Q: What training courses would you suggest for a new TO starting at an agency?

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1 Q: What training courses would you suggest for a new TO starting at an agency? Asbestos awareness (an annual requirement) Basic health and Safety training (relating to works on site) Construction (Design and Management) in particular the role of the Principal Designer Party wall (a basic understanding of responsibilities) A guide to the building regulations Approved Documents The above is not an exhaustive list but it should be included in a specific tailored training programme that would be devised for an individual starting at an organisation. This should be reviewed or amended to suit circumstances over a given period according to the individual needs and the specific job role. Q. We have served a Party Wall notification to a customer's neighbour and have learned that this neighbour has sold the property and will be moving in the middle of July. My logic tells me that we would be expected to serve a new notice for the new neighbour. My experience tells me that this will considerably delay the proceedings for our customer. Am I right in assuming a new notice will have to be served? Had the original owner provided the Agency with a no objection against the works? If this was received, then the Agency does not need another approval. But as a courtesy, a set of proposed plans should be given to the new owner informing them of the works. If the original client did not provide this, then they will need to contact the new owner for approval.

2 Q: We have a case for a 9 year old boy with autism where the OT has recommended sound proofing of his bedroom as he is disturbed at night by an elder sister with her own problems - either from her bedroom which is separated by the staircase or intervening cupboard or when she is in the Living Room below. Neither I, colleagues nor our usual contractors have been involved in similar cases and I am unsure how successful any upgrading works will be. Are you able to assist please? A. You can get specialist acoustic companies to assist. I think you have to determine if it s impact noise, airborne or a combination as difficult to retro fit acoustic material in floors and walls etc. I would generally be working with the OT to try and address the issues the sister is creating using specialist techniques in sleep programmes and working with the Challenging Behaviour Team etc. but again very difficult to determine with limited information and I am sure it s already been considered. This may be one where physical adaptations may not resolve the issues but some companies can provide padding or specialist beds to create safe environments which may also deaden some of the noise depending on what it is. I have also found funding difficult on similar cases as could fall outside of the mandatory DFG and would be more discretionary grant funding or other alternative social care budgets and would depend on the authority. Generally we would probably consider as an exception as has needs but off the shelf solution will not fit, this then would be considered with senior management as to funding routes. I have had a case in the past where a secondary stud wall with a 50mm cavity was created. The studs were packed with acoustic quilt and finished with acoustic boards. The floor joists could be filled with a similar quilt. If further reduction in noise is required, the ceiling below room could be replaced with acoustic boards. External noise could be reduced by replacing the window panes with triple glazing having acoustic glass...2

3 Q. We are having a debate and your guidance would be appreciated please? A through floor lift: do we complete a Building Regulations application? Is this a job for a Technical Officer or could this be managed by a lower qualified officer who does the stairlifts? Your views would be appreciated. A Building Control Approval is required for the works. My proposal would be to schedule it for the lift company doing the works to provide this. Q. Can you advise about whether defects period should be 6 or 12 months. Or maybe different, relating to types of work? We run a 12 months defects period as part of the inclusion to our lists (to be fair to the contractors they tend to be very accommodating beyond this period). Further to this we also ensure contractor validate any product warranty. We have always done a 12 month defect period on all building work, and a 5 year warranty on all equipment. 3..

4 Q: Where can I find information and support regarding specific disabilities and health conditions? The Pluss website is a good place to start when wanting to find out more about a particular disability. Q: We currently have a customer who has had two platform lifts installed to enable the couple s son to be able to access their property and both lifts have broken down on numerous occasions. I realise that breakdowns are not uncommon however do you have any knowledge of whether other HIAs have experienced issues and of any action they have taken to overcome the problem? We currently are part of a formal framework contract to supply through floor lifts via [Company name] as the supplier. In the past we have obtained competitive quotations from other companies such as [Company name]. In either instance we have included extended maintenance warranties within the quotes to cover breakdown issues outside of any normal warranty period. We have not heard of any such issues with the external lifts installed, could be the clients deal directly with installers as we do provide an extended 5 year warranty through grant for platform lifts. Further investigation would be required for the lifts concerned. When we have a lift installed we will always take up a 5 year warranty. When older lifts have failed we had a contract with the city council lift section, who would carry out the repair and then try and agree a service contract with the client...4

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