§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the role of sheltered housing in community care.
§ Mr. YeoSocial services authorities will be responsible for community care assessments and are required to consult other agencies, including housing authorities, when drawing up their community care plans to meet the needs of their area. Similarly, housing authorities should consult social services authorities in preparing their own housing investment strategies each year. When making individual assessments for community care, social services authorities will be expected to involve the housing authority whenever an individual's assessment indicates a possible housing need.
Not everyone who is assessed under the new community care arrangements will be in need of housing, there will be a majority who will be able to go on living in their existing homes with suitable domiciliary care or, perhaps, custom adaptations. Indeed the aim of community care is to allow people to stay in their existing homes wherever possible. Local authorities are able to award mandatory disabled facilities grants for essential adaptations where an applicant qualifies for help under the test of resources. Discretionary grants may also be available for other adaptations, including minor works assistance for the elderly.
Where it is not possible for a person to stay in their own home it will be for social services in consultation with housing authorities to decide on the best way of meeting that person's needs. That may be in some form of sheltered housing. Sheltered housing will therefore be one of a range of housing options available.