Agenda and minutes

Apologies for Absence had been received from Councillor Peter Davies. Councillor Ian Edwards was present as his substitute.

There were no declarations of interest.

It was confirmed that all items on the agenda would be considered in part 1.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2015 were agreed, subject to the addition of the phrase 'which in turn required a report to be written, causing delay' after 'area planning committee' (item 16, paragraph 3).

Evidence from Claudia Meissner, Advanced Social Work Practitioner, Adult Social Care and Virindar Basi, Older Persons Specialist Team Manager, Specialist Team, Adult Social Care, and Ed Shaylor, Service Manager, Anti-Social Behaviour Investigation Team, Residents Services.

Officers informed members that their team dealt with longer term social work cases amongst older people. Hoarding was a condition the team encountered regularly, and they were generally successful in maintaining a suitable living environment, but could not solve the underlying mental health issues. The team attended the vulnerable persons panel, which they found useful as it was an opportunity for all partner organisations to discuss individuals and how their condition could be managed.

In response to questions from members, officers explained that:

-        Referrals were made to the panel by one of the member organisations/teams. Prior to the meeting a list of which cases would be discussed was sent to all members allowing information to be shared before the meeting.

-        There was not currently any effective mechanism for recording data about hoarding cases. Notes of panel meetings were kept, but there was no central logging of information or statistics.

-        There was no formal protocol or strategy for dealing with hoarding in Hillingdon, but that the vulnerable persons panel had brought agencies together which was a long way ahead of many other local authorities.

-        A strategy would be help to ensure that residents received a consistent level of service. Officers felt that the strategy needed to be focussed on delivering successful outcomes for residents, rather than procedures.

-        Hoarding tended to manifest itself amongst older people; although there were younger people who hoarded, they were less likely to be identified. Loss and bereavement were often also triggers for hoarding, and these were more likely to affect people later in life.

-        A complaint made by neighbours would normally be investigated by the Anti-Social Behaviour Investigation Team, who would then take the case to the vulnerable persons panel and get input from other services.

-        Mental health and social services could not be forced upon people with mental capacity, however there were public health powers which allowed clearance to take place in some circumstances, although the impact on a person's mental health had to be considered carefully.

-        The development of a hoarding strategy would identify where provision could be improved, both in terms of treatment and preventative social activities.

-        Where residents lacked the ability to dispose of clutter the Council would seek to involve their family, and could if necessary provide assistance.

-        The cost of dealing with hoarding in the Borough was unknown. There were plans to create a central budget which would allow the costs to be established but these had not yet been implemented.

-        There were few warning signs that a resident was going to start hoarding. Some could be identified by a lack of capacity to manage their affairs, but generally it was only when a service became involved for another reason that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

The report was noted.

The report was noted.