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.
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In April 2017, Accord signed up to Level 1: Disability Confident Committed. To be recognised
as Disability Confident Committed, we agreed to identify at least one action that we would
carry out to make a difference for disabled people.
The commitments are:
Inclusive and accessible recruitment - we have introduced an application form for
those who are unable to access the internet to apply for our care and support vacancies.
We accept CVs at our services for people to be able to apply for a position ‘ in person’
without needing to go online. Equal opportunity questions are asked at application stage,
but this is not shown during the shortlisting process.
For anyone applying online, the system will automatically take off this information and
the paper applications have this section removed prior to the application being uploaded.
This ensures the hiring managers are unaware of whether candidates have a disability.
Communicating vacancies - all of our roles are advertised through Job Centres and
various job boards to enable maximum exposure and accessibility.
Offering an interview to disabled people – interviews are offered to those who meet
the minimum criteria for the role.
Providing reasonable adjustments – on every interview confirmation email, we ask
candidates to ensure they make the Recruitment Team aware of any adjustments they
may require at the interview. Previous requests include extra time for testing, coloured
paper for activities and bigger font for assessments.
Supporting existing employees – HR work with occupational health teams to ensure
any adjustments that are needed, appropriate and feasible are implemented so that an
employee can remain in the workplace.
Volunteering and work placements – we work closely with Remploy; we also work with
schools; colleges and universities to promote volunteering opportunities. They direct
applicants to the Accord Do-it account. An application form is sent out to every applicant
and this is sent on to the department requesting a volunteer. All applicants are offered
an interview.
In the year to 31st March 2019, 142 (ov 1.91%) candidates that applied to work for us
declared a disability, 38 (ov 2.55%) were interviewed for a job and 6 (ov 3.16%) were
offered a position.
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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.
The Disability Confident scheme supports employers to make the most of the talents
disabled people can bring to the workplace. Through Disability Confident, thousands
of employers are: challenging attitudes towards disability, increasing understanding
of disability, removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health
conditions, ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential
and realise their aspirations.
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Jobcentre Plus awards the ‘two ticks’ Positive about Disability symbol to employers who
have made commitments to employ, keep and develop the abilities of disabled staff.
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:-
Positive about Disability
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.