minimum of 258,174 per day costs during the period of April March In conclusion I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you on behalf of the SBPC to Lynda and her staff for all the hard work and dedication over the last 12 months. Denbighshire Care & Repair is going from strength to strength because of the excellent leadership and hard work by all concerned. W.L. C owie W.L. Cowie, Chairman

4 Case Study: Mr & Mrs R (Core Services) Background Mr and Mrs R contacted us in February They have lived in their home for over 30 years. They are both in their late 70 s, Mr R suffers with Parkinson s Disease. They have a number of repair jobs to do and wanted help and advice on reliable tradesmen. What did we do? Our Senior Technical Officer visited and carried out a Healthy Homes Check. Mr and Mrs R have received help in the past and grabrails and stairlift are in place to help keep Mr R safe in his home. The following items were highlighted: Uneven slabs in the garden currently dangerous New Kitchen New gas fire with remote control to make life easier New external gate to secure the home How has Care & Repair s involvement improved the clients lives? Mr and Mrs R s home has been transformed! The once dangerous slabs have been lifted, re-bedded and made safe for everyone to use. The kitchen is lighter, brighter and easier for both of them to use with an eye-level cooker and fridge (to save bending). The new gas fire which has been fitted by a contractor on our Approved List has made life a lot easier for the couple. No more bending down, light headedness, while trying to light the fire. Flick of the switch and instant warmth! It s also a lot more efficient than their old fire so it s saving money too. The new external side gate has improved the safety of the home. Mr and Mrs R are feeling less vulnerable in their home. Mr and Mrs R had identified that they needed the work done to their home but didn t have the confidence to approach builders and didn t want the headache of trying to arrange the works while suffering with Parkinson s disease. The hand-held service Mr and Mrs R have received has made life a lot easier. Care & Repair has made a big difference in my life and I am extremely happy with all they ve done. Without their help I would have more problems! Thank you! Gwyddelwern

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6 Case Study: Mr & Mrs F (Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardening Services) Background Mrs F contacted us in the summer of 2012 for gardening services. Her and her husband loved to keep the garden looking tidy but deterioration in his health meant he was finding it increasingly difficult to do the garden. Mr F had been diagnosed with dementia; Mrs F is his main carer. What did we do? In September 2012 we received a referral from Denbighshire Social Services requesting a keysafe be fitted at their home to enable access to assist with Careline. A keysafe was fitted by Barry, our Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardener / Handyperson, within 5 days of receiving the referral. During late summer of 2013 the husband s health deteriorated to the extent that Mrs F could no longer manage to be his carer at home. They found a suitable care home locally where Mr F now resides. Barry, the Gardener, visited regularly during 2012 and in 2013 and they became one of our regulars with a fortnightly appointment. Following on from one of their regular chats Mrs F mentioned to Barry, the Gardener, that she recently had purchased a mobility scooter but was unable to get it into her garage because of a small step up. Barry liaised with the office and we arranged for Dave, our Handyperson, to visit and construct a small ramp. This was funded by the client. Mr & Mrs F celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in June 2014 and had a family gathering to celebrate the occasion which Mr F was able to come home to. In preparation, Gerddi Gwyrdd were on the case to have the garden looking great. The paths were pressure washed and Bryn Bella Plants flowers and shrubs were delivered and planted by Barry, the Gardener. How has Care & Repair s involvement improved the clients lives? Mr & Mrs F s garden is looking tidy once again. They both took pride in the appearance of their garden but due to deteriorating health were unable to keep up with the maintenance of their garden. The plants supplied by our Bryn Bella Plants and planted by Barry, the Gardener, have brightened up the garden with a new lease of life. Mrs F and Barry have become good friends over the years. She says that Barry is not just her gardener, he is her friend!! She looks forward for regular Thursday appointments. He works hard and never stops to drink his tea! She is able to spend time in the garden having Barry s company while he does all the hard work! Not only has Mrs F gained a friend in Barry but she also has the re-assurance that she can pick up the phone to call Denbighshire Care & Repair with whatever assistance she may need. Denbighshire Care & Repair have helped Mrs F to stay safe and independent in her own home by fitting the keysafe and small ramp for her scooter. Her health and general wellbeing have improved greatly. She remains in constant touch and the Agency is able to signpost to other valuable services of benefit to her within the county.

