Bradford Multi agency Hoarding Framework: Appendices

1. Property structure, services and garden area

• All entrances and exits, stairways, roof space and windows accessible.
• Smoke alarms fitted and functional or referrals made to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to visit and install if criteria met.
• All services functional and maintained in good working order.
• Garden is accessible, tidy and maintained

2. Household Functions

• No excessive clutter, all rooms can be safely used for their intended purpose.
• All rooms are rated 0-3 on the Clutter Rating Scale.
• No additional unused household appliances appear in unusual locations around the property.
• Property is maintained within terms of any lease or tenancy agreements where appropriate.
• Property is not at risk of action by Housing Standards Team.

3. Health and Safety

• Property is clean with no odours, (pet or other).
• No rotting food.
• No concerning use of candles.
• No concern over flies.
• Residents managing personal care.
• No writing on the walls.
• Quantities of medication are within appropriate limits, in date and stored appropriately.

4. Safeguard of Children and Family members

• No concerns for household members.

Identifying Agency

• Discuss concerns with the Individual.
• Raise a request to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for a Safe and Well visit and to provide fire safety advice.
• Refer to Adult Services Access point for guidance.
• Refer to GP if appropriate.

Housing Standards Team

• No action

Social Landlords

• Refer to GP if appropriate.
• Refer to Adult Services Access Point for assessment if appropriate.
• Provide details of support streams open to the resident via charities and self-help groups.
• Ensure residents are maintaining all tenancy conditions.
• Refer for tenancy support if appropriate.
• Ensure that all utilities are maintained and serviceable.

Practitioners

• Make appropriate referrals for support to other agencies.
• Refer to social landlord if the client is their tenant or leaseholder.

Emergency Services

• West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service - Carry out a Safe and Well visit if it fulfils
  Service criteria and share with statutory agencies.
• West Yorkshire Police and Ambulance Service - Ensure information is shared with statutory agencies and feedback provided to referring agency on completion of home visits.

Safeguarding of Adults and Children

• Properties with adults or children presenting care and support needs should be referred to the appropriate Social Care referral point.

1. Property structure, services and garden area

• Only major exit is blocked.
• Concern that services are not well maintained.
• Smoke alarms are not installed or not functioning.
• Garden is not accessible due to clutter, or is not maintained
• Evidence of indoor items stored outside.
• Evidence of light structural damage including damp.
• Interior doors missing or blocked open.

2. Household Functions

• Clutter is causing congestion in the living spaces and is impacting on the use of the rooms for their intended purpose.
• Clutter is causing congestion between the rooms and entrances.
• Room(s) score between 4 - 5 on the clutter scale.
• Inconsistent levels of housekeeping throughout the property.
• Some household appliances are not functioning properly and there may be additional units in unusual places.
• Property is not maintained within terms of lease or tenancy agreement where applicable.
• Evidence of outdoor items being stored inside

3. Health and Safety

• Kitchen and bathroom are difficult to utilise and access.
• Offensive odour in the property.
• Resident is not maintaining safe cooking environment.
• Some concern with the quantity of medication, or its storage or expiry dates.
• Has good fire safety awareness with little or no risk of ignition.
• Resident trying to manage personal care but struggling.
• No risk to the structure of the property.

4. Safeguard of Children and Family members

• Hoarding on clutter scale 4 - 7. Consider a Safeguarding Assessment.
• Properties with adults presenting care and support needs should be referred to GWTC Please note all additional concerns for
  householders.

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Latex Gloves, boots or needle stick safe shoes, face mask, hand sanitizer, insect
  repellent.
• Is PPE required?

Referring Agency

A referral to the Hoarding panel must be made in
cases where hoarding is rated at 5 or above on the Clutter Rating Image Scale

• Refer to landlord if resident is a tenant.
• Refer to Housing Standards Team if resident is a owner occupier.
• Raise a request to the Fire and Rescue Service to provide a Safe and Well visit with a consideration for monitored smoke alarms and / or assistive technology.
• Provide details of garden services.
• Refer to Adult Services Access Point for assessment.
• Referral to GP.
• Referral to debt advice if appropriate.
• Refer to animal welfare if there are animals at the property.
• Ensure information sharing with all necessary statutory agencies.

Housing Standards Team

• Referral to Housing Standards team if owner occupier wanting to clear or issues to neighbouring property i.e. pests
• Joint inspection with Environmental Health Officer.
• Consider serving notices under Public Health Act 1936, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 or Housing Act 2004.

Social Landlords

• Visit resident to inspect the property & assess support needs.
• Refer internally to assist in the restoration of services to the property where appropriate.
• Ensure residents are maintaining all tenancy conditions.
• Enforce tenancy conditions relating to residents responsibilities.
• Ensure information sharing with all necessary statutory agencies.

