Brisbane City Council Hoarding and Squalor Reduction Initiative

Tabatha Pashen

National Hoarding and Squalor Conference

30 June 2016

Hoarding and Squalor Reduction

Initiative Cases that come to Council’s attention are the most complex and

challenging, where residents:

• experience significant impacts on health, wellbeing and quality

of life for themselves and neighbours

• have limited insight and are highly resistant to intervention

• experience a range of mental health issues and other

vulnerabilities

Hoarding and Squalor Reduction

Initiative • Innovative local government approach

• Based on international best practice

• Targets residents whose properties come to Council’s attention

• ‘One Council’ compliance and support partnership

• Two year pilot project from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016

• One full-time Resident Liaison Officer (RLO) and brokerage budget

Hoarding and Squalor Reduction

Initiative

• Local Government has regulatory responsibilities

• Traditional compliance approaches:

• lengthy timeframes

• resource intensive and costly

• difficult to accommodate residents’ lack of capacity

• One-off enforced cleans:

• highly distressing

• unsustainable outcomes

• Complementary internal partnership

– applied sensitively, strategically and purposefully

• Compliance and Regulatory Services (CARS) create leverage and

motivation to engage

• Resident Liaison Officer

– takes referrals from CARS

– works in parallel to compliance and regulatory processes

– provides intensive outreach and engagement

– offers support to reduce public health risks

HSRI – the approach

• Provides encouragement and support

• Facilitates linkages to:

• specialist cleaning

• mental and physical health support

• financial advice

• property repairs

• ongoing in-home support

• Facilitates case coordination with internal and external

stakeholders

HSRI – the RLO role

HSRI – the tools

• Resident Needs Assessments

• Environmental Cleanliness and Clutter Scale

assessment

• Resident Recovery Action Plans – goal focussed

• Referrals to support services

• Case conferencing - internally and externally

HSRI - referrals made to

assist residents

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HSRI – the benefits Council

• minimises public health issues and customer complaints

• reduces costs and lengthy compliance processes

Residents

• improved household functioning

• improved health and wellbeing

Community

• improved social cohesion and quality of life

Services / Networks

• strategic, coordinated and effective responses

HSRI – a case study Presenting Issues

• 64 year old female, 36 year old daughter and 38 year old son

• Diogenes syndrome and hoarding disorder - living in extreme squalor

• Lacking insight into personal hygiene or public health concerns

• Issues:

– financial

– mobility issues

– a range of disabilities – intellectual, physical and cognitive

impairment

– social isolation

– poor personal health and hygiene.

Public health risks / requirements

• removal of harbourage for vermin (internal and external areas

of property)

• cut-back of overgrown vegetation

• full forensic clean due to extreme squalor and vermin / animal

and human defecation

• excessive rodent activity requiring vermin eradication

HSRI – a case study

HSRI – a case study HSRI response

• Resident Needs Assessment

• Resident Recovery Action Plan

• Referrals to relevant and resident approved agencies

• Weekly communication with residents

• Regular communication with neighbouring residents

• Regular feedback to Council Officers

• Establishment and facilitation of a case coordination team

HSRI – a case study Outcomes

HSRI – a case study Outcomes

Collaboration – the key to

success • Partnership approach - applied sensitively, strategically and

purposefully.

• Coordination and maximisation of resources.

• Utilisation of Council resources across different Council

divisions and sections in order to achieve outcomes and

maximise resources available.

HSRI – internal partnerships and

collaboration The various areas that have committed to working collaboratively include:

• Brisbane Lifestyle division:

– CARS branch – City Standards, City Safety, Business

Improvement and Strategy

– Connected Communities branch – Inclusive Communities, Zero

Harm, Branch Management Office

• Brisbane Infrastructure division

• City Planning and Sustainability division

• Organisational Services division

• Office of the Lord Mayor and Chief Executive Officer

Thank you!

If you require further information please contact:

Tabatha Pashen

Resident Liaison Officer

Brisbane City Council

E: tabatha.pashen@brisbane.qld.gov.au

T: 07 3178 9739

Contact Details

HSRI – case study 2 Presenting Issues

• 57 year old female resident presenting with severe hoarding

disorder

• 17 year old female daughter with support needs

• Mental health concerns (agoraphobia, anxiety, depression)

• Issues:

– financial

– chronic physical health concerns

– lack of support networks (social isolation and family

breakdown)

– significant mental health issues.

HSRI – case study 2 Public health risks / requirements

• removal of harbourage for vermin (internal and external areas

of property)

• cut-back of overgrown vegetation

• treatment of termite nests residing in the structure (house)

• excessive rodent activity requiring vermin eradication

• repairs to the structure of the property

HSRI – case study 2 HSRI response

• Resident Needs Assessment

• Resident Recovery Action Plan

• Referrals to relevant and resident approved agencies

• Weekly communication with residents

• Regular communication with neighbouring residents

• Regular feedback to Council Officers

• Establishment and facilitation of case coordination

HSRI – case study 2 Outcomes

HSRI – case study 2 Outcomes