LINks - this week's Housing LIN bulletin (w/c 21 September)

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:

Inspirational Achievements

We are pleased to draw your attention to a new feature on the Housing LIN website which will showcase a range of 'Inspirational Achievements' by our partners on a regular basis. The focus could be an award winning design, an innovative service development, or the findings from pioneering new research The purpose is to share our partners' achievements and inspire adaptive learning and improvement with our members. You can also follow us at #InspirationalAchievements

C&C Logo email Our first 'Inspirational Achievements' puts the spotlight on C&C's plans for Dora House in St John's Wood, London. Watch the first four chapters of the nine-part documentary which explores key elements involved in the redevelopment , including how residents feel at different stages and work with C&C to coproduce solutions. Watch the videos at: www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/Inspirational-Achievements/dora-house-redevelopment

New Housing LIN blog - The Social Care Commitment - Working towards the care we all want

Skills for Care logo This blog on the Social Care Commitment by Pippa Doran at Skills for Care aims to raise the standards in the levels of care by supporting employers and employees to continuously improve. Read at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9744

Breaking point: the crisis in accessible housing and adaptations

Muscular Dystrophy UK logo This report by the Muscular Dystrophy UK states that local authorities are failing to act on a mounting housing crisis in adaptations and accessible housing for people with muscle-wasting conditions. Their survey reveals that for 70 percent of people surveyed who had been offered a home by their council, the property was not suitable. They call for government to increase the amount available to households through the Disabled Facilities Grant, ensuring this rises in line with inflation and that all local authorities should have policies to provide discretionary top up payments in cases where families cannot afford additional costs. In addition, they recommend that local authorities to ensure new developments have at least 10% of houses that are built to the Lifetime Home Standard. Access at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/Design_building/AccessibleDesign/accessibility-adaptability/?&msg=0&parent=9082&child=9734

A selection of new resources from Care & Repair England

Care & Repair England logo

Disabled Facilities Grant Funding via Better Care Funds - An Opportunity to Improve Outcomes

This briefing explains the changes to the provision of national government funding for home adaptations, clarify the responsibilities for delivery and highlight opportunities for integration. View at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/Design_building/AccessibleDesign/accessibility-adaptability/?parent=9082&child=9717

The Care Act, Better Care Funds and Home Adaptations- An Opportunity to Improve Outcomes?

This briefing explains the changes, clarifies responsibilities and highlight opportunities for integration resulting from the Care Act. Download from: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/Design_building/AccessibleDesign/accessibility-adaptability/?&msg=0&parent=9082&child=9733

Housing Statistics for Scotland 2015

SCOTTISH GOVT LOGO This paper from the Scottish Government contains a useful section on the supply of purpose-built accommodation for older people and people with disabilities in Scotland. It reports that the number of sheltered, very sheltered and medium dependency houses provided by local authorities has decreased over the last ten years from 23,108 in 2006 to 20,755 in 2015. At the same time, the amount of very sheltered accommodation has increased from 290 in 2006 to 599 in 2015, whist the amount of sheltered accommodation has dropped from 17,140 in 2006 to 14,722 in 2015. View at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/Scotland/?parent=9426&child=9724

National Conversation on Health Inequalities

This Public Heath England toolkit is aimed at local authorities and sets out how they can reduce health inequalities in their local communities. It includes a selection of examples of practice and video photo stories including Family Mosaic Housing Association's 'Heath Begins At Home' project. Access at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-conversation-on-health-inequalities

Consultation on mental capacity and deprivation of liberty

Law Commission logo Following successful workshops in London and Manchester this week with the Law Commission, 'Deprivation of Liberty: what does it mean for housing?', we would like to draw to your attention that their consultation closes on the Monday, 2 November 2015. The proposals are relevant to the housing sector, particularly those who provide supported housing of any description. Sue Garwood, the Housing LIN's dementia lead, has prepared a summary of key features of the Law Commission's proposals and has identified some issues and questions of particular relevance to the sector. These can be found at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HousingandDementia/Legislation/DoL/?&msg=0&parent=9529&child=9743

Please do look at these and respond to the Law Commission's consultation by e-mailing Tim Spencer-Lane at tim.spencer-lane@lawcommission.gsi.gov.uk

Telecare News Headlines

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

Forthcoming Housing LIN events/meetings

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

South & South West Housing LIN annual conference on Tuesday, 20 October in Bristol
West Midlands Housing LIN meeting on Tuesday, 27 October in Bourneville, Birmingham
North West Housing LIN annual conference on Tuesday, 3 November in Warrington
North East Housing LIN annual conference, 11 November
Eastern Housing LIN regional meeting on Wednesday, 12 November in Chelmsford
London Housing LIN regional meeting on Friday, 4 December in Islington

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)

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

Housing, support and care via a skilled workforce; Skills for Care and Sitra.

Skills for Care, in partnership with Sitra, are holding 6 free events across England between October 2015 and January 2016 aimed at Housing with Care and Support employers. These workshops will focus on the critical role of housing in promoting wellbeing and how this can be delivered via a well trained workforce. You can book on to one of these events at: here. http://www.sitra.org/free-skills-for-care-events-workforce-issues-for-those-working/?dm_t=0,0,0,0,0

Bringing together health and housing - enabling better health and wellbeing

Aimed at health, housing and social care professionals, this King's Fund conference is being held on Wednesday, 21 October 2015 in London. It will feature a selection of examples of joint working between housing and health and care services, that are showing real successes in improving health and wellbeing outcomes for their populations. More info at: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/housing-and-public-health

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