Hoarders' homes targeted by coastal clean-up squad

People in Lincolnshire who find it impossible to throw out anything will be supported by “hoarding officers”.

Three roles have been advertised aimed at helping people whose homes are full of clutter.

It is part of a 12-month pilot project by Lincolnshire County Council, Shine Lincolnshire, Public Health and the NHS.

Leading psychologist Emma Kenny believes the roles will redefine perceptions about hoarding.

Anne-Marie Scott, who is the assistant director for prevention and early intervention in public health at Lincolnshire County Council, said the support must be “non judgmental”.

“We know people who hoard form strong emotional attachments with objects regardless of their value," she said.

“It does not work to just remove a person’s possessions as they can just return to normal afterwards."

Ms Scott said they are looking for individuals who are compassionate about the behaviour and can take a “person-centred approach as well as providing practical support”.

Ms Kenny, based in Manchester, said the roles would be incredibly helpful for people who hoard.

She said: “People do not hoard because they are dirty or silly or because they do not know how to handle their life - it is because they are stuck.

“But it will be a challenge to get the right people for the role."

The NHS also acknowledges that hoarding can be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition ranging from anxiety to obsessive compulsive disorder and severe depression.

What some people deem untidy is subjective, which is why professionals developed a tool to measure the level of mess in a home.

The clutter scale, below, is used by fire services to rank the state of a hoarder's home.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can access more help and support via the BBC Action Line.

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