Protection of Property

This is a service for people who are known to Children, Education & Social Care (Adult Operational Services) and who have no relatives or friends willing or able to look after their home and personal property during periods of admission to hospital or residential care.

Section 48 of the National Assistance Act 1948 places a duty on the Local Authority to protect your moveable property when:

You are admitted to any hospital.
You are admitted to a home provided under Part III of the Act.
You are admitted to any other place under Section 47(3) of the Act.

and

if it appears to the local authority that you are temporarily or permanently unable to deal with or protect your property and that no other arrangements have been or are being made to protect it.

How is the property protected?

As soon as the worker involved with your care is aware that your property needs protecting. They will make arrangements for the building to be secured, which means taking reasonable steps such as locking doors and shutting windows. If valuables such as cash, jewellery, or antiques have been left in a property, or pets have been left alone, we will take additional steps to make these safe. Permission from you as the owner or tenant will be sought to enter the property, unless you are unable to give it due to reasons of ill health.

What additional steps will you take to look after my valuables and pet?

We will:

Visit your home on a regular basis to carry out routine checks.
Complete an inventory of the contents of large items, such as furniture and we may take photographs of where they are. We will also make a record of perishables we dispose of.
Remove small portable valuable items such as cash, cheque books, benefit books etc from your home and keep them in safe storage until you are able to return home.
We will alert the police that you are not at home and that we hold a key for emergencies.
We take particular attention to ensure that pets are properly looked after as we recognise their importance to you. Animals are taken to boarding facilities until you are able to return home.

How can I find out more?

Your Social Worker / Care Co-ordinator will be able to give you give you more information or you can contact First Contact Unit.

Persons in receipt of Council Tax Benefit and/or Housing Benefit being admitted to hospital are advised to contact this department to inform them of a change of circumstances.