Accord Equality & Fairness Annual Report 2018
Super insulated fabric.
Gas free, off grid energy generation.
Whole roof in tray PV systems.
Low energy LED lighting throughout.
KNX open protocol smart wiring and AT platform.
Saline battery technology with direct and inverted electricity supplies.
Flexible adaptation to take future additional AT systems.
Positive Input Ventilation with boost facility linked to a whole house monitoring
platform.
Potential to replicate learning on existing stock
We planned to demonstrate:-
2. That through the KNX open protocol smart wiring and AT platform we can provide
monitoring not only of the home, but also of the occupant leading to the potential for
application for Telecare
Energy performance / Fuel Poverty
The average housing association home has a resident living in the property in fuel
poverty. The fuel poverty gap is an average of over £297 in housing association homes.
Therefore a system that delivers a reduction in heating bills of over £300 a year would
take the average tenant out of fuel poverty.
There is no data for those specifically in supported living. The average house in the UK
has an estimated total energy cost of £3,708 or £309 a month. Our all Electric Smart House
is a family home that has a total energy cost of £25 a month to heat and light. Saving the
resident £284 a month.
Conclusion
The big sister house has trialled KNX connectivity and demonstrates that this can work
in a supported housing environment. It has also demonstrated that a practical living
environment running on electricity only with a significant reduction on fuel bills and the
added security of battery back-up for mains failure is viable. Future developments can
build on the success of this project.
Part funded by £1m of Homes England grant, this £6.4m development at Amber Wood in
Burton has been built to the Stirling Gold Standard. The care model delivers the Eden
Alternative philosophy of care which promotes independence and person-centred care for
people with dementia.
Maxine Espley, Executive Director of Health, Social Care and Support at Accord:
“We have developed a unique care model that utilises our significant experience
and expertise of working with people with dementia; every aspect of Amber Wood
has been specifically designed and built to provide the very best care and support.
Our specialist care team delivers personalised, high quality care in line with the
Eden Alternative Philosophy. This is an internationally recognised care model that
transforms care environments into a home environment. It focuses on person-
centred care, promoting engagement and activities to eliminate loneliness,
helplessness, and boredom.“
“To be able to deliver this level of care in a Stirling Gold Standard facility is
fantastic. To achieve Stirling Gold Standard means that every aspect of the
building, from the layout, right through to the smallest details such as the
position and the colours of doors, the location of furniture, even the colour and
design of the individual bathrooms have been specifically created to support
people living with dementia. Very few homes achieve this standard and we are
truly delighted to be able to provide this level of care and accommodation here at
Amber Wood.”
The development of Amber Wood is Accord’s second new-build specialist dementia
provision in the last 2 years.
Following its first year of operation, we are delighted with the feedback received at Arden
Grove, our specialist dementia extra care service as reported on the NHS Choices website.
One review received in November 2018
“We made the decision that mum needed care this time last year and it wasn’t
long until we walked through the doors of Arden Grove and am I glad we did. Soon
as we walked in and met Cheryl with her smiling warm and friendly staff we knew
mum was “home”. The staff here have brought my mum back to life; they go above
and beyond in their roles. The staff don’t just care for their residents but also the
families of them. I myself have needed a shoulder to cry on throughout mum’s
dementia journey and the girls in the care office at Arden have always been there
to listen and offer me a shoulder to lean on, nothing is ever too much for them.
Words will never be enough to thank this amazing team and what they have done
for us!! I’m so glad we have Arden Grove anyone suffering from Dementia should
have an Arden Grove in their life!”
In the last year we have continued to work to the NHS Accessible Information Standard
and a thematic review indicated compliance with the standard. In 2018 we also
produced an accessible customer privacy notice and updated accessible versions of our
safeguarding and complaints procedures.
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1. That a practical living environment running on electricity only with a significant
reduction on fuel bills and the added security of battery back-up for mains failure of
the AT support is viable.
In December 2018, the first residents moved in to a brand new, purpose built specialist
Dementia Centre of Excellence in Staffordshire.
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In 2018, Accord’s Care & Support team continued to work in innovative and creative ways
to meet the diverse needs of our customers.
A property was selected on the Woden Road development by Accord, a significant
regeneration project in the Heath Town area of Wolverhampton on a brown field site
that had been empty for many years. We have employed the latest energy technology
including:-
Care & Support
Case Study:
Big Sister House
Our aim was to trial a home that has been designed to incorporate technologies that have
not yet been brought together in a single project. Building on our knowledge of cutting
edge energy efficient homes, we wanted to challenge current knowledge and behaviours
in the home in order to create a living environment that is as energy efficient as possible,
but that also employs assisted technology via a platform that can be extended as the
needs of the occupant change. We wanted to look to eradicate fuel poverty and make the
home even more affordable to run.
We see this trial as not only a tool for supported living, but a way in which people’s
lifestyles can be adapted positively and health and well-being improved.