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Hoarding and Squalor Guideline - City of Kalamunda · Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor...

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Hoarding and Squalor Guideline
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Hoarding and Squalor Guideline

Shire of Kalamunda – Hoarding and Squalor Guideline

Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1

2.0 Background And Definitions .................................................................................... 1

2.1 Hoarding ......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 Animal Hoarding .............................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Squalor ............................................................................................................................ 3

3.0 Stakeholders ............................................................................................................ 4

4.0 Procedures ............................................................................................................... 5

4.1 Occupational Health And Safety ........................................................................................ 5 4.2 Investigation Procedure .................................................................................................... 7 4.3 Case Management ............................................................................................................ 7 4.1.1 Mental Health Referrals .................................................................................................... 8 4.2 The Clean Up Process ....................................................................................................... 8 4.2.1 Commercial Cleaners ........................................................................................................ 9 4.2.2 Waste Disposal ................................................................................................................ 9

5.0 Legal Provisions ..................................................................................................... 10

6.0 Budgetary Considerations...................................................................................... 12

7.0 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 12

8.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................. 13

9.0 References ............................................................................................................. 14

Appendix A ............................................................................................................................. 1

Appendix B ............................................................................................................................. 3

Appendix C ............................................................................................................................. 4

Appendix C ............................................................................................................................. 1

Appendix D ............................................................................................................................ 5

Appendix E ............................................................................................................................. 6

Appendix F ............................................................................................................................. 7

Appendix G ............................................................................................................................ 8

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 1

1.0 Introduct ion

The issues of hoarding and squalor present consistently throughout the Shire of Kalamunda. While

complaints of this nature are relatively low in frequency, their complexity, duration and impact can

be considerably high1. Historically, hoarding and squalor complaints within the Shire of Kalamunda

have been seen to span several decades and have impacted the individual involved, as well as their

families, neighbours and the broader community.

Due to the complex nature of hoarding and squalor, conventional complaint resolution practices are

often not applicable and are rarely successful. This document will assess the current situation

regarding hoarding and squalor in Western Australia and explore the options available to

environmental health staff. Whilst Environmental Health Officers are commonly the frontline for

dealing with hoarders, EHO’s don’t necessarily have the skills, or the available resources, to deal

with the mental health aspects that coincide with hoarding disorders.

It should be noted that this document is designed to be applied in conjunction with state

Department of Health guidelines concerning hoarding and squalor. Specifically, this policy aims to

create clear and concise direction to assist decision making and process structure for EHOs dealing

with hoarding and squalor complaints. Safety issues facing staff investigating premises for hoarding

and squalor are also considered.

2.0 Background and Def in i t ions

The need for a policy to direct hoarding and squalor investigations by the Shire of Kalamunda

Health Services was identified in the Community Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-2016 proposed

Action 2.1 – Develop a House Unfit Policy. This sits under Kalamunda Advancing - Strategic

Community Plan to 2023 and assists in achieving a number of key strategic priorities, specifically

Strategic Priority 1, Kalamunda Cares: Looking after our people, and Strategic Priority 6,

Kalamunda Leads: Providing good government, as per the following;

Objective 1.1. To be a community that cares for its aged and frail and those less fortunate.

o Strategy 1.1.3. Plan for and provide ongoing support for people with disabilities to feel

included in the community.

Objective 1.7. To create healthy lifestyles and environments for the community.

o Strategy 1.7.1. Develop, implement and review a local Community Health and

Wellbeing Plan.

Objective 6.2. To ensure local laws are upheld.

o Strategy 6.2.1. Develop, implement and monitor all local laws across the Shire to

ensure they are relevant and realistic.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 2

Objective 6.3. To lead, motivate and enhance the Shire of Kalamunda.

o Strategy 6.3.1. Develop and implement a wide variety of informing strategies and

plans which benefit the community socially, economically and environmentally.

The term ‘House Unfit’ relates to the Health Act 1911 description of a premises that requires

cleaning or repair. The traditional outlook of investigating houses unfit for human habitation, by

focusing on the materials and refuse, is antiquated and does not address the complexities involved,

nor the causes in which these situations arise. Subsequently, long term effective action is rarely

achieved. This issue has been recognised on a state wide level with the Department of Health

releasing the Hoarding and Severe Domestic Squalor Documents ‘A Guideline for Western Australia’

and ‘A Toolkit for Local Government’ in 2014.

2.1 Hoarding

Hoarding is innate in human behaviour, often people place sentimental value on items that might

not necessarily have great monetary value however, hoarding is the extreme end of this behaviour.

Hoarding refers to the “persistent accumulation of, and lack of ability to relinquish, large numbers

of objects or living animals.2” Clutter, a consequence of hoarding, can mean different things to

different people. Appendix A provides a Clutter Image Rating to assist both residents and Officers

to identify extreme levels of clutter. A level of 4 or greater indicates clutter that may impede a

person’s daily functions and suggests a hoarding problem may be present3.

The characteristics of compulsive hoarders include;

Compulsive acquisition, particularly items of seemingly limited value;

Avoidance behaviours, including an inability to make decisions about items, such as

whether to discard the items;

Poor organisational skills relating to the storage of items;

An impact on daily functioning by spaces being restricted for their normal use such as

cooking facilities, bedding, toilets and showers; and

A reluctance to seek assistance, along with embarrassment or shame, often leading to

social isolation1,4.

2.1.1 Animal Hoarding

Another form of hoarding which exists is that of animal hoarding. This is generally accompanied by

possession hoarding however due to the nature of close proximity with animals a number of other

health concerns arise, such as the accumulation of animal waste and subsequent unsanitary living

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 3

conditions4. Animal hoarding is often conducted by isolated individuals1 and tends to begin as an

act of compassion toward the animals, however false perceptions of the situation by the hoarder

often lead to overcrowding, starvation and general neglect towards the animal’s welfare4.

The complexities of animal hoarding are similar to those found in possession hoarding, and it is

noted that reoffending rates are considerably high with regard to excessive animal possession.

Animal hoarding does not discriminate between age, gender or socio-economic status1,4.

2.2 Squalor

Squalor can be described as “an unsanitary living environment that has arisen from extreme or

prolonged neglect2”. Similar to hoarding, squalor involves the accumulation of items leading to

severe clutter and subsequent inability to use cooking, sleeping, toilet and shower facilities.

However, in addition to hoarding, squalor often involves the accumulation of items that affect the

health of occupants such as rotten food, excrement and other waste items1,4,6.

Severe domestic squalor can affect individuals of any age and can either develop suddenly or over

an extended period of time1. Mental illness often accompanies cases of severe domestic squalor6

and physical disability is also not uncommon1,4.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 4

Squalor involves a number of risks to both occupants and the surrounding community, such as;

Risks of falls, trips and slips;

Fire hazards;

Occupational Health and Safety risks to service providers, resulting in limited at home

service provision to the occupant;

Odour;

Vermin;

Isolation of the occupant; and

Risk of eviction and homelessness by the occupant2,4.

3 .0 Stakeholders

Dependant on what is found during the initial or subsequent inspections of a house unfit it may

become necessary to involve other agencies to assist in rectifying the issues. Ideally, an

interagency approach should be sought, considering the complexities involved in hoarding and

squalor. This allows shared responsibilities using the combined skills and resources of all

stakeholders involved in a coordinated effort to address the issue7. Historically, the absence of

clear frameworks, both nationally and state wide, have limited effective interagency collaboration1.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 5

To engage long term participation with relevant stakeholders, a working group should be

established in which a documented service agreement and protocol would be developed1. Effective

taskforces are flexible in nature and contain members from each relevant area, preferably at

managerial level. Meeting frequency is to be determined by the number of cases being

investigated, at this stage quarterly meetings are proposed to retain working relationships and

ensure ongoing collaboration. Roles and responsibilities of task force members should be clearly

communicated at task force meetings1.

Appendix B comprises a list of stakeholders that have been identified for regular attendance at

quarterly meetings. As cases arise, varied stakeholders will be required for the specifics of each

case. Appendix C provides a supplementary list of stakeholders to be invited to meetings on an as

needs basis.

Additionally, a number of agencies provide assistance in this area however there is no ‘one-source’

of information for occupants to consider. Where lists of service providers are provided to some

degree, these are not locally specific. A locally relevant brochure including relevant stakeholders,

services providers and not-for-profit groups would be beneficial to the investigation of hoarding

and squalor cases at the Shire.

4 .0 Procedures

As per standard procedure, all complaints received concerning suspected premises should be

submitted in writing. Verbal complaints would only be considered if an immediate risk to the

occupant and/or public existed. The following identifies investigation procedures once a complaint

has been received.

4.1 Occupational Health and Safety

Hoarding and squalor situations have the potential to be unsafe for staff for a variety of reasons.

Unoccupied premises are vulnerable to squatters who may be volatile due to mental health illness,

drug dependency and/or the stress and fear associated with homelessness. Occupied premises

additionally pose safety risks when dealing with occupants who may be resistant to enforcement

action, further it is reported that more than two thirds of people living in severe domestic squalor

experience mental health illness4.In addition to the safety risks encountered by onsite interactions,

the site itself poses a number of health and safety risks regarding paths of egress, bio-hazardous

waste, disease carrying vectors and other issues arising from the cluttered and squalid nature of

the premises1.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 6

Initial site visits should always be completed in pairs. Environmental Health Officer’s should request

the assistance of a Ranger if deemed necessary. In cases where notification is provided concerning

alleged criminal activities or hostile behaviour, site inspections in conjunction with the police may

be required.

The initial visit should identify any potential safety issues Officers might face, the state of the

dwelling and the physical and mental health of the occupants (humans and animals alike). See

Appendix D for an Occupational Health and Safety Checklist. The primary concern is ensuring that

the dwelling is structurally secured, has essential services and a clear means of egress. A “man-

down” device should be taken by Officers during site inspections, once a clear understanding of the

risks has been determined the use of this device will be at the Officer’s discretion.

Appropriate personal protection should be worn, which may vary depending on the condition of the

premises. These premises can often be structurally unsound and in need of maintenance,

additionally they may contain filth, excrement and decomposing food. Officers should be prepared

for all scenarios during the initial inspection, the following includes a list of safety equipment that

may be required depending on the condition of the premises;

Steel-cap boots or gum boots;

Hard Hat or bump cap;

Disposable overalls;

Face masks or respirators;

Gloves; and

Shoe Covers.

Once a relationship is established with an

occupant, it is at the Officer’s discretion to attend

future inspections unaccompanied, however the

Customer Service Officer should be notified of the

site visit and an anticipated return time.

Additionally, full details are to be provided in the

Officer’s calendar, including information of the

address and expected duration of the inspection;

the health area whiteboard should also be

competed as per standard procedure.

Vacant premises should never be inspected individually, even for return visits following previous

identification of the premises being unoccupied. This is due to the potential for the premises to be

temporarily occupied by squatters and the subsequent risks involved in encountering these

individuals.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 7

4.2 Investigation Procedure

Prior to an inspection being conducted, as much information about the site should be collected as

possible. This may involve discussing the situation with the complainant to see if the premises is

occupied, and if so, if the occupant has a known mental or physical health condition and if they are

English speaking. Prior history of the premises should also be considered with relevant databases,

such as Synergy, checked prior to the first inspection. The initial inspection is a key opportunity to

establish a good working relationship with any occupants, therefore it is essential the Officer is

prepared.

The ultimate goal of the investigation is to have the issue resolved, therefore going in with a heavy

hand may not be the most appropriate method in an initial response. Hoarders can often be

reclusive and take time to develop trust1; it is imperative that appropriate verbal and body

language is applied; see Appendix D for a list of ‘dos and don’ts’ concerning officer behaviour7.

When speaking with the occupants, listen to what they have to say and try to learn what their

values are as it might become important as a means of leverage for the clean-up.

In addition to building a working relationship with the occupant, the initial investigation should

distinguish whether the case is a hoarding case or a squalor case. Hoarding presents a far lesser

public health issue than squalor. An inspection form for assessing the dwelling can be found in

Appendix E. Standardised inspection procedures are important to ensure consistent management of

hoarding and squalor cases1, particularly in light of the often lengthy investigations involved.

Photos are essential in the collection of evidence, however in cases of hoarding and squalor it can

often be seen as an intrusion of privacy. Respect the feelings of the occupant, be open about the

process and explain what you are doing. Do not try to underhandedly take photographs and only

take as many as is necessary for evidence collection.

The first inspection is also an important time to identify agencies and stakeholders that may need

to get involved. For example, the Department of Child and Family Services and the RSPCA may

need to be notified if children and/or animals are involved1.

4.3 Case Management

The key case worker should first be identified, either by the receiving officer or the task force. In

most cases this will be the Environmental Health Officer, however if other more pressing matters,

such as the safety of children, are involved, other stakeholders may need to take precedence in the

matter. Regardless of who is assigned to be the key case worker, the Environmental Health Officer

will be responsible for overseeing the functions of the Health Act 1911 in relation to the premises.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 8

The second step is identifying broader risks to be addressed such as children, animals, mental

health of the occupant, occupational health and safety requirements, fire safety and other matters

that require referral to key stakeholders and the task force2.

Once risks and stakeholders have been identified, the task force should develop an Action Plan for

the premises. This will vary depending on the severity of the hoarding and/or squalor and the level

of cooperation received from the occupant. The action plan must identify the roles and

responsibilities of all parties involved and develop a timeframe for required tasks to be executed1.

Lastly, regardless of the method applied to clean up the premises, relapse prevention strategies

should be identified and put in place with the cooperation of the occupant1. An ongoing relationship

should be maintained with the occupants to ensure the relapse prevention strategies are being

adhered to and are effective.

4.1.1 Mental Health Referrals

A number of mental health service providers (E.g. support and alternative accommodation

providers) are not accessible without the occupant first obtaining a referral from their General

Practitioner (GP). A number of factors make it difficult for an occupant to obtain a referral. These

include; the GP being unaware of the living conditions at the occupant’s home and the occupant

appearing otherwise mentally sound but not divulging details about their inability to maintain their

home environment due to shame and taboos surrounding mental health conditions. Appendix F

provides a template for the referring officer to provide the occupant to take to their GP.

4.2 The Clean Up Process

While other agencies and stakeholders may have roles in the overall issue resolution, the

Environmental Health Officer’s primary goal is to oversee the clean-up of the site. It is important

however that broader considerations are applied, as experience has shown that a lack of

interagency collaboration often limits the effectiveness of remediation1.

When attempting to get the property cleaned up setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable,

relative, and timely) goals in conjunction with the occupants of the dwelling can be an effective

means of beginning the process. Including the occupants in the decision making process ensures

that they find the goals set to be reasonable and engages them in the process. For the clean-up it

may be beneficial to write up a plan that includes a sequential list of the tasks required, starting

with the most urgent items and then moving onto the less important items. If the occupants

support the plan, encourage them to sign it and provide them with a copy as this has been found

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 9

to improve results in achieving compliance. This document however is not a legal document, rather

it is an informal agreement that the occupant feels obliged to follow, and the occupant is within

their rights to refuse a signature. This is a separate document to the overall action plan, which

addresses all considerations for the site, not just the clean-up process.

During the follow up, Officers need to find the right balance between enforcement and support. It

is important that Officer’s support the person and provide positive feedback for the progress

they’ve made and keep positive about the process of cleaning up. However, Officers ultimately

need to ensure that the property gets back to within a reasonable standard and should the

occupants not be willing to cooperate enforcement may be required. At no stage should the officer

make guarantees about any action either they, or the Shire, will, or will not, take in relation to the

matter.

There is a fine balance between building working relationships with residents to support them to

make required changes, and providing the occupant with a false sense of friendship and trust that

the Officer is ‘on their side’. It must be understood by the Officer from the onset that enforcement

action may eventually be necessary and subsequently, a professional approach should be

maintained at all times. Providing customer service in an enforcement setting is often a unique

situation compared to traditional customer service in other arenas. In this case it should involve;

using appropriate language, keeping pre-arranged appointment times, respecting the resident’s

specific needs, and working to mutually agreed timeframes and plans wherever possible.

4.2.1 Commercial Cleaners

In many instances the occupant will not have the resources or ability to clean up their property

themselves. Should the property owner have suitable funds, there are commercial cleaners

available for this task (Appendix G). Alternatively, the Shire may seek to utilise the services of

these cleaners on behalf of the occupant where it is not financially viable to do so themselves.

Legal and budgetary considerations regarding this option are discussed below.

4.2.2 Waste Disposal

Within the Shire of Kalamunda, residents have access to 3 skip bins a year and can pay for

additional bins if required. This service provides an effective means to remove materials from the

site, however it cannot accept putrescible waste. In special instances, arrangements may be made

with Waste Services to remove additional waste.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 10

5.0 Legal Provisions

Enforcement options available to address hoarding or squalor include;

Health Act 1911

o S142 – Nuisances;

o S135 – Unfit for Human Habitation;

o S132 – Repair or Remove;

o S139 – Clean and Repair;

o S140 - Local Government may act in default of the owner; and

o S371 – Local Government may recover costs as a charge against the land.

Local Government Act 1995

o S3.25 – Remove disused materials; and

o S3.26 – Local Government may act in default of the owner.

Shire of Kalamunda Health Local Laws 2011

o 3.4 – Dwelling House Maintenance

At the time of writing this policy, the Public Health Bill is in parliamentary review. While the

provisions for responding the hoarding and squalor do not change significantly under the proposed

legislation, these considerations will need to be identified at the time the Public Health Bill is

enacted.

Figure 1 indicates the workflow relating to these enforcement provisions. It should however be

noted that enforcement should not be applied as a first approach and consideration should be

given to the causes of hoarding and squalor and likelihood of reoccurrence following enforcement

action. The aim is to address the issue, rather than to apply penalties on the occupant.

Additionally, consideration must be applied to the displacement of the occupant; Section 135

Notices rendering the House Unfit for Habitation should only be issued once due consideration has

been provided to alternative accommodation options for the occupant.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 11

Figure 1 – Work Flow Processes: House Unfit Enforcement5

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 12

6.0 Budgetary Considerat ions

In order to act in default of the owner in relation to Section 140 of the Health Act 1911 and S3.26

of the Local Government Act 1995 it is important that available funds are in place to do so.

Currently, this is not considered in budget planning. Clean up costs can range from minor amounts

of several thousand dollars to up to tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of dollars if

severe. A standard clean-up of a property that does not require extensive repairs is in the range of

$10 000. Additionally, accommodation options should be considered for the occupant during the

time the works are carried out.

While it is noted that it can take some time for the local government to recoup clean-up costs,

consideration should be applied in light of both the welfare of the occupant and impacts on

surrounding residents. Decision making should also consider the likelihood of relapse and the level

of ongoing support available to the occupant following the clean-up.

7.0 Conclusion

Hoarding and squalor complaints are complex and often require an interagency approach, however

there is limited framework in place to do this. The focus of the officer should be to address the

health and safety issues to both the occupants and surrounding community. This document

identifies measures in which Officers can address these concerns however it should be noted that

the response provided will vary dependant on the level of participation and cooperation of the

occupant. Ultimately, if an occupant is not cooperative, enforcement action may need to be

considered, dependant on the risks involved. A best practice model involves officer support and

encouragement, alongside stakeholder input, to address site concerns using mutually agreed

timeframes and actions.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 13

8.0 Recommendat ions

1. Establish a budget for Shire initiated clean and repair works at the budget review;

$4,000 to be included in the health budget and $4,000 to address fire safety concerns.

2. Develop a task force with relevant stakeholders to meet quarterly, or more frequently,

as relevant situations arise.

3. Ensure staff are provided with relevant Occupational Health and Safety information,

training and personal protective equipment.

4. Ensure staff are equipped with consistent tools, checklists and inspection documentation

and trained on appropriate customer service provision in this context.

5. Provide mental health awareness training for Environmental Health Officers.

6. Develop a locally relevant brochure detailing service providers that assist occupants of

Hoarding and Squalor.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 14

9 .0 References

1. Department of Health and Ageing, SA, A Foot in the Door: Stepping towards solutions to resolve incidents of severe domestic squalor in South Australia, 2013.

2. Department of Health, Victoria, Responding to Hoarding and Squalor – Key Messages, 2013.

3. International OCD Foundation: Hoarding Centre, Clutter Image Rating, Boston MA, 2013.

4. Department of Health WA, Hoarding and Severe Domestic Squalor – A Guideline for Western Australia, 2014.

5. Environmental Health Australia, Environmental Health Best Practice Manual, 2012.

6. Lee, SM, Lewis, M, Leighton, D, Harris, B, Long, B, Macfarlane, S, Neuropsychological characteristics of people living in squalor, International Psychogeriatrics, 2014.

7. Department of Health WA, Hoarding and Severe Domestic Squalor – A Toolkit for Local Government, 2014

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 1

Appendix A

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 2

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 3

Appendix B

Core Stakeholder Group – Quarterly Meeting Attendance

Agency/Department Contact Details Situations in which to refer

360 Health and Community Cindy Gorton Tel: 92798225, Mobile: 0417 789 162 Email: [email protected]

Partners in Recovery. Strategic advice and information concerning the pilot MoU in development.

Building Department Shire of Kalamunda Building Services. CSO – ext. 942

Invite relevant district Officer/s.

When concerned about the structural integrity of the

dwelling.

Department of Health WA Kelly Crossley – Acting Principal Advisor (Applied Environmental Health)

Tel: 9388 4954, Email: [email protected]

Advice concerning state wide initiatives and reports of other

stakeholder activities.

Health Services Coordinator: Cassandra Collyer/Kerry Staples, ext. 962

[email protected]

Develops minutes and agendas for meetings and invites all

required members. Chairs meetings.

Occupational Health and Safety Dawn Veltman - Occupational Safety and Health Coordinator ext. 818

Considerations for staff entering and inspection the property. Training requests.

Rangers Cameron Smith, Senior Ranger, ext. 848

Other Officers may be required depending on experience with case.

Unregistered animals, Animal Hoarding & Fire Risks.

Swan Mental Health Services Andrew Alison - Acting Clinical Nurse Specialist/Team Leader

Tel: 93475700, Mobile: 0414339471,

Email: [email protected] Christine Lee, Email: [email protected]

Concerns over the mental health of the occupants.

Advice on available services - a number of services require

mental health referral before the occupant can utilise these services. (Invite both on list).

Uniting Care West Reni Luckhose (Mental Health/Housing Consultant)

Tel: 9220 1288, Email: [email protected]

When there are private rental issues and the occupant may

become homeless.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 4

Appendix C

Supplementary Stakeholders (Invite as Required)

Agency/Department Contact Details Situations in which to refer

Anglicare WA WA Head Office, Tel: 9263 2000 When the occupants are struggling to live independently.

Only for occupants with two or more dependent children.

Department of Child Protection

and Family Support

Crisis Care Line: (08) 9223 1111 Midland office (08) 9274 9411

http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx

Concerns for the welfare of any children living in an unfit

house.

Department of Environmental

Regulation

Tel: (08) 6467 5000

Email address: [email protected]

If there is the potential for site to be considered a

contaminated site due to chemical or asbestos contamination.

Department of Housing Contact: Daniel Stewart 9350 3256 Email: [email protected]

When the occupants live in state housing and the property is subject to a state of disrepair or hoarding/squalor.

HACC Kerry Fryers (Coordinator) ext. 701 Eileen Moore ext. 723

Assistance for people who are frail, older or have a disability. Can’t get involved until post-clean up stage due to OSH risk.

Legal Aid – Social Inclusion Telephone InfoLine: 1300 650 579

Open Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, Tel: 9261 6222

When people require assistance resolving civil law issues

Mould Specialists Yellow Pages Where the Shire may need to involve an expert for advice

concerning mould remediation (especially for verification).

Occupational Health and Safety Internally: Dawn Veltman ext. 818 Externally: Worksafe http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/

Considerations for staff entering and inspection the property. OHS Training requests.

Office of the Public Advocate 1300 858 455 or (08) 9278 7300

http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/

When the person has a legal guardian who looks after their

welfare and finances.

Perth Home Care Services WA Head Office: 9204 7800

Email: [email protected]

Assistance with household chores, cooking etc.

Police 40 Strelitzia Ave, Forrestfield, Tel: 9359 1033 Counter service open hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:00pm

Joint visits may be required for office safety. Other matters may require reporting to police (E.g. clandestine labs).

RSPCA Tel: 9209 9300, Email: [email protected]

Report Cruelty: 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589)

Animal welfare concerns or other animal associated issues.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 1

Appendix C Home Safety – Squalor & Hoarding - RISK ASSESSMENT

Address: Contact Name:

Contact phone no: Written by:

Date of initial assessment: In consultation with:

Hazards

Likelihood

Potential Risk Consequence

Risk Level (Inherent)

Risk Treatment Risk Level (Residual)

Internal Environment

Building Structure □ Floors

□ Stairs □ Ceilings

□ Walls

□ Roof

□ Slips, trips, falls □ Hit by falling object

□ Other

□ Refer to building owner/manager □ Do not enter the premises

□ Find a safe area in which to work with the client in the short term

Utilities

□ Water □ Sewer

□ Gas □ Electricity

□ Slips and trips

□ Infectious disease □ Fire (from candle use)

