LINks - the Housing LIN's essential weekly bulletin (w/c 23 Nov 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:
Spending Review and Autumn Statement - at least 8,000 specialised housing to be built
As a cold snap blanketed much of the UK, commentators have observed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Statement this week confirmed that there could be a bleak financial period too ahead for the sector. Despite the announcement that the NHS will receive an additional £3.6 billion cash next year, new powers for local authorities to increase Council Tax by 2% to raise £2 billion to meet some of the estimated additional cost of rising social care and plans to boost home ownership through a mix of 'affordable' starter homes, the extension of the right to buy, help to buy shared ownership and planning reform, there was no reprieve on the squeeze on housing revenue or welfare reform and the threats to the future viability of social housing. While these concerns have not gone away, there was some small comfort for those planning, commissioning, developing and managing specialised housing in England. The Chancellor announced a capital programme to build at least 8,000 specialist homes for older people and people with disabilities. It is understood that the Government will provide £400 million to help housing associations and the private sector build these homes. Details of these arrangements to be announced.
To view a selection of schemes developed under the current Department of Health's Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund programme and previously under their previous Extra Care Housing Fund, visit the online directory at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/ECHScheme/search/
Two new Housing LIN case studies
Raising the flag at Pencric: Award winning modern senior living at the heart of the community in Staffordshire
This case study by Eleanor McCallum at Pozzoni Architecture Ltd, describes Pencric, Housing Plus' latest flagship extra care scheme in the heart of Staffordshire including some ambitious facilities and innovative apartment layouts. Pencric is a mixed-tenure scheme, with 50 rented apartments, 25 shared-ownership and seven apartments for outright sale. Located in the heart of Penkridge, Pencric replaced the former Silverdene Care Home. A replacement scheme was rallied into being by the local community and Pencric is now a firmly established part of that community: fully designed and equipped to provide for modern, senior living. Find at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/WestMidlands/?&msg=0&parent=1022&child=9905
The Circadian House: Hawkes House - Designing for Ageing
This study by Dean Hawkes, emeritus professor of architectural design at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University and an emeritus fellow of Darwin College, University of Cambridge, is the result of a joint presentation with Jeremy Porteus at last year's RIBA Research Symposium, Design for Ageing, at which they collaborated in a discussion of a house in Cambridge. Although built in 1991, Hawkes House anticipates 'Circadian principles' and combines these with the dwelling needs of ageing occupants. This experience prompted the notion of further exploring the relevance of circadian design in this field. Download at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/HousingRegions/Eastern/?&msg=0&parent=1024&child=9896
New Housing LIN Viewpoint - Extra Care Housing: Top tips for commissioners
After spending five years commissioning new extra care housing, Paul Smith (former formerly extra care housing commissioner, Staffordshire County Council, and now Director at Foundations) writes that Staffordshire has gone from 7 to 20 schemes, with more on the way. This viewpoint reflects on what worked and offers a useful top ten tips for commissioning extra care housing at scale. View at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/ECHCommissioningTopTips_Viewpoint
And to view our dedicated pages on everything you need to know about extra care housing, including our recently refreshed factsheet, Extra Care Housing: What is it in 2015?, go to: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HousingExtraCare/
New Housing LIN Blogs
We have also recently published the following blogs that may be of interest. They are:
'Housing and Planning Bill 2015 - What's in it for the Older Person?'
Written by Charlotte Cook, Partner, Winckworth Sherwood. Available at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9911
'Older people hold the key to solving the housing crisis'
Written by Spencer McCarthy, Chairman, Churchill Retirement Living. Find at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9890
'When will extra care housing be ready for BIM?'
Written by Philip Stephenson, senior architect, place : architecture. Download at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/resource/?coid=9891
'A place to call home'
a look at supporting vulnerable and homeless people written for the Homes and Communities Agency by Jeremy Porteus, Chair of the HCA's Vulnerable and Older People Advisory Group. Read at: https://homesandcommunities.blog.gov.uk/2015/11/02/a-place-to-call-home
Lending into Retirement
With the life expectancy of the UK population increasing by five hours a day, the building society sector has committed to review its maximum age limits for mortgage borrowers, as one way to better support those needing mortgage finance into and in retirement.
This action is one of nine recommendations contained in an interim report by the Building Society Association. More at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/Housing/HousingforOlderPeople/?parent=8955&child=9898
Right Place, Right Time to better Transfers of Care: A call to action
This report from NHS Providers' Commission, chaired by former Minister Paul Burstow, offers practical approaches, drawing on good practice in health, local government, social care and housing, and supports members and their partners to tackle the causes of delayed transfers of care in all settings. View at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HealthandHousing/Health-Exchange/Forum/?obj=viewThread&threadID=963&forumID=87
Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat: Improving outcomes for people experiencing mental health crisis
In February 2014, a number of national organisations involved in health, policing, social care, housing, local government and the third sector came together and signed the Crisis Care Concordat It sets out how organisations will work together better to make sure that people get the help they need when they are having a mental health crisis, including references to housