Cameron Chisholm Shire of Kalamunda

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1 Cameron Chisholm Shire of Kalamunda

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3 Introduction & Background Strategic Policy Alignment Purpose of Policy To be applied with DOH Hoarding & Squalor Guidelines

4 What Is Hoarding Generally defined as the retention and collecting of items of little obvious value Considered to be a 4 or above on the clutter scale Often hoarders place great sentimental value on their possessions and will form emotional attachments to them. Extreme form of otherwise normal behavior. Not limited to inanimate objects can be animals also.

5 Hoarding Behaviors 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 Living spaces being restricted from their normal use such as cooking facilities, bedding, toilets and showers A reluctance to seek assistance, along with embarrassment or shame, often leading to social isolation.

6 What is Squalor? An unsanitary living environment that has arisen from extreme or prolonged neglect. More devastating than just hoarding, can affect a larger number of people, more likely to attract neighbour complaints. Where the hoarder will collect items that will detrimentally affect their health eg food, human wastes dirty clothing Mental Illness and poor physical condition are common.

7 Stakeholders Interagency approach is considered best approach. EHO s don t have all the answers. Proposes a working group to meet at least quarterly. Identified stakeholders, Internal (Health, Building, Rangers and OHS), DOH, Swan Mental Health Services Uniting Care West, 360 Health & Community others as necessary eg. RSPCA if animal hoarding, Dept Child Protection and Families if children involved

8 Procedure OHS First visit done in twos, Gauge the situation (is the property safe to enter, are the occupant/s reasonable to deal with), essential services present and safe and clear means of entry and egress, man down devices to be taken with the officer, EHO should be prepared with whatever PPE they need,

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10 Procedure Investigation Procedure First Contact Gather as much information as possible initially In the early stages building rapport is the priority, use right language and body language try to determine the occupants values as they can be used as leverage during the cleanup

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12 Procedure Case Management Make an individual the key case worker identify and prioritise risks, develop action plan, call stakeholder meeting if necessary, Plan to continue visits or otherwise maintain relationship and prevent relapse.

13 Procedure The Cleanup Find balance support and enforcement, set SMART goals, develop sequential prioritized list of works get occupant to sign it, maintain positivity, Seek mental health referral

14 Example Old Approach Vs New Approach Old- lady whom we d been dealing with for several years, house was so crowed she slept on the veranda we never really established a good relationship and in the end the outcome was her passing with mesothelioma. New- lady whom originally wouldn t open the door to us, established good working relationship, worked with her to complete the works with some funding from Kalamunda on compassionate grounds, almost at maintenance stage.

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17 Legal Provisions Health Act 1911 S142 Nuisances; S135 Unfit for Human Habitation; S132 Repair or Remove; S139 Clean and Repair; S140 - Local Government may act in default of the owner; and S371 Local Government may recover costs as a charge against the land. Local Government Act 1995 S3.25 Remove disused materials; and S3.26 Local Government may act in default of the owner. Shire of Kalamunda Health Local Laws Dwelling House Maintenance

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19 Legal Provisions Public Health Act Issue of enforcement orders (1) An enforcement agency may give an enforcement order to a person if the agency reasonably believes that (a) the person has not complied with an improvement notice given to the person within the period specified in the notice under section 213(2)(e) or any extension of that period under section 214; or (b) the issue of the order is necessary to prevent or mitigate a serious public health risk. 219 (2) If this section applies, the enforcement agency may take any action the agency reasonably believes to be necessary to ensure that the order is complied with.

20 Recommendations & Conclusion 1. Establish a budget for Shire initiated clean and repair works at the budget review; $4,000 - health budget and $4,000 fire safety budget. 2. Develop a working group 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.

21 Questions?