7 Bryn Bella Plants introduced growing & selling flowers, hanging baskets & wooden planters of people we help with Gardening / Handyperson work live alone 114 Number of Home Fire Safety Checks carried out 190 number of Winter Warm Packs issued (supported by Keep Well This Winter) 92% would of our recommend Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardening / Handyperson Service would recommend the service to others 144 Intergenerational working with local High School students to create wooden planters Number of Flying Start work completed (project to prevent falls, accidents for under 5 s) 765 Number of gardening & handyperson jobs carried out 78

8 The Team Lynda Colwell Manager Simon Evans Senior Technical Officer Catrin Hughes Caseworker Rhian Cattell Performance & Development Officer Esyllt Hughes Administrative Officer Jessica Williams Customer Service Administrative Assistant Ceris Davies Customer Service Administrative Assistant * Neville Weston Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardener & Handyman Barry Ellis Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardener & Handyman David Brealey Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardener & Handyman Jonathan Price Gerddi Gwyrdd Gardener & Handyman ** *maternity cover ** left during the year Strategic Business Planning Committee:- Cllr Bill Cowie Noela Jones Merfyn Roberts Cllr Cefyn Williams Chris Evans Cathy Curtis Nelson Cllr Colin Hughes Chair Director of Housing & Communities, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd Principal Housing & Area Renewal Services Officer, Denbighshire County Council Services Manager, Denbighshire County Council Denbighshire County Council Thank you to all our contractors for supporting our services during the year. Thank you to all our funders: Welsh Government, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, Denbighshire County Council, Denbighshire Social Services, Denbighshire Flying Start project, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, North Wales Fire Service, Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, Denbighshire Community and Town Councils, Age Cymru Keep Well This Winter. C YMDEITHAS TAI CLWYD Gofal a Thrwsio Sir Ddinbych Denbighshire Care and Repair

9 You were all very helpful and service was very good. It helped me get home from hospital quicker and felt safer with the work you did. Thank you. Rhyl I particularly appreciate your gardening services. Your guys have helped me so much to sort out my garden. St. Asaph It has removed the fear of falling. I wish I had known what was available sooner and could have had the adaptations 2-3 years before as the fear of falling was removed - more publicity please! Prestatyn I am now able to access my house safely and comfortably - thank you. Rhuddlan The garden is now looking more like how my husband would have wanted it to look. The plants that you have supplied make all the difference! Thank you very much! Rhyl I feel more carefree that Care & Repair have fitted a keysafe for me outside in case of emergency at 93 years of age. Bodelwyddan The staff who answer the phones are so pleasant and make you feel that they would help you solve any problems you might have. Many thanks. Denbigh Everyone was so helpful and your aftercare was superb. Thanks to you all. Rhuddlan Excellent work carried out by your workmen, were more than helpful. Prestatyn Constitution Denbighshire Care & Repair is a non-profit making voluntary organisation, which is managed by Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd. The Agency receives funding from the Welsh Government. The Agency s performance and funding is monitored via Care & Repair Cymru. Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd is ultimately responsible for the Agency, both legally and financially. Care and Repair Cymru supports the Older Peoples Housing Champion, a national body that actively works to ensure that all older people in Wales have homes that are safe, warm and secure and appropriate to their needs. 9

10 Financial Performance INCOME AND EXPENDITURE SUMMARY 2013/ /13 Income 415, ,962 Expenditure (411,856) (391,548) Surplus for the year 3,590 9,414 BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY 2013/ /13 Fixed assets 10,436 12,555 Current assets 285, ,266 Current liabilities (72,101) (76,557) Net Assets 223, ,264 Designated reserves 153, ,740 General reserves 70,394 72,524 Total reserves 223, ,264