Care and Repair

 

Care and Repair has been set up to assist older people over 60 and disabled people of all ages to find the best answer to their housing needs and to live in greater comfort and security in their own homes.

Whilst we work mostly with homeowners, we will also assist people in rented accommodation with the help of adaptions. We will also help tenants over 60 with repair needs where these are not the responsibility of their landlord.

We belong to a network of Care and Repair agencies that are assisting people with their housing need throughout the County. In West Cornwall we cover Carrick, Kerrier and Penwith from our offices in Truro and Helston. We receive funding from a variety of sources including the government (DETR), Social Services, Health Action Zone, District Councils and from our managing body Devon & Cornwall Housing Association.

We are a small team working in close liason with other support services and organisations. We can arrange work which may range from minor repairs or adaptations to major improvements.

How Does Care and Repair Work?

1. You contact us for help with repairs or your occupational Therapist (OT) refers you to us for assistance with adaptations we will arrange for a member of our staff to visit you at home. They will discuss your situation and how care and repair can be of assistance. This may involve organising repairs to your home, providing you with advice on benefits, or putting you in touch with other services.

2. If you would like the work carried out to your home, we discuss the work you would like carried out. The choice is always yours but we can advise you on what is necessary, or possible, or whether it is work for which you might be able to obtain a grant. If the work is an adaptation, we will liase closely with your OT. Where necessary we will arrange for plans and specifications to be drawn up. We will ask for two or sometimes three local contractors to price the work. It is common practice to use the lower quotation. All contractors used are carefully monitored and have proved themselves to be reliable or, if preferred, you may use your own contractor. We can advise on how to fund the works, for example, from a local authority grant if available, a loan, an insurance claim, charities and trusts, or you may wish to pay for any work yourself. We can make any necessay application on you behalf.

3. When the work is ready to proceed we will arrange a start date with yourself and the contractor. If the work is very major or if you feel unable to remain in the property whilst it is being carried out, we can assist with arranging alternative accomodation for you

4. While the work is being carried out we will supervise the work as we feel necessary and liaise with the contractors on your benefit.

5. After the work is completed an inspection will be carried out to ensure that the work is satisfactory and that you are happy with the end result. If a grant is being claimed we will assist in any paperwork. On grant works the Agency receives a fee from the local authority there is no direct charge to you.

If you live in Penwith, Contact Care and Repair, The Willows, Church Street, Helston TR13 8NH, Telephone (01326) 561023