LINks Cymru -a special bulletin from Housing LIN Cymru
Welcome to LINks, the weekly e-bulletin from the Housing LIN (Learning and Improvement Network). In this week's issue, we put the spotlight on a selection of latest information and resources from Wales. In particular, we would like to draw your attention to the following:
New Housing LIN Cymru publication - Extra Care Housing in Wales: A state of the nation report
The supply of housing and the implications of an ageing population are two of the biggest challenges facing Wales. Wales is not alone - either in the UK or in western Europe - in facing those challenges. However, as a nation, it has not explored as fully as other countries the role extra care housing could play in addressing them. This report sets out a powerful case for encouraging and facilitating new extra care housing developments in Wales. It highlights the high quality of accommodation, care and services already offered by several schemes cited in this excellent State of the Nation report.
As it illustrates, there is mounting evidence that extra care housing improves the health and wellbeing of residents, benefits local communities by offering employment and freeing up family housing and reduces demand for health and social care services. It also encourages key services such as the NHS and social care to work more closely together in genuine partnerships. And finally, it makes a number of recommendations that should be looked at to ensure that extra care housing in Wales as a central plank of housing policies and provision for older people over the coming decades.
Read in full at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HousingExtraCare/ExtraCareStrategy/HousingStrategyExamples/?parent=975&child=9904 (opens new window)
Hew Housing LIN Cymru case study - Supporting hospital discharge in Neath and Port Talbot
This case study takes a detailed look at the new Residential Reablement Unit at Gwalia Llys y Seren in Port Talbot. Opened in July 2014, it is an innovative service commissioned by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and is achieving impressive results. The commitment is for community services, alongside health and social care to provide an integrated model of 24 hour care for patients clinically discharged from acute care who require reablement support and additional recovery time to establish appropriate discharge arrangements to suit individual needs.
New Housing LIN Cymru blog - Seizing the strategic opportunity in Wales: our ageing population & housing
This blog for calls for a programme of action on older person's housing that can be implemented in the next Assembly. Written by Tamsin Stirling, independent housing consultant, and former housing adviser to the Welsh Government.
Borderline: The spending review 2015 and Wales
CIH Cymru have published a summary that takes a look at the implications for Wales in last week's spending review and autumn statement.
Read at:
Homes for Wales Bulletin - November 2015
The latest Homes for Wales bulletins provide updates on housing legislation and key housing developments. The November edition includes a message from the new Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, and covers: housing supply, housing quality, key policy developments and legislation.
Access at: http://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/151117-homes-for-wales-bulletin-en.pdf
Supporting People Data Linking Feasibility Study: Emerging Findings Report
This bulletin from the Welsh Government presents emerging findings from a study designed to assess the feasibility of using the innovative method of data linking to deliver a quantitative component to the evaluation of Supporting People in Wales. Specifically, the study examined the feasibility of using linked administrative data from participating authorities (Blaenau Gwent and Swansea Councils) to demonstrate the impact of the Supporting People Programme on the use of health services, such as GP and A&E services. In both cases, the provisional findings show that for some patients, their use of the NHS declined when they began receiving support from Supporting People.
Find out more at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/Wales/Research-and-good-practice/?parent=9033&child=9916
Housing and health unite to improve the wellbeing of Welsh communities
A Memorandum of Understanding between Community Housing Cymru and Public Health Wales has committed the organisations to working more closely together to improve the lives and health of people in the most deprived communities in Wales. The commitment will also enable the establishment of a joint Health and Housing Public Health Task Group including key representatives from health, housing, community and social care. We will be watching this with interest.
In One Place
Monmouthshire Housing Association, Monmouthshire County Council and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board have come together in an innovative project which offers 5 individual flats with 24 hour support for people moving on from specialist residential accommodation. The scheme is part of the pioneering collaborative In One Place Programme and the Housing LIN is delighted to be contributing expertise to the project team.
For more details, email: In_One_Place_Programme.ABB@wales.nhs.uk
The Care Home Market in Wales: Mapping the Sector
This report from the Public Policy Institute for Wales finds considerable variations across Wales with some councils managing care homes directly and others running very few, if any, homes themselves. Of interest to Housing LIN Cymru members was the consistent message from those councils interviewed for extra care housing.
And lastly, to browse for intelligence on policies, research, good practice and demand for and supply of extra care housing in Wales, check out our dedicated Housing LIN Cymru website at:
http://www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/Wales/ (opens new window)
(opens new window)http://www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/Wales/Stay networked with the Housing LIN for latest news, views and resources on housing with care matters.