5.  Fact and Degree

5.1  The Contractor shall make an assessment of individual Tenant circumstances based on "fact and degree" comprising to the two variables of "tenant vulnerability" and "level of disruptive works".

5.2  The Contractor shall take all reasonable steps to identify possible vulnerable cases within each phase of the programme as quickly as possible.  This may be achieved through existing Authority records or knowledge (to the extent that such records or other information have been given to the Contractor), during the pre works survey process, or through the resident consultation phase of the [Initial Refurbishment] Works.

5.3  Once a case has been identified, the vulnerability of that particular Tenant or a household member must be assessed by the Contractor, through a medical opinion if necessary.  This may require inspection of medical or other records.  The Contractor must also consider how the vulnerability is affected by the schedule of [Initial Refurbishment] Works for the individual's Dwelling.  The Contractor shall decide whether or not, despite the person's vulnerability, the standard respite arrangements or help from family and friends will suffice, due to a low level of "disruptive works".  In these cases the Contractor may decide that a full Decant is not necessary.  Any decision as to the need for a medical opinion or the conclusions to be drawn from it is in the Contractor's discretion.

5.4  "Vulnerability" may cover a significant number of conditions but principally the Contractor must consider the following: Registered Disabled (mobility issues, mental health issues, blind, deaf, etc.), illness (respiratory conditions, chronically or terminally ill) and household issues (very young children, elderly and frail, etc.).

5.5  The Contractor recognises that dwellings available for decanting into will likely be standard unmodified units and as such may not be suitable for persons who require a modified accommodation, for example. those with severe levels of disability.  Where the need for Decant is identified for such persons, the Contractor will provide the Authority with not less than [number] Business Days' notice of such a need (or in the case of severe disability [number] Business Days).  The Authority shall, within this period, have opportunity to propose suitable accommodation from within its housing stock or, where appropriate, propose an alternative solution, including a management transfer, or disabled adaptations to an identified dwelling, or a move to suitable temporary accommodation, or other appropriate solution.  Where such solution is not available, the Contractor must undertake any adaptations to the decant Dwelling the costs of which shall become a Pass Through Cost reimbursed to the Contractor in accordance with Schedule 4 (Payment Mechanism), and managed as part of the overall disabled adaptations budgets.  The Contractor and the Authority will work together to implement any mutually agreed solution.