The Lightbulb Project: Switched on to integration in Leicestershire

This Housing LIN Case Study no 135 discusses this ‘invest to save’ project which brings together County and District Councils and other local partners in Leicestershire to help people stay safe and keep well in their homes for as long as possible.

It includes GPs and other health/care professionals; for example, those in integrated locality teams, and relies on early at home assessment process that triages housing issues at key points of entry. This is delivered through a ‘hub and spoke’ model with an integrated Locality Lightbulb Team in each District Council area and covers: minor adaptations and equipment; DFGs; wider housing support needs (warmth, energy, home security); housing related health and wellbeing (AT, falls prevention); planning for the future (housing options); and housing related advice, information, and signposting.

As well as supporting people in their own homes, the Lightbulb service includes a cost effective specialist Hospital Housing Enabler Team based in hospital settings, both acute and mental health across Leicestershire. The team work directly with patients and hospital staff to identify and resolve housing issues that are a potential barrier to timely discharge and also provide low level support to assist with the transition home from hospital to help prevent readmissions, and they quickly became established as essential members of integrated discharge team.

"The Lightbulb Project - switching on to #integration to keep people safe & well at home"