□ Other

□ Refer to building owner/manager

□ Discourage use of candles, provide torches/lights to workers

□ Open windows and doors for light

Fire hazard – Combustible

materials

□ Entrapment

□ Burns □ Death

□ Smoke Inhalation

□ Ensure clear escape route

□ Relocate belongings away from heaters and stoves

□ Ensure fire alarms are working

Poor lighting

□ Slips, trips and falls □ Eye strain/headaches

□ Other

□ Open windows and doors for light □ Provide torches/portable light to

staff

Extreme Clutter

□ Slips, trips and falls

□ Entrapment

□ Hit by falling object □ Other

□ Relocate belongings to clear a space

in which to work

□ Do not enter areas where there is no escape route

Flooring – uneven, worn, slippery,

loose

□ Slips, trips, falls □ Other

□ Identify and be aware of unsafe floor areas

□ Contact building owner/manager for maintenance as appropriate

□ Relocate obvious hazards such as

mats □ Clean up simple lip hazards

□ Work in a floor safe area

Unstable

steps/stairs

□ Slips, trips and falls

□ Falls from heights

□ Hit by falling object □ Other

□ Use an alternative entrance if

available

□ Contact building owner/manager for maintenance

□ Do not use unstable internal stairs

Poor ventilation □ Respiratory irritation

□ Headaches/dizziness □ Infectious disease

□ Open windows and doors

□ Use extractor fans where working and available

Electrical- overloaded, faulty

□ Fire □ Contact with electricity □ Other

□ Remove overloaded power boards, double adapters and replace with safe system

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 2

□ Use portable Residual Currency Device (RCD) before using electrical

appliances □ Refer to building owner/manager for

wiring problems

General disrepair,

wear and tear

□ Slips, trips and falls

□ Hit by falling object

□ Injury from protruding objects

□ Relocate items causing obvious

hazards

□ Work in a designated “safe” work area

General level of cleanliness

□ Exposure/contact with biological factors

□ Respiratory irritation

□ Other

□ Determine if a forensic clean is a viable option

□ Clean small areas first

□ Carry portable stool for clean seating in any are of the

house/property

External

Environment Overgrowth of

plant material –

moss, lichens, grass

□ Slips, trips and falls

□ Respiratory irritation □ Other

□ Use alternative access route if

available □ Wear non slip closed in shoes

□ Contact other agencies to organise

property maintenance as appropriate

Accumulation of excess

refuse/garbage/

objects

□ Slips, trips and falls □ Hit by object

□ Entrapment

□ Contact/exposure to biological factors

□ Relocate obvious hazards limiting access

□ Contact property owner/manager

Human/Biological

Vermin

□ Bites, stings □ Exposure to biological

factors □ Slips, trips, falls

□ Determine need for contracted pest control

□ Eliminate source of infestation □ Baits, traps, extermination

□ Liaise with property owner/manager

Pests – lice, cockroaches,

maggots, spiders

□ Bites, stings □ Skin irritation

□ Exposure/contact with biological factors

□ Determine need for contracted pest control

□ Eliminate source of infestation □ Baits, traps, extermination

□ Liaise with property owner/manager

Hoarding of animals – hair,

fleas, faeces, urine

□ Allergic reactions □ Bites/stings

□ Slips, trips and falls □ Skin irritation

□ Exposure/contact with biological factors

□ Contact Rangers to assist □ Contract RSPCA to assist with caring

for the animals

Smoke □ Allergic reactions

□ Respiratory irritation □ Passive smoking

□ Ask the client not to smoke whilst

workers are present □ Open windows and doors

Odour □ Respiratory irritation

□ Headache/dizziness

□ Open windows and doors

□ Work in ventilated area □ Remove source of odour as

appropriate

Mould/fungi □ Allergic reactions

□ Respiratory irritation

□ Exposure/contact with biological factors

□ Open windows and doors

□ Work in ventilated area

□ Remove source of mould/fungi as appropriate

Decomposing food □ Exposure/contact with biological factors

□ Remove source as appropriate

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 3

Human faeces and urine

□ Slips, trips and falls □ Exposure/contact with

biological factors

□ Consider forensic clean as appropriate

Sharps □ Needlestick injury

□ Exposure/contact with biological factors

□ Provide sharps disposal unit

□ do not handle clothing/laundry with risk of entangled sharps

Chemical

Inappropriate storage

□ Explosion

□ Contact with harmful substance

□ Contact waste supervisor for

removal/relocation

Dangerous goods □ Explosion

□ Contact with harmful substance

□ Weapons if present must be locked

away □ Contact waste supervisor for

removal/relocation

Hazardous

substances

□ Respiratory irritation

□ Skin irritation

□ Allergic reactions □ Contact with harmful

substance

□ Do not handle unknown substances

□ Ensure all substances used by

workers area clearly labelled in original containers

□ Provide SDS for any hazardous substances to be used

□ Wear PPE as listed in SDS □ Contact waste supervisor for

removal/relocation

Person

Person known to be violent/

uncooperative

□ Workplace violence

□ Threatening behaviours

□ Two workers (minimum) to attend

at all times

Occupational Safety and Health solution:

STEP 1 – Determine the most likely consequence of the risk. STEP 2 – Determine the phrase which best describes the likelihood of the consequence happening.

STEP 3 – Line up the likelihood and the consequence on the risk level chart & you have identified to determine the risk level.

STEP 4 – Use the risk level to determine the appropriate actions to take in addressing the risk.

Consequence

Likelihood

Insignificant

1

Minor

2

Major

3

Critical

4

Extreme

5

Almost Certain

A

H

H

E

E

E

Likely B

M

H

H

E

E

Possible C

L

M

H

E

E

Unlikely D

L

L

M

H

E

Rare E

L

L

M

H

H

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 4

E = Extreme Risk: Immediate action required by EM or Executive Management

H = High Risk: Senior management attention needed

M = Medium Risk: Managed by specific monitoring or response procedures L = Low Risk: Manage by routine procedures, unlikely to need specific application of resources

Matrix used to determine perceived level of risk There is a hierarchy or preferred order of control, ranging from the most effective to the least effective.

These controls are not mutually exclusive. There may be occasions when more than one control must be

used to reduce a risk.

Hierarchy of Controls Example

Elimination Remove the hazard

Substitution / Isolation Substituting or replacing a hazard or hazardous work practice with a less hazardous one, Installing barriers or fences.

Engineering Re-design or install equipment, modifying tools or equipment.

Administrative Training, signage, rostering,

Implementing and documenting safe working procedures for all hazardous tasks.

Personal Protective Equipment Use PPE (PPE should only be considered when other control measures are not practicable or to increase a person's protection as an additional

measure).

Level Description Examples Frequency

A Almost Certain Expected to occur in most

circumstances.

More than once per year

B Likely Will probably occur in most

circumstances.

At least once per year

C Possible Should occur at some time. At least once in three years.

D Unlikely Could occur at some time. At least once in ten years.

E Rare May occur, only in exceptional circumstances.

Less than once in fifteen years.

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 5

Appendix D

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 6

Appendix E

Hoarding Assessment Form Name: _____________ Address: ___________ Assessing Officer: ___________ Date: __________

Accessibility % of floor space clear inaccessible for walking or use

0%-29% 0

29%-59% 1

60%-89% 2

89%-100% 3

Accumulation of Refuse or Garbage

None 0

Little 1

Moderate 2

A Lot 3

Accumulation of Items of Little Obvious Value In general, is there evidence of accumulation of items that most people would consider useless or should be thrown away?

None 0

Little 1

Moderate 2

A Lot 3

Cleanliness of Floors and Carpet

Clean 0

Mildly Dirty 1

Very Dirty 2

Filthy 3

Cleanliness of Walls, Furniture Surfaces and Window Sills

Clean 0

Mildly Dirty 1

Very Dirty 2

Filthy 3

Cleanliness of Bathroom and Toilet

Clean 0

Mildly Dirty 1

Very Dirty 2

Filthy 3

Kitchen and Food Oven, surfaces and cupboards clean? Amount of refuse and garbage over surfaces or floor? Putrid food?

Clean 0

Mildly Dirty 1

Very Dirty 2

Filthy 3

Odour

None 0

Unpleasant 1

Moderate 2

Unbearable 3

Vermin

None 0

Few 1

Moderate 2

Infestation 3

Sleeping Area

Clean 0

Mildly Unclean 1

Moderate 2

Unbearable 3

Total

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 7

Appendix F

Enquiries: < Contact Number >

Our Ref: < Our Ref > Your Ref: < Your Ref >

< Date >

< Address 1> < Address 2>

< Address 3> < Address 4>

< Address 5>

Dear General Practitioner,

Request for Mental Health Referral

I write to advise that the Shire of Kalamunda Health Services have recently been assisting <Name>

concerning the living conditions at their residence.

An inspection by an Environmental Health Officer has identified that the premises poses a significant risk to the occupant’s health by way of the following; <list issues: E.g.

mould/clutter/hoarding/squalor/rubbish/pests/animals/uncleanliness/not weatherproofed etc.>

The Shire has recommended <Name> arrange an appointment with you so that an assessment can be made

regarding their physical and mental health in light of their current circumstances.

Please note that the Shire has contacted various service providers on behalf of the occupant however we

have been advised that without a mental health referral crucial services cannot be accessed. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.

If you require any further information please contact Environmental Health Officer <Officer Name> on

<Number>.

Yours sincerely

< Officer Name >

< Job Title >

Shire of Kalamunda Hoarding and Squalor Guideline 8

Appendix G

Commercial Cleaners Squalor

1. Linked Cleaning Services

Contact: Ashley – 0413 739 844

Website: http://www.linkedcleaningservices.com.au/our-services/hoarding/

2. Discrete Cleaners

Contact: 0433 053 422

Website: http://discretecleaners.com.au/

3. National Trauma and Crime Scene Cleaning

Contact: 0488 007 675

Website: http://www.ntcsc.com.au/

Hoarding

4. Sorted Space

Contact: Dayna Howard – 0407 719 808 Website: http://www.sortedspace.com.au/


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