| Brief Description |
AWARM is a single-point-of-contact health and housing referral service for people living in cold homes. The UK Public Health Association (UKPHA) successfully piloted the Affordable Warmth Access Referral Mechanism (AWARM) initiative in Greater Manchester. The programme works by using multiple sources including GP referrals to identify those most at need.Wigan Council (within Greater Manchester area) has operated a single point of contact health and housing referral service, called the Affordable Warmth Access Referral Mechanism (AWARM) since 2008. AWARM receives referrals in from a range of partners, including Age UK, Care & Repair Home Improvement Agency, children’s centres, Citizens Advice, district nurses, fire service, GPs, health visitors, hospital discharge team, midwives, occupational therapists and social workers.AWARM staff undertake a home visit to carry out a comprehensive ‘Healthy Home Check’ that covers energy efficiency, home repairs, home safety, home security, fuel debt, fuel tariff, income maximisation, and health and wellbeing for each case to identify what referrals need to be made. AWARM makes referrals out to a range of partners who provide: benefit entitlement checks, draught proofing, energy switching, fire safety, fuel debt advice, heating and insulation schemes, home repairs and improvements, major and minor adaptations, and health checks. AWARM provides feedback on the action(s) taken to the original referrer in order to inform them of the outcome of their referral and encourage them to make further referrals for their other service users. |
