A must read, latest Housing LIN weekly bulletin (28 May 2015)
Welcome to LINks, the weekly e-bulletin from the Housing LIN (Learning and Improvement Network) where we put a selection of latest information, resources and events under the spotlight. In this week's issue, we would like to draw your attention to the following:
New Housing LIN blog - Living Longer, Living Well in Warwickshire: Adding value to people's lives
Written by Elizabeth Phillips, MBE, Chief Executive of Age UK Warwickshire, and Danaë Sheridan, Chair of the Warwickshire Older People's Forum, this blog for the Housing LIN sets out how the Third Sector in Warwickshire are working in partnership with statutory agencies to deliver a health and wellbeing model for prevention that adds value to older people's lives.
Download at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9588
New Housing LIN blog - A New Model of Care Centred around Home Improvement Agencies
In this blog for the Housing LIN, David Herring, formerly Head of Housing and Development at Papworth Trust, calls for HIAs to be better equipped to make the case for housing being recognised as an important part of the local health and social care economy.
Read at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9589
Queen's Speech
The Queens Speech contained no proposals relating directly to housing with care and support.
As expected there are proposals to enable tenants in housing association homes to buy their property at a discount with reimbursement for the loss to the HA and building of replacement homes being funded from the sale of the most valuable council owned homes when they become vacant. Widespread concerns have been raised about the potential impact on the stock of affordable and social rented housing given that according to the NHF less than half of the stock sold off since 2012 have been replaced. Plans for 200,000 starter homes for the under 40's are also planned.
Under a Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill local authorities in large cities in England can opt to work together as 'combined authorities' and take on devolved powers over housing, transport, planning and policing. This might allow scope for directing investment towards housing with care and support and for reinforcing the value of building to lifetime homes standards despite recent policy changes.
Mayor of London's Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund - a month to go
Following last week's GLA briefing on the Fund, please note that the deadline for bids to the Mayor of London's £40m programme is 12 noon, Tuesday, 30 June.
Download the prospectus at: www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Funding%20Prospectus%20MCSSHF%20Phase%202_2.pdf
Minor Alterations to the London Plan - Housing Standards and Parking Standards
Last week, the Mayor of London published a six weeks public consultation on two sets of Minor Alterations to the London Plan; namely, on Housing Standards and on Parking Standards with a view to bring the London Plan in line with national housing standards (and car parking policy) such as the 'optional' arrangements in relation to Lifetime Homes. Therefore, of particular note, are the proposals in relation to 90 per cent of new housing built to meet Building Regulation requirements for "accessible and adaptable dwellings" and 10 per cent Building Regulations "wheelchair user dwellings". The deadline for response is 22 June 2015.
Read at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/London/?parent=1027&child=9591
Building community-based support with older people: evidence from research and other reports
This report by Outside the Box is a summary of reports, discussion papers and research studies that have been published over the past few years. Drawing on UK examples, it look at aspects of creating and sustaining community-based support, especially for older people and including those activities which older people lead in Scotland.
View at: www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/Scotland/?&msg=0&parent=9426&child=9585
Care Council for Wales launches new code of practice
This new Code of Professional Practice for Social Care by The Care Council for Wales comes into force from 1 July 2015. The new code of conduct places more emphasis placed on individuals' choice when receiving care, and all employees will have a duty to raise concerns about misconduct in social care practices, including within an extra care housing setting.
Download at: www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/Wales/Policy-and-strategies/?&msg=0&parent=9031&child=9584
Telecare LIN weekly update
This week's news headlines from the Telecare LIN can be downloaded in two formats (doc: pdf) at: http://www.telecarelin.org.uk/News/TelecareNewsItem/?coid=8164
Forthcoming Housing LIN regional meeting
- 11/06/2015 - Yorkshire & Humber Regional Housing LIN meeting, Doncaster
- 01/07/2015 - SW Regional Housing LIN meeting, Taunton
- 09/07/2015 - East of England Regional Housing LIN meeting, Hoddesdon
Registrations now open under the link below:
www.housinglin.org.uk/Events/ForthcomingEvents
Other events supported by the Housing LIN
CIH Annual Conference & Exhibition
The Housing LIN is delighted to be supporting the Health and Housing 'hub' at this year's CIH conference in Manchester (23-26 June). Come and meet the team. There is also a 2 day event conference within a conference on 24 and 25 June. Jeremy will be speaking on the 2nd day. More at: www.cihhousing.com/Content/Health-Social-Care-and-Housing-Conference/11/
Enhanced health in care homes: Developing integrated care: what role do care homes play?
Jeremy will be chairing a session which will focus on housing based models of care at this King's Fund event in London 2 July 2015. Register at: www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/enhanced-health-care-homes
Stay networked with the Housing LIN for latest news, views and resources on housing with care matters.