Practitioners

• Carry out an assessment of the property practitioners assessment tool
• Ensure information sharing with all agencies involved to ensure a collaborative approach and a sustainable resolution.

Emergency Services

• West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service - 
  Carry out a Safe and Well visit, share risk information with Statutory agencies and consider assistive technology.
• West Yorkshire Police and Ambulance Service - Ensure information is shared with statutory agencies and feedback is provided to referring agency on completion of home visits via the referral form.

Animal Welfare

• Referral to RSPCA and / or provide advice or assistance with re-homing animals.

Safeguarding of Adults and Children

• Properties with adults or children presenting care and support needs should be referred to the appropriate Social Care referral point.

1. Property structure, services and garden area

• Limited access to the property due to extreme clutter.
• Extreme clutter may be seen at windows.
• Extreme clutter may be seen outside the property.
• Garden not accessible and extensively overgrown.
• Services not connected or not functioning properly.
• Smoke alarms not fitted or not functioning.
• Property lacks ventilation due to clutter
• Evidence of structural damage or outstanding repairs including damp.
• Interior doors missing or blocked open.
• Evidence of indoor items stored outside.

2. Household Functions

• Clutter is obstructing the living spaces and is preventing the use of the rooms for their
  intended purpose.
• Room(s) scores 7 - 9 on the clutter image scale. Rooms are not used for intended purposes or very limited.
• Beds inaccessible or unusable due to clutter or infestation.
• Entrances, hallways and stairs blocked or difficult to pass.
• Toilets, sinks not functioning or not in use.
• Resident at risk due to living environment.
• Household appliances are not functioning or inaccessible.
• Resident has no safe cooking environment.
• Resident is using candles.
• Evidence of outdoor clutter being stored indoors.
• No evidence of housekeeping being undertaken.
• Broken household items not discarded e.g. broken glass or plates.
• Property is not maintained within terms of lease or tenancy agreement where applicable.
• Property is at risk of notice being served by Housing Standards Team.

3. Health and Safety

• Human urine and excrement may be present.
• Excessive odour in the property may also be evident from the outside.
• Rotting food may be present.
• Evidence may be seen of unclean, unused and or buried plates & dishes.
• Broken household items not discarded e.g. broken glass or plates.
• Inappropriate quantities or storage of medication.
• Pungent odour can be smelt inside the property and possibly from outside.
• Concern with the integrity of the electrics.
• Inappropriate use of electrical extension cords or evidence of unqualified work to the electrics.
• Concern for declining mental health.

4.Safeguard of Children and Family members

• Properties with adults presenting care and support needs should be referred to Adult Services Access Point.
• Please note all additional concerns for householders.

5. Animals and Pests

• Animals at the property at risk due the level of clutter in the property.
• Resident may not able to control the animals at the property.
• Animals’ living area is not maintained and smells.
• Animals appear to be under nourished or over fed.
• Hoarding of animals at the property.
• Heavy insect infestation (bed bugs, lice, fleas, cockroaches, ants, silverfish, etc.).
• Visible rodent infestation.

6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Latex Gloves, boots or needle stick safe shoes, face mask, hand sanitizer, insect repellent.
• Visit in pairs required.

Referring Agency

A referral to the Hoarding panel must be made in
cases where hoarding is rated at 5 or above on the
Clutter Rating Image Scale.

• If the individual does not meet the Safeguarding thresholds for a referral, consider contacting Social Care regarding
  possible care and support needs assessment.
• Raise a request to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service within 24 hours to provide a Safe and Well visit.
• Refer to Housing Standards Team by emailing CHESAdminSupport@bradford.gov.uk using the referral form.

Housing Standards Team

• Referral to Housing Standards team if owner occupier wanting to clear or issues to neighbouring property i.e. pests
• Joint inspection with Environmental Health Officer.
• Consider serving notices under Public Health Act 1936, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 or Housing Act 2004.

Landlords

• Visit resident to inspect the property and assess support needs.
• Attend multi agency hoarding meeting.
• Enforce tenancy conditions relating to residents responsibilities.

Practitioners

• Refer to “Hoarding Guidance Questions for practitioners”.
• Complete Hoarding referral form
• Ensure information sharing with all agencies involved to ensure a collaborative approach and a sustainable resolution.
• West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service- Carry out a Safe and Well visit.
• Attend hoarding multi agency meetings on request.
• Ensure information sharing with all agencies involved to ensure a collaborative approach and a sustainable resolution.
• Provide feedback to referring agency on completion of home visits.

Animal Welfare

• Refer to RSPCA and / or educate client regarding animal welfare if appropriate.

Safeguarding of Adults and Children

• Properties with adults and / or children presenting care and support needs should be referred to the appropriate Social Care referral point.