LINks - latest Housing LIN bulletin (w/c 19 Jan 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 would like to draw your attention to the following:

BBC Breakfast TV - focus on living longer

Jeremy Porteus, Director of the Housing LIN, appeared with Esther Ranzten, Lord Filkin, academic, industry health and social care industry experts and older people in a live discussion on their experience and what it means to grow old.

Interviewed by Breakfast presenter, Louise Minchin, on Friday last week, Jeremy called for a 'Triple A' approach to support older people live well at home; namely, access to advice and information, adaptations and home improvements, and greater accessibility of housing, such as extra care, to help facilitate independent living. To view a general clip of the programme, visit: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02h1vfy

Housing LIN annual conference - A festival of ideas

As notified in last week's bulletin, the online booking arrangements for our high-profile event next month in London went 'live' on Monday this week. Such was the demand that, to our surprise, all 300 places where snapped up within a few hours of opening. For Housing LIN members who have registered and not been successful in obtaining a free place, there is a reserve list should we get notification of any cancellations nearer the day. If you are still unsuccessful getting a place, we will advise you when post conference ppts are available on our website, so that you do not miss out completely.

New Housing LIN blog - Lighting up the Health and Housing agenda

For so long matters affecting health and wellbeing have been seen by local authorities as of Social Services interest alone. Claims of 'bed blocking', cost shunting and premature discharge have formed the currency of dialogue between health and local government. Of course, that was never a sensible understanding of the real issues. After the most recent reorganisation of the NHS in which Public Health was largely transferred to so called 'upper tier' authorities it became increasingly clear that the bulk of public health was in fact delivered rather through the environmental health, housing, development control and leisure services of District Councils and Unitary Authorities.

Bryan Stoten, Chair of UKPHR and Visiting Professor of Health Policy, Coventry University, and until recently also Chair of Warwickshire's Health and Wellbeing Board, explores some of the issues at: www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9451

Info request: Extra Care Housing - What is it?

As reported last week, Peter Fletcher Associates are updating the 2008 factsheet they wrote for the Housing LIN, 'Extra Care Housing - What is it?'

We know that people from a range of very different audiences read this Factsheet as a starter to finding out the basics about extra care as a concept. We are also aware that a lot has changed since we last updated this Factsheet in 2008, including the ending of Supporting People as an identifiable funding pot, the increasing recognition of the need for housing based models for people with dementia, squeezing of both capital and revenue funding, and the growth of private sector and mixed tenure models. So, before they update it, they want to your views on:

• Firstly, the most important things to pin down about extra care today that they should include in the Factsheet
• Secondly, the audiences that they need to address the Factsheet at; and
• Thirdly, any specific scheme examples you think they should include, with some basic information about the scheme and why they should include it (e.g. design and service model for people with dementia; wider community support role; capital/revenue funding model; tenure mix) as well as your contact details so they can follow it up with you

Please email your responses by Friday 23 January to: info@peterfletcherassociates.co.uk

Have your say on Technology Enabled Housing with Care

In partnership with Tunstall Healthcare, we would also like your opinions on the future of housing with care, with a specific focus on the use of technology and how you may use it to support your ambitions delivering at home care and support.

Follow the link to complete this short online survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/HJDS2BM

The survey covers three specific areas - your challenges, barriers to adoption, and ways to overcome the barriers.

We would appreciate your feedback by Friday 23 January and the summary results will form part of a new report, supported by Tunstall Healthcare, which will be launched at the Housing LIN's annual conference on 17 February 2015. Thank you very much for your valued feedback

Official opening of Potters Place, Chesterfield

Jeremy reports that the official opening of Potters Place, a 55 unit extra care scheme took place this week.

A partnership between Chevin Housing Association (part of the Together Housing Group), Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council. Built by Willmott Dixon, this new scheme is one of the three that Derbyshire County Council have procured to expand the local extra care housing offer for older people.

National Housing for Older People Awards 2014 report

The Housing LIN is proud to have been a sponsor of 2 categories of best UK Housing with Care schemes at the fifth annual Housing for Older People awards organised by EAC (Elderly Accommodation Counsel).

Held on 25 November at Doncaster Racecourse, the winning schemes, nominated by over 3,200 residents, are now featured in a report of the day produced by EAC. Find out more about the standout schemes across all the categories at: www.housingcare.org/downloads/EacHousingAwards2014Report.pdf

For more on EAC's resident consultation service, visit: www.housingcare.org/providers/eac-resident-consultation.aspx

David Pearson, ADASS President, DH blog

With a reference to the need to develop more supported living schemes such as extra care, David Pearson, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) offers his personal view on A&E pressures and the need for social care to be properly funded and integrated with local health services - a need already being addressed by the Better Care Fund. Find at: https://socialcare.blog.gov.uk/2015/01/12/ae-pressures-social-care-and-the-better-care-fund

£6million competition funding opportunity

Innovate UK have announced £6million worth of funding to improve practitioners' acumen in building processes, products, services and intensifying collaboration within the construction supply chain. They are holding two competitions and a series of regional briefing workshops on building whole-life performance and the Construction Supply Chain. More at: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/modernbuiltktn