LINks - this week's Housing LIN bulletin (w/c 5 October 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 specifically take a closer look at technology and we would like to draw your attention to the following:
New Housing LIN Blog - What do Daleks have to do with care and support?
This blog is written by Harriet Bosnell, Director of Health, Care and Support at Curo and a member of the Housing LIN SW Leadership Set.
Access at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9801
NCF blog - Using tablet technology to enhance quality of life
David Hucker outlines a project from Quality of Life Charitable Trust which aims to help older people use technology to connect to their communities, family and friends.
Download from our friends at NCF at: http://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/viewNews.asp?news_id=3033
Digital Health in the UK: An industry study for the Office of Life Sciences
This report presents findings from a research project commissioned by the Office for Life Sciences into the state of the digital health market. It looks at the current size, growth potential and industry composition of the market in the UK. It also provides insight into the potential drivers and challenges in the market. It reveals that the UK's digital market size is £2 billion and is expected to grow to £2.9 billion by 2018, and has the potential to grow into a global leader in this segment.
ADASS Better Care Technology - Results of Call for Evidence
Last year a survey of ADASS members established a national picture of the maturity of telecare service delivery in England which received nearly 50% response rate. One of the big questions from the membership was - what is the latest evidence base for Better Care Technology?
So, in 2015, ADASS launched a "call for evidence" in order to:
- gain an understanding of the current evidence base
- gather new evidence
- share best practice and implementation experiences
- build a bank of web resources and evidence pack.
The findings cover 28 examples from across England from Brighton to Bury and cover some great stories of success. For example in Leicester, telecare and a targeted reassessment team achieved savings of over £28,000 for one client alone. In Blackburn with Darwin, their Safe and Well: assistive technology in the community scheme has saved over £2.2m over 4 years. In Leeds, the indicative efficiencies from telecare is that it reduces demand on community care budgets by £1,300 per installation per year. And in Hampshire, the Argenti Telehealthcare Partnership has made savings of £806,000 in the first year. This evidence base should help support social care directors to generate further momentum locally.
The evidence pack has now been completed and is live on the ADASS website here: https://www.adass.org.uk/better-care-technology-in-social-care-settings-good-practice-examples/
Moving healthcare closer to home
This paper from Monitor, the regulator of health services for England, considers the extent to which shifting healthcare closer to home and away from hospital settings would deliver significant cost savings for local health economies. The summary of key findings and accompanying clinical and financial implications and a selection of case studies, showcase the lessons learned across local health and social care economies. They include the use of telecare, step-up, rapid response and early discharge, and reablement services. However, while highlighting the benefits, the paper also cautions against expecting too much from a shift away from hospital settings.
Telecare News Headlines
This week's news headlines from the Telecare LIN can be downloaded in two formats (doc; pdf) at:
- Telecare News Headlines: 8 October 2015 (doc - 129Kb)
- Telecare News Headlines: 8 October 2015 (pdf - 393Kb)
Getconnected
The West Midlands ADASS Assistive Technology's group newsletter is at: http://wm-adass.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/get-connected-FINAL-OPT.pdf
Forthcoming Housing LIN events/meetings
Please note that we are currently planning a series of free regional events and meetings, as follows:
- South & South West Housing LIN annual conference on Tuesday, 20 October in Bristol - Registrations and exhibition opportunities now available!
- West Midlands Housing LIN meeting on Tuesday, 27 October in Bournville, Birmingham - Reserve places available
- North West Housing LIN annual conference on Tuesday, 3 November in Warrington - Registrations and exhibition opportunities now available!
- North East Housing LIN annual conference, 11 November - Registrations now open
- Eastern Housing LIN regional meeting on Wednesday, 12 November in Chelmsford - Few places left
- London Housing LIN regional meeting on Monday, 16 November in Morden - Registrations now open!
- London Housing LIN regional meeting on Friday, 4 December in Islington - Registrations to open soon
More information and registrations to attend these events can be found at: www.housinglin.org.uk/ForthcomingEvents
If you are not already registered to receive notifications about our events and meetings in your region, update your own Housing LIN account by logging at: www.housinglin.org.uk/useraccount
Other Events (supported by the Housing LIN)
Housing, support and care via a skilled workforce; Skills for Care and Sitra.
Skills for Care, in partnership with Sitra, are holding 6 free events across England between October 2015 and January 2016 aimed at Housing with Care and Support employers. These workshops will focus on the critical role of housing in promoting wellbeing and how this can be delivered via a well trained workforce. You can book on to one of these events at: here. http://www.sitra.org/free-skills-for-care-events-workforce-issues-for-those-working/?dm_t=0,0,0,0,0
Bringing together health and housing - enabling better health and wellbeing
Aimed at health, housing and social care professionals, this King's Fund conference is being held on Wednesday, 21 October 2015 in London. It will feature a selection of examples of joint working between housing and health and care services that are showing real successes in improving health and wellbeing outcomes for their populations. More info at: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/housing-and-public-health
Stay networked with the Housing LIN for latest news, views and resources on housing with care matters.