LINks - this week's Housing LIN bulletin (w/c 17 August)

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

New Housing LIN blog - Let's get Digital - A whole new world of possibilities to transform the technology-enabled home

In his blog for the Housing LIN, Kevin Alderson, Sales and Marketing Director at Tunstall Healthcare, discusses the challenges and latest thinking surrounding digital/IP technology. He wanted to share his thoughts following an inspirational session at the South West Housing LIN workshop in Taunton, followed by a visit to Taunton Borough Council Extra Care facility Kilkenny Court, to see the scheme and tour the Deane Helpline.

Read at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9687

Village Life: Independence, Loneliness, and Quality of Life in Retirement Villages with Extra Care

This report by ILC-UK surveyed residents in retirement villages that offer extra care support to explore if:

It can promote greater independence and provide greater choice in planning for later life than would otherwise be available.
The communal environment has the potential to reduce social isolation, particularly for residents who move from more rural or remote homes.
It can also promote residents' quality of life, enhancing it compared to what they would experience either in the general community or in another residential care setting.

On all counts the experiences of older people demonstrated the positive contribution extra care housing made on their quality of life, reaffirming their decision to move and providing a higher degree of control; in particular, reporting lower levels of loneliness than in the community. http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HousingOlderPeople/HousingandHealth/?&msg=0&parent=977&child=9688

Accompanying this ILC-UK report, Nick Sanderson (Audley Retirement) and Paul Teverson (McCarthy & Stone) have written guest blogs that provide further insight on housing for older people. Read at: http://blog.ilcuk.org.uk/

New Housing LIN homesharing page

Following last month's summer budget announcement that saw an increase in room rental tax relief from £4,250 to £7,500, there has been a steady interest in homesharing and what the potential is for older people. We have therefore introduced a dedicated webpage on our housing for older people and will be looking to develop it further at: www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/Housing/HousingforOlderPeople/Homesharing/

Vanguard support package launched

NHS England have published an initial support package for the current crop of 29 new models of care vanguards which were launched earlier this year. Building on the best practice already being displayed, the support package is designed to be led by vanguard leaders alongside national experts, and aims to help the vanguards be as successful as possible in making the changes they are planning and helping to share learning and practice across the 29 vanguards and, importantly, with the wider NHS and care system. You can find out more about the programme and the support package at: www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HealthandHousing/Integration/Vanguard/

Integrating Social Services for Vulnerable Groups: Bridging sectors for better service delivery

Across Europe all countries have vulnerable populations in need of multiple service supports and although the needs of vulnerable families, children and youth with mental health issues, the homeless, and the frail elderly can vary widely, the challenges governments face when delivering multiple social supports to these groups are often similar.

This book by the University of York's Centre for Housing Policy for the OECD looks at the ways in which governments design and deliver integrated social services to vulnerable groups and the opportunities and challenges this brings. For each vulnerable group, it questions: How are social services being integrated? How are vulnerable groups defined in different countries and how do populations compare? Why integrate service for vulnerable groups? It highlights pathways towards successful integration practices, and summarizes the evidence on good practice and promising common practices from across all of the vulnerable groups. Chapter 5, 'Integrating care for the frail elderly' ,and Chapter 6, 'Towards better integration of social services' may be of particular interest to Housing LIN members, providing insight into the evidence for integration, approaches being adopted by OECD countries and lessons that can be learned.

Download from: www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HousingOlderPeople/OlderPeopleHousingProvision/HousingSupport/?&msg=0&parent=988&child=9679

Commission for Housing in the North launched

This month saw the launch of the Commission for Housing in the North. Supported by the Northern Housing Consortium, the Commission's manifesto outlines why housing is important to secure economic growth and regeneration in the North. To this end, the Commission is exploring what the aspirations for housing are in the North and considering how they can be met. To submit your views and any accompanying evidence, go to: http://commission.northern-consortium.org.uk/?utm_source=All+Contacts&utm_campaign=ea7985ca4c-Ezine_August_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0cec5ba69f-ea7985ca4c-67853061

Telecare LIN weekly update

Telecare LIN logo email This week's news headlines from the Telecare LIN can be downloaded in two formats (doc; pdf) at:

Helping Us, Helping You: Housing LIN online survey on Coaching and Mentoring - we want your views

As previously advertised, the Housing LIN is developing a new service to the housing and care sector, offering coaching and mentoring to help support the professional workforce and develop the leaders of tomorrow.

In order to help us develop Housing LIN Coaching and Mentoring so that it gives you the best help and support in your career, we remind you to please complete this survey by 5pm on Monday, 7 September 2015 at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GGN99MP

All information gathered will be treated in confidence. With our sincere thanks for your participation.

Forthcoming Housing LIN events/meetings

Please note that we are currently planning a series of regional events and meetings, as follows:

Yorkshire and Humber Housing LIN meeting on Wednesday, 16 September in Sheffield
South & South West Housing LIN annual conference on Tuesday, 20 October in Bristol
West Midlands Housing LIN meeting on Tuesday, 27 October in Bournville, Birmingham
North West Housing LIN annual conference on Tuesday, 3 November in Warrington
Eastern Housing LIN regional meeting on Thursday, 12 November in Chelmsford

If you are not already registered to receive notifications about our events and meetings in your region, create your own Housing LIN account by logging at: www.housinglin.org.uk/useraccount

Other Events (supported by the Housing LIN)

Law Commission consultation events - Deprivation of Liberty: What Does This Mean for Housing?

To assist housing providers, the Housing LIN, Sitra, National Housing Federation and Arco have joined together to arrange two events at which the Law Commission will outline their proposals and give providers an opportunity to share their views. The first is in London on Monday, 21st September 2015 and the second in Manchester on Tuesday, 22nd September 2015. More details at www.housinglin.org.uk/Events/ForthcomingEvents/HousingEventDetail/?eventID=842

Capita Sheltered Housing Conference

As housing providers and commissioners adapt to a changing funding landscape, new roles and responsibilities under the Care Act and an increasingly ageing population, this well-timed event (supported by the Housing LIN) on Wednesday, 30 September in London, will equip you with tools to overcome the challenges of delivering affordable and high quality housing to a diverse older population. View registration arrangements at: www.housinglin.org.uk/Events/ForthcomingEvents/HousingEventDetail/?eventID=843

Stay networked with the Housing LIN for latest news, views and resources on housing with care matters.