LINks - the Housing LIN's essential weekly bulletin (w/c 22 Feb)
Welcome to LINks, the weekly e-bulletin from the Housing LIN (Learning and Improvement Network) where we round up a selection of latest information, resources and events under the spotlight. In this issue, we draw your attention to the following:
NEW HOUSING LIN BRIEFINGS
Health and housing guides provide roadmap for integrated working
Public Health England (PHE) and the Housing LIN have published two new practical resources aimed at improving services around housing and end of life care and on the built environment's role in promoting active ageing. The free documents are intended to build on a major undertaking by PHE, NHS England and its partners to improve integration and partnership working between health, social care and housing.
Active Ageing and the Built Environment
This Housing LIN Practice Briefing looks at active ageing and the different aspects of the built environment that can promote and sustain it, with examples of good and emerging practice and resources for further information.
End of Life Care: Helping people to be care for and die at home
Housing LIN Director Jeremy Porteus says:
"These documents answer that call for practice-based roadmaps to help housing and related services work with their colleagues in public health. They can help providers, policymakers and commissioners ensure that older and vulnerable people in their communities receive the housing-related support that will enable them to live independently and maximise their health and wellbeing."
Claire Henry, Chief Executive of the National Council of Palliative Care, said:
"We know that large numbers of people would prefer to die at home, but also that they want excellent end-of-life care where they die. People shouldn't have to choose between their preferred place of death and good end-of-life care. This briefing shows just how many different people and groups are involved in enabling people to die at home if they choose, but how much we stand to gain from enabling people to die well at home."
FUNDING, POLICY AND PRACTICE
Adult Social Care: Capital grant allocations 2016 to 2017
This Department of Health Circular confirms the £194m capital allocations for 2016/2017 by local authority area in England and administered through the Better Care Fund. In this year's circular, the DH have specifically stated that these allocations are set aside for Disabled Facilities Grants purposes.
Supported Accommodation Review - Complete Survey by Friday, 4 March
The DWP and DCLG have commissioned research to map the Supported Housing sector in England, Scotland and Wales. It aims to establish the current type, scale and cost of the sector, the principal user groups; and who is providing it i.e. Local Authorities, Housing Associations, or charity and voluntary sector organisations. The data gathered from this review will provide critical evidence base to evaluate possible future policy options, particularly in light of the recent proposals to cap Housing Benefit spending at the Local Housing Allowance rate and the replacement of Housing Benefit by Universal Credit for working age claimants. Sitra are calling for members to ensure as broader coverage as possible, they are inviting Sitra members to provide evidence about non-older person and non-Registered Provider provision to be able to reach providers that do not contribute to the HCA's Statistical Data Return.
Time for Change: The Challenge Ahead
A core principle of this new report in relation to services for people with a learning disability is "a home not a hospital". It recommends an increased supply of accommodation-based independent and supported living options and the need to leverage further capital investment into the sector. It also calls for measures to prevent cuts as a result of current LHA proposals.
HOUSING DESIGN AWARDS 2016 - HAPPI SCHEMES
The Housing LIN is pleased to announce its support for the 2016 Housing Design Awards and the HAPPI category in particular. Deadline for submissions is 2nd March 2016.
USEFUL TOOLS AND REPORTS
Ageing London: How do we create a world-class city to grow old in?
Select Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment (opens new window)
Home Improvements: A Social Justice Approach to Housing (opens new window)
OTHER VIEWS, NEWS AND RESOURCES
Building caring communities (part 1). Helen Shields, business manager for retirement living at Bromford shares her thoughts
Building caring communities (part 2). Helen Shields, business manager for retirement living at Bromford shares her thoughts
TELECARE LIN
New Telecare LIN Monthly Newsletter
- Telecare eNewsletter February 2016 (doc - 12.68Mb) (opens new window)
- Telecare eNewsletter February 2016 (pdf - 2.22Mb) (opens new window)
Telecare News Headlines 25 February 2016
- Telecare News Headlines 25 February 2016 (doc - 1.82Mb) (opens new window)
- Telecare News Headlines 25 February 2016 (pdf - 385Kb)
Telecare News Headlines 18 February 2016
- Telecare News Headlines 18 February 2016 (doc - 1.83Mb) (opens new window)
- Telecare News Headlines 18 February 2016 (pdf - 429Kb) (opens new window)
FORTHCOMING EVENTS SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING LIN
Helping people home from hospital through better use of care at home
2 remaining free events on 2 March in Southampton and 10 March in London. To book your place, email england.careathome@nhs.net with your name, choice of date, name and job title.
LGA Housing Commission
As reported in our weekly bulletin on 17 December, the Local Government Association has launched a Housing Commission to explore new routes to house building so councils can enable the building of more desperately-needed homes. One of the areas of interest is health and quality of life for an ageing population - the role of housing in adapting to an ageing population and preventing onward costs onto social care and health services. To aid the work of the Commission, the LGA are holding 2 final information gathering seminars on:
- Employment - 16 March in London
- Health and ageing - 27 April in Aylesbury
Register your interest at: LGAhousingcommission@local.gov.uk (opens new window)
And to find out more about the Commission, click here (opens new window)
One Day with MHA
MHA are pleased to announce a major event they are organising in Westminster Central Hall on Monday, 29 February 2016 to explore the contemporary issues of importance to the growing numbers of older people, how we prepare for and experience later life and the role we all have in creating a more age-friendly society. For more information and bookings, click here (opens new window)
Open Space: People Space Conference, 'Mobility, Mood and Place: Habitats for Happy and Healthy Ageing'. Edinburgh on 11th - 14th October 2016
The organisers are now inviting abstracts to present on one of the following four themes:
Theme 1: Healthy, happy and active ageing
Theme 2: Co-designing the built environment with mobility in mind
Theme 3: Experiencing mobility
Theme 4: Health, mobility and place through the lifecourse
Submit by 31st March 2016. Click here to find out more
Stay connected with the Housing LIN for latest news, views and resources on housing with care matters.