RBH
Action Taken
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing has delivered domestic sprinklers in properties occupied by some of their most vulnerable tenants and is working with Rochdale Council’s Strategic Housing Service on a project designed to offer additional support to those identified as hoarders. (AI summary)
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Dear Sir Our Ref: Date: 22ndJune 2016
In addition, all RBH properties are fitted with hard-wired smoke detection in line with current legislation. Although a number of our properties fall under the auspices of the FS(RRO)2005, the property in which Miss Waring was resident (and the vast majority of those we manage) was not covered by any enforceable fire safety legislation. We none the less take the issue of fire safety extremely seriously and, as such entered into a formal Service Level Agreement with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in August 2013 for the joint provision of Safe & Well visits to all our tenants. These visits are offered regardless of circumstance however, due to resource implications for both organ isations they are presently targeted toward those considered to be most ‘at risk’ from fire due to their vulnerability in whatever regard that is evidenced. The visits are by self, RBH or partner agency referral and are undertaken by specific appointment chosen by the recipient themselves subsequent to which we jointly act upon any recommendations that are forthcoming including the potential onward referral to a number of partner agencies should additional support be identified. All visits and any actions taken by the agencies concerned are recorded by our Fire Safety Consultant who acts as our Single Point of Contact for this initiative and any personal information is shared in line with a formal Information Sharing Agreement with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service signed by both parties in December 2013 via a secure electronic system. We are also currently working with Rochdale Council’s Strategic Housing Service on a project designed to offer additional support to those identified as hoarders, an issue which has become more prevalent over recent years. The intention of the project is not only to ensure a consistent approach across all housing providers here in Rochdale but also to ensure that all RBH staff have the necessary support to deal with such issues as and when they are identified. The ‘toolkit’ is based on the internationally recognised ‘Clutter Image Rating Scale’ which is also used by several other partner agencies not only here in Rochdale but across Greater Manchester as a whole. Regardless of all of the above, we will continue to seek new and innovative ways of delivering both our statutory fire safety duties and those which whilst not mandatory, we consider to be integral to our desire to be a housing provider of choice and to offer our tenants the best possible protection from fire. Although on occasion and despite our very best efforts tragic incidents such as that involving Miss Waring have the potential to occur, we are absolutely committed to continuous improvement and determined that any relevant lessons be learnt in our earnest attempts to ensure we do the very best that we can for all our tenants. I sincerely hope that the above information will prove useful to the outcome of your inquest and assure you of our very best attention at all times.
In addition, all RBH properties are fitted with hard-wired smoke detection in line with current legislation. Although a number of our properties fall under the auspices of the FS(RRO)2005, the property in which Miss Waring was resident (and the vast majority of those we manage) was not covered by any enforceable fire safety legislation. We none the less take the issue of fire safety extremely seriously and, as such entered into a formal Service Level Agreement with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in August 2013 for the joint provision of Safe & Well visits to all our tenants. These visits are offered regardless of circumstance however, due to resource implications for both organ isations they are presently targeted toward those considered to be most ‘at risk’ from fire due to their vulnerability in whatever regard that is evidenced. The visits are by self, RBH or partner agency referral and are undertaken by specific appointment chosen by the recipient themselves subsequent to which we jointly act upon any recommendations that are forthcoming including the potential onward referral to a number of partner agencies should additional support be identified. All visits and any actions taken by the agencies concerned are recorded by our Fire Safety Consultant who acts as our Single Point of Contact for this initiative and any personal information is shared in line with a formal Information Sharing Agreement with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service signed by both parties in December 2013 via a secure electronic system. We are also currently working with Rochdale Council’s Strategic Housing Service on a project designed to offer additional support to those identified as hoarders, an issue which has become more prevalent over recent years. The intention of the project is not only to ensure a consistent approach across all housing providers here in Rochdale but also to ensure that all RBH staff have the necessary support to deal with such issues as and when they are identified. The ‘toolkit’ is based on the internationally recognised ‘Clutter Image Rating Scale’ which is also used by several other partner agencies not only here in Rochdale but across Greater Manchester as a whole. Regardless of all of the above, we will continue to seek new and innovative ways of delivering both our statutory fire safety duties and those which whilst not mandatory, we consider to be integral to our desire to be a housing provider of choice and to offer our tenants the best possible protection from fire. Although on occasion and despite our very best efforts tragic incidents such as that involving Miss Waring have the potential to occur, we are absolutely committed to continuous improvement and determined that any relevant lessons be learnt in our earnest attempts to ensure we do the very best that we can for all our tenants. I sincerely hope that the above information will prove useful to the outcome of your inquest and assure you of our very best attention at all times.