Secured by design: OT input

We are pleased to announce that the new Secured by Design (SBD) 2023 HOMES guide published in April 2023 now contains wording which includes references to accessible and inclusive design and recommendations to consult access professionals such as housing occupational therapists (OT). This is as a direct result of work between Jacquel Runnalls and Marney Walker from the Specialist Section – Housing and SBD Design out Crime Officers (DOCO) at the Metropolitan Police. This collaboration was initiated by RCOT Professional Adviser, Lauren Walker, when working as a Housing OT with the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Secured by Design is official Police security guidance for those specifying, designing and building new homes (and refurbishments) including those for disabled and older people, to adopt crime prevention measures. It exceeds building regulatory requirements of Part Q and has 3 levels of award.

Lauren, Jacquel and Marney had raised concerns where access was potentially being compromised, and unnecessary barriers created, due to security considerations. Jacquel and Marney continued discussions to ensure a pragmatic approach was taken through communication and understanding, and the DOCOs were keen to learn from Housing OTs to avoid recommending products and methods that ironically were creating barriers that potentially resulted in people being less secure. The DOCOs were also invited to an RCOT Specialist Section in Housing Study Day in early 2020 to discuss issues around doors and locking mechanisms with our membership.

The 2023 HOMES guide states that constructing well designed places, buildings and communities that promote both sustainable communities and health and wellbeing is an objective that SBD widely supports and that due consideration should be given to avoid creating additional barriers for disabled and older residents. The guide advocates an inclusive design approach that will remove barriers that create undue effort and separation to ensure that buildings, places and surrounding spaces can be easily and comfortably accessed and used by everyone. Although the guide states that accessible and inclusive design is not a mandatory SBD award requirement it should be seen as a material consideration to ensure people are not made less secure. The guide draws attention to the issues many people have with complex and difficult to operate door locking mechanisms and door pressures, door thresholds and design aspects such as ‘compartmentalisation’ and ‘meet and greet’ policies. It also follows advice that we have provided in terms of consulting disabled users and consumer organisations such as the RIDC (Research Institute for Disabled Consumers).

When designing and constructing new build housing certain conflicts in can arise in complying with building regulations, such as between fire, security and access requirements. Common areas of concern include external seating and lighting and communal areas such as postal arrangements, ‘meet and greet’/compartmentalisation, controlled entry systems, door/window locking mechanisms. In these instances the guide advocates liaison between planning, building control, designers, DOCOs and Specialist Housing Occupational Therapists, to agree on appropriate solutions.