Agenda item

Mr C Thompson, Public Health Specialist, NHS Kent and Medway, was in attendance for this item.

1.         Mr Thompson introduced the report and explained that the Winter Intervention Support Kent (WISK) 2011/12 project ended on 30 March.  Monitoring of the success of the project is ongoing, but it is already clear that it has left a large underspend, due to the mild winter, which had necessitated fewer interventions than expected.  It will be possible to contribute this underspend to next year’s project. Expenditure on the project included payments of £58,000 to home improvement agencies and Age UK for home visits and £27,500 to Age UK and £14,000 to domiciliary care agencies for their staff which attended for training.  A Winter Warmth Support fund of £10,000 was also made available to each of the 12 geographical district areas.

2.         The main challenge of running the project this year has been the lack of time to gather the necessary information with which to target those clients most likely to be affected, but the most successful element has been the good partnership working and the fact that over 800 Kent residents have been offered support around living in a warmer home environment.  Age UK provided training across the county for 621 domiciliary care workers, to improve their knowledge of the effects of living in a cold environment and how to signpost for further support.   A full evaluation report of the project will be prepared for consideration by the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board on 1 June 2012, and will help shape next year’s project.

3.         Mr Thompson responded to comments and questions from Members, and the following points were highlighted:-

a)         Members were reassured that all agencies which deal with older people had been approached for data to identify potential clients, and next year’s project will repeat this;

b)         criteria for participation are set using epidemiology data, which identified wards which have a high population of older people. The project prioritised those over 75 years old who live in private housing.  Much housing provided by social landlords tends to be more energy-efficient, so fewer residents of social housing would need support from such a project, but many participants living in their own homes might struggle to afford and make home improvements and hence be more in need; and

c)         a view was expressed that it is not ideal that Members are being told about the project just as it ends, as they would like to have known about it earlier. Members would like to have some input into how the underspend could be used. Ms Peachey suggested that a proposal be brought to the July meeting of the new Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee for Members’ views.

4.         RESOLVED that:-

a)         the information set out in the report and given in response to comments and questions be noted, with thanks; and

b)         a proposal be brought to the July meeting of the new Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee on how the underspend could be used.