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Our purpose is to help older and disabled people continue to live in their own homes in comfort, safety and security. We can help with repairs and adaptations to homes offering advice, assistance and support according to the need of the customer.
The agency is funded by the following organisations, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Dorset Supporting People, Dorset County Council, South West Dorset Primary Care Trust and Weymouth and Portland Housing.
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Currently we offer the following services to our customers:

Small Repairs Service

Our man with a van is there to carry out small repairs for older and disabled people. He carries out the type of work builders aren’t interested in such as dripping taps, loose floorboards, fitting shelves and many other small useful tasks. We charge £7 per hour or part hour for the service plus the cost of any material used. The service is subsidised and only available to people on low income.

Benefits Service

Our experienced caseworker carries out a full benefits check for all new customers. We have frequently found that people are not getting the benefits they are entitled to and a key target for us is to address this inequality. All information given is confidential and we can assist in completing forms when necessary.

Technical Service

Our customerss are able to use the service to the level they require. Some people just need us to draw up a specification of work and are able to carry on without further help. The majority prefers the full service whereby we take on the work from the initial discussion right through to final inspection. Organising building work is a difficult and stressful process and our objective is to make it as pain-free as possible for our clients. We work closely with local occupational therapists drawing up schedules of work according to their recommendations, liaising with Environmental Services to achieve the appropriate specification to suit the customer. The range of work we facilitate to be carried out is as follows.

• Large scale renovations (e.g. roof, rewire, structural repairs).
• Minor works (e.g. leaking taps, new sink, or kitchen cupboard).
• Adaptations (when recommended by an O.T.).
• Security work.
• Central heating & other heating.
• Insulation work fees are only charged for technical services, we do not charge for any advice given to customers. We generally charge 10% of the net cost of work. Where a job is grant funded, our fee is paid as part of the grant.

Signposting

The agency operates as a storehouse of local and national knowledge referring customers on to appropriate agencies and services. We are well known locally and receive many enquiries for information, which we can usually answer, or we are able to contact someone who can. Access to services can be confusing and complex; therefore, we perceive this process as a vital part of the services that we are offering. We regularly refer on to Dorset Social Care and Health and other statutory agencies.

Advice on Housing Grants

Applying for Disabled Facilities Grants can be a complex and confusing process. Our role, working in partnership with colleagues in Social Services and Environmental Services, is to guide our customers through the maze so that they can achieve their objective of being able to access all the facilities in their home.

Private and Charitable Finance

If finance isn’t available from the local council to carry out repairs to homes we can help in other ways. Many charities including the British Legion/Civil Service Benevolent Fund can help, and for larger jobs we can advise on releasing equity from the property to help pay for the work.

Housing Options Service

We have established a two-year pilot project employing a specialist worker providing advice, support and practical help to older people considering a move from their current property. The service offers information and advice on housing options, arranges visits to view other properties, assists with practical problems arising from a move, assists in claiming relevant benefits.

The service is much more than a ‘Moving On’ Service in that it offers comprehensive advice allowing customers to make their own informed choices. Many customers decide that staying put is their desired option and we can advise and support them through the process of improving/adapting the property making it more habitable and safer to live in.

Click here to view the HOOPS leaflet in large print.

Click here to view our 2007/2008 Annual Report