Issue - meetings
Update on West Kent Hospital Discharge Pilot and Disabled Facilities Grant
Meeting: 24/07/2017 - Communities and Housing Advisory Board (Item 18)
18 Update on West Kent Hospital Discharge Pilot and Disabled Facilities Grant 
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Additional documents:
Decision:
(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)
The report provided an update on the various initiatives being piloted using Disabled Facilities Grant funding and sought approval to extend the West Kent Hospital Discharge and Handyperson Scheme until March 2019.
It was also reported that the current arrangement of seconding Occupational Therapists from Kent County Council worked extremely well, as it enabled a more streamlined and responsive service to be offered.
Following consideration by the Communities and Housing Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Housing resolved that:
The continuation of the West Kent Hospital and Handypersons Scheme and secondment of Occupational Therapists be approved until March 2019.
Minutes:
Decision Notice D170050MEM
The report provided an update on the various initiatives being piloted using Disabled Facilities Grant funding and sought approval to extend the West Kent Hospital Discharge and Handyperson Scheme until March 2019.
It was also reported that the current arrangement of seconding Occupational Therapists from Kent County Council worked extremely well, as it enabled a more streamlined and responsive service to be offered.
Members welcomed the good news on Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding which had seen the Borough Council awarded £1,007,000 for 2017/18 which represented an increase of £90,000 on the previous year. Particularly welcomed was the progress on children’s occupational therapists assessments, although it was noted that Tonbridge and Malling continued to receive higher numbers of referrals for children’s cases than other West and North Kent Districts with only Maidstone receiving more.
A poster to promote the availability of children’s DFGs was being developed in liaison with occupational therapists and Members suggested that this be targeted to the commencement of the new school term in September. In addition, it was suggested that new schools within the Borough could be a primary focus.
RECOMMENDED: That the continuation of the West Kent Hospital and Handypersons Scheme and secondment of Occupational Therapists be approved until March 2019.