Hot off the press: HLINks – a kaleidoscope of latest sector news, views and essential resources
Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending 28 August 2020.
In this week’s edition we bring you a kaleidoscope of features through the prism of housing, care and support for older and disabled adults.
Hot off the press, we kick off with a National Housing Federation report we have written for them on supported housing, released to coincide with their #HomesAtTheHeart campaign and this week's particular emphasis on living well. Our report sets out what is required to ensure there is sustainable development of supported housing for adults with long term care and support needs. And to coincide with the NHF’s campaign, we released a guest blog by Habinteg's support worker, Laura Gregg, on her challenging experience of working in a floating support service with very vulnerable adults during the pandemic in Teesside.
And, staying with Covid, the Government has updated its Coronavirus Adult Social Care info hub. I am delighted to report that the Housing LIN's practice briefing is now cited.
In other news, we also cover the Home of 2030 announcement of the 6 finalists shortlisted to go forward to the final selection process this autumn. This will ascertain who will be the ultimate winner and have the opportunity to develop innovative low carbon, age-friendly homes. I was privileged to be a judge of this government competition.
And following Frances Holliss' piece in last week's online Guardian Opinion, today is your last chance to take part in our working from home survey. We have teamed up with the Workhome Project to take the pulse of home working in the UK's social housing. Whether working in social housing or a tenant, please complete by the end of today.
In this week’s HLINks you can also read our curated round-up of other relevant news and events on later life living with regard to homes and communities, health and social care, design and technology, planning matters and more.
Check this out and register here to keep in touch with our news alerts and other notifications of your choice, sent direct to your inbox. And remember you can also follow us via our Twitter feeds: @HousingLIN, @HousingLINews and @HLINConsult.
Lastly, if you would like to talk to us about any matters highlighted, share learning about your work and/or discuss how our consultancy services can assist you, email ‘Jeremy talks’ at: info@housinglin.org.uk.
You can also listen to Jeremy talks… here
Have a good bank holiday weekend, stay connected and be safe,
Jeremy
New HLIN report for NHF
Ensuring the delivery of supported housing for people with long-term care and support needs
A new report from the Housing LIN for the National Housing Federation to coincide with their campaign, #HomesAtTheHeart, sets out what is required to ensure there is sustainable development of supported housing for adults with long term care and support needs. Consulting with NHF members, other trade and professional bodies, the Housing LIN’s research is intended to help:
- Better understand the current challenges affecting the development of supported housing for people with long-term care and support needs.
- Based on the evidence gathered, set out recommendations for a more sustainable model for developing long-term supported housing in the future.
- Provide evidence that the NHF can use as part of its approach to influence the Government’s spending review
This week’s Housing LIN guest blog
Walk in their shoes – supporting people who have been shielded at home
This guest blog by Habinteg Housing support worker, Laura Gregg, gives a personal account of supporting vulnerable adults who are shielding on Teesside, in the North East of England, during Covid-19. She highlights how many of her clients are digitally excluded and how this has acerbated their health and wellbeing under lockdown, especially experiencing increased loneliness and isolation.
Coronavirus Update
Check out on our Coronavirus Info Hub for a range of Housing LIN practice briefings for the sector and links to other useful information and websites. Also, post or reply to questions on our discussion forum. It allows you to share information, raise issues and ask questions to solve a tricky issue. For example, can you share your organisation’s COVID-19 risk plan in preparation for the 2nd wave or information about how you are engaging with residents?
- DHSC publishes its overview of adult social care guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
- House of Lords Committee: the Housing LIN has submitted a response highlighting the long term impact of Coronavirus on the housing, the built environment and use of technology for older and disabled adults. The deadline for submissions is 31 August 2020
- Inside Housing (registration required): Supported housing providers hit with escalating costs and spike in voids during pandemic
Have your say – last day!
Take part in this Workhome Project survey on working from home
As a founding member of the Workhome Project, the Housing LIN is delighted to collaborate with the project to help find out more about you and your organisation’s experience of home-based work during Covid-19 for staff and residents. Please take a few moments to complete this important sector survey. The deadline is today at 4pm!
Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing
- Ambition for Ageing report: Ageing in Place for Minority Ethnic Communities: The importance of social infrastructure
- Crisis report: Homelessness Monitor England 2020: COVID-19 Crisis Response Briefing
- Channel 4 series starting today: Lodgers for Codgers
- NHF: Briefing on the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis on supported housing providers
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- NHF blog: Data is valuable but knowing the people behind the data is what makes an outstanding Independent Living service
- NHF blog: The mental health challenges of coming out of lockdown
- Inside Housing (registration required): There has never been a better time for the government to invest in the future of supported housing and extra care
Design, Construction and Technology
Home of 2030 competition finalist announced
The government have announced the 6 finalists of the Home of 2030 design competition. The Housing LIN's Jeremy Porteus was privileged to be one of the judges which will see further advances in sustainable, low-carbon and age-friendly homes for our future living, from small scale innovations to large scale developments utilising modern methods of construction.
In terms of next steps, as announced by Housing Minister Christopher Pincher MP, each of the finalists have received funding to help them develop more detailed plans. Thereafter, a winner will be chosen this late autumn to build a series of homes on Homes England land.
NCF Hubble Project – social care innovation hub
This project offers the chance to virtually visit ‘innovation hubs’ to learn how care providers have introduced, used and evaluated digital technology to improve care. The hubs are based in three care settings in England and showcase a range of technologies which include, electronic care planning, eMAR, acoustic monitoring, circadian lighting, sensor technology and telecare.
Opinion pieces and blogs:
Health and care
- DHSC updated guidance: Hospital discharge service: policy and operating model
- DHSC funding: More than half a billion pounds to help people return home from hospital
- ADASS NW/CLES report: A progressive approach to adult social care
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- LGA's Re-thinking local think piece series: Sally Warren - Director of Policy, The King’s Fund
Housing and Dementia
APPG on Housing and Care for Older People inquiry on the housing experiences of people living with dementia.
The 2nd virtual inquiry session takes place on 21 September. While the current call for evidence is formally closed, do email us any examples of innovative practice at: dementia@housinglin.org.uk
Radio Times - Housing Matters
In the latest episode of Housing Matters, the Housing LIN's Jeremy Porteus talks to the Later Life Audio and Radio Network about housing and dementia, highlighting the remit of the current APPG Inquiry on the housing experiences of people living with dementia, aspects of dementia-friendly design and innovative solutions to support people with dementia to live well at home.
Planning
Healthy Homes Bill
We are delighted to support this TCPA initiative and the upcoming launch. The bill seeks to transform the regulation of the built environment to ensure that new homes and neighbourhoods support their residents’ health and wellbeing. We look forward to reporting more in the coming weeks.
In other News:
Opinion pieces and blogs
Planning tracker
Older People’s Care Development – Local Development Plan Monitoring
In association with Tetlow King Planning, this document monitors current local authority planning consultations that may be of interest for those seeking to develop housing for older people. The tracker is updated fortnightly.
Wales
Welsh government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus
In other News:
- Welsh Government funding: £9.5 million programme to reduce housing’s carbon footprint
- Older People’s Commissioner for Wales report: Leave no-one behind: Action for an age-friendly recovery
Scotland
Scottish government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/
Forthcoming Events
Housing LIN Events
Watch the highlights from our 3Rs conference with Foundations and ADASS
Other events
In light of the coronavirus outbreak we have cancelled all our upcoming regional meetings and training courses until further notice. We are currently exploring how to hold these events online, so watch this space! In the meantime, we are pleased to be involved/support the following virtual events:
- Appello Webinar: 4 reasons housing providers must revise their Telecare needs post COVID-19 (3 September)
- Appello - 4 enablers to a better living experience in supported housing (8 October)
- Healthy City Design 2020: International Congress & Exhibition (12 to 13 October)
- HRF Academic Conference - Happy Homes, Happy Society? (12 to 13 November)
Next week
And next week, we look forward to featuring the latest guide in the series from Appello on 4 reasons why technology. This one focusses on supported housing. We also publish 2 guest blogs; the first, from a couple who share their reasons for downsizing and the other on lodging. Do also watch out for the start tonight’s for the Channel 4 series, Lodgers for Codgers!
The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter.