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 Friday, 9 October 2020.
This week I was delighted to be invited to be a Commissioner on a new Commission. Commencing later this month, the Commission will explore in detail what the emerging TEC models might look like and produce recommendations for government, the health and care system and the technology industry. More details to follow.
We also held a great HAPPI Hour session on Inclusive Living with the co-authors of the recently published Scottish Federation of Housing Association’s toolkit. And find out more about thought-provoking content in our next HAPPI Hour sessions by checking out the events page on our website.
In other news, on Wednesday it was #HousingDay and, to coincide, we published a new guest blog by Lifestyle by Engie's Retirement Solutions Director, Paula Broadbent, which looked at ageing and the zero carbon agenda. The following day we released a new Inspirational Achievements page by L&Q Living highlighting their work to tackle the first wave of Coronavirus in their sheltered and extra care housing.
And following the release of Appello's third report on digital technology and supported housing, we joined a webinar showcasing how TECS can transform lives and improve the delivery of services under Covid and lists providers’ priorities for technology going forward.
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, including ARCO's announcement of a housing with care Advisory Panel helping to shape policy, investment and the operational landscape. We look forward to contributing and reporting on the Panels progress.
Check this out and register here to keep in touch with all 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
Best wishes and stay connected and be safe,
Jeremy
This week’s Housing LIN blog
Life after COVID-19. Collaboration for a Better Future - Tomorrow will be a Better Day
This new guest blog for the Housing LIN by Paula Broadbent - Retirement Solutions Director Places & Communities ENGIE UK & Ireland, sets out the twin challenges of our ageing population and climate change.
Inspirational Achievements
L&Q Living supporting vulnerable residents during Covid-19 – sharing their Inspirational Achievements
Our newest #InspirationalAchievements features L&Q Living and their response to supporting vulnerable residents during lockdown. Find out how they have addressed systems and procurement issues such as the shortages of PPE, coped with track and trace, and quickly produced policies and procedures in place for their staff and partner agencies. And also learn about the inspiring ways they have provided advice and guidance to residents, supported the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable residents and adopted a variety of means to combat increasing loneliness and isolation in their sheltered housing and support services.
#InspirationalAchievements are only available to sponsors of the Housing LIN. If you would like to know more, get in touch on how we can feature you and to find out more about the wider benefits of supporting the Housing LIN.
Coronavirus Update
With further lockdowns in various parts of the UK as a 2nd wave fast approaches, 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?
In the meantime, below you will find a selection of latest Coronavirus related guidance relevant to our sector.
- LGA Briefing: Adult Social Care Coronavirus Winter Plan 2020-21: briefing and gap analysis for councils
- Amnesty International report: As If Expendable - the UK government’s failure to protect older people in care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic
- The Health Foundation inquiry: COVID-19 impact inquiryExploring the pandemic's implications for health and health inequalities
- MHCLG: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government
- ADASS: Extra Care and Supported Living Testing Webinars
Housing LIN signs up to the Stop Ageism Campaign
Formally launched last week by Guild Living, the Housing LIN is pleased to be a partner of the STOPageism campaign and how we tackle ageism both generally but also specifically in our housing.
Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing
A new Advisory Council for the housing with care sector announced
ARCO, the representative body for the housing with care sector, has launched an Advisory Council with a focus on helping to shape policy, investment and the operational landscape.
And with the National Strategy for Disabled People imminent, Disability Rights UK wants to hear from disabled people on a range of issues, including housing, & the changes needed in society & in government policy, as part of its WeBelong campaign.
In other News:
- MHCLG report: Long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing: government response to the Select Committee report
- Resolution Foundation report: An intergenerational audit for the UK
- National CLT Network: State of the Sector Report
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- Centre for Ageing Better feature: Valuable not vulnerable – how Greater Manchester is changing the narrative on ageing
- Habinteg article: Petula Bone's #ForAccessibleHomes story
- Community Circles video: Rally Round and Community Circles
Design, Construction and Technology
- Good Thing Foundation report: Digital Inclusion in Health and Care: Lessons learned from the NHS Widening Digital Participation Programme (2017-2020)
Opinion pieces and blogs
- HoME Coalition video: Housing | Centre for Ageing Better
- Manchester City Monitor article: Manchester follows Asia’s lead in designing age-friendly cities
- PRP news item: Design-out infection and design-in health and companionship
Dementia, Mental Health, Health and care
- Independent Age report: Minds that matter: Understanding mental health in later life
Housing and Dementia
We are now working on the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People’s 3rd Inquiry session which takes place later this month on the housing experiences of people living with dementia. The final session will then take place in December before the final report launch event in February 2021.
While the current call for evidence is formally closed, do email us any examples of innovative practice at: dementia@housinglin.org.uk
Housing LIN's sight loss, home and the built environment webpages
Sponsorship opportunity
To coincide with National Eye Health Week two weeks ago, we put a call out for an exclusive sponsor who shares our learning and improvement ethos; in particular, to champion better housing for visually impaired people. Would you like to be associated with our dedicated webpages for a modest amount to help us sustain our information exchange on latest practice developments and innovation that improve the quality of accommodation and housing services for people with a sight loss?
If you would like to find out more about this exciting sponsorship opportunity and accompanying 'package', email us at info@housinglin.org.uk so we can arrange an informal chat with you.
Thanks for your interest.
Planning
Cratus - Planning Webinar
Jeremy Porteus joined a high-profile cast at a Cratus webinar this week on planning for retirement and supported living.
In other News:
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
- CACHE report: Housing policies and the Covid-19 pandemic: a perspective from the wales knowledge exchange hub
And find details about how to sign up to our upcoming Housing LIN Cymru HAPPI Hour on Tuesday, 3 November in our events section below.
Scotland
Scottish government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/
In other news
- Scottish Government stats: Scotland's Wellbeing: national outcomes for disabled people
- Scottish Housing News article: Age Scotland calls for winter action plan to support Scotland’s older people
Housing LIN Events
Join us for HAPPI Hour
The Housing LIN’s exciting new virtual platform offers chance to resume networking and stay connected with latest policy and practice developments, and recent publications and research findings. Check out our October/November HAPPI Hour programme below. And also look out next month for details of our rescheduled annual conference!
Forthcoming Housing LIN HAPPI Hours
- HAPPI Hour - Planning: grand challenge on healthy ageing - 15/10/2020 4:00pm till 5:15pm
- HAPPI Hour - Health starts at home - 29/10/2020 4:00pm till 5:15pm
- HAPPI Hour Cymru - Spotlight on Inclusion - 03/11/2020 4:00pm till 5:30pm
Other events
We are pleased to be involved/support the following virtual events:
- Social Care Future event - Towards a Brighter Future - 04/11/2020 till 06/11/2020
- CIH Eastern Housing Summit - 10/11/2020 till 11/11/2020
- Later Living: the role of technology in the later living sector - 03/11/2020 9:30am till 10:15am
- The Housing 21 Dementia Design Event - 04/11/2020 10:00am till 3:15pm
- Later Living: Building for life – planning for a HAPPI life - 10/11/2020 9:30am till 10:15am
- HRF Academic Conference - Happy Homes, Happy Society? - 12/11/2020 till 13/11/2020
- SHMA Talks: Future proofing Later Living - 17/11/2020 4:00pm till 4:45pm
- Healthy City Design 2020: International Congress & Exhibition - 30/11/2020 9:00am till 03/12/2020 5:00pm
Next week
Next week we publish a Housing LIN Viewpoint by LeGrand on the digital switchover and futureproofing grouped living developments. We are also partnering with Shakespeare Martineau with a new Ipsos Mori Later Living and retirement housing survey.
We also feature our HAPPI Hour on Thursday, 15 October with the TCPA and Tetlow King Planning on the latest in planning for healthy communities and the current Planning White Paper consultation. Drinks not included!
The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter