Conference workshops – Rother LSP
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Conference workshops

Delegates signed up for one of two discussion workshops.

Workshop 1: Next Steps for Housing Needs based on the Resident and Housing Stock Conditions Surveys: making use of the data and what next for the LSP? Priority setting for 2018-19

Workshop 2: Rother Safe and Well Practitioner Scheme: an example of partnership working and information sharing, and what next for the LSP? Priority setting for 2018-19

** The following notes were posted on this page live as the workshops were taking place **

Workshop 1:

  • Failure of Private Rental Sector to deliver decent homes
    • consider extending ‘geography’ for proactive and joined up approaches to dealing with issues
    • RDC: investigating new procedures for tackling issues
    • CCG: putting resources into healthy housing as it is known that substandard homes has an impact on health
  • What’s the role of the Local Authority alongside private landlords?
    • Education of front line staff visiting properties
  • Is there a difference between long term lets and short term holiday lets in impacting availability?
  • Category 1 hazards – excessive cold and slips, trips and falls in properties pre-dating 1919
    • Lack of loft insulation – it’s very cheap to install and will help solve many problems
    • Leaflet distribution to community groups
    • Sustaining the knowledge shared at training sessions
    • Tracking outcomes
    • Sharing intelligence between agencies
  • Ticehurst – surprising data for properties with Category 1 hazard in comparison with wider area results. Likely to be excess cold due to age of properties
  • Weighting process of data analysis ensures results are comparative
  • Housing Needs:
    • Political issue
    • Massive investment needed
    • Working closely with private developers
    • Stalled sites is an issue – several don’t come to fruition – consider incentives to encourage them to bring things forward?
  • Homelessness:
    • Increasing issue in Rother due to lack of available and suitable properties
    • Wider issues not recognised by central government – not just about lack of a home – extended problems involving working with colleagues in health, police, social care
  • Shared ownership schemes:
    • Perceived issues – what are they?
  • Delegates asked to consider main issues and priorities for actions for the LSP over the next year
    • Lack of supply of social/affordable housing is an issue
    • Loss of Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) builders taking forward smaller sites
    • Optivo: “Should housing remain the focus?”
    • RDC: looking at the bigger picture and forging forward to work together considering the wider implications of housing needs
    • CCG: good to have a subject to focus on where clear actions can be set – continue to prioritise housing
    • RDC: look at self-help and all factors, including environmental, affordability etc.

Workshop 2:

  • Discussing early referral systems – prioritising needs and focussing on the main issues requiring attention at that time
  • Agreeing training events for frontline staff
    • Recognising hazards in the home
    • Referral for fire checks
  • Recognising the signs of fuel poverty for referral to ‘Keep Warm and Well’ scheme
  • Two tier inclusion for professionals suggested – understanding fuel poverty issues and hazards in the home, as well as who to refer to for help
  • Agreement that there needs to be a ‘shared culture’ across workforces
  • Winter checks are available across East Sussex – front line workers need to be aware
  • Suggestion: proactive work to prevent fuel poverty and hazards in the home – making information available
  • “Cuts provide challenges, but encourages agencies to work together”
  • Police encouraging ‘professional curiosity’ in visiting officers and offer training, e.g. to recognise scams, and how to refer
  • Police: “It’s key for agencies to work together”
  • Discussion about dealing with rogue traders
  • CAB: “understanding who to refer to would be ‘invaluable’ for its volunteers
  • Discussing priorities for the LSP for the next 12 months:
    • Develop a training programme for volunteers, staff and community groups
  • Discussion how residents access information – access to and how to use internet technology is an issue for many

Next steps for setting LSP priority actions for 2018-19 will be posted on the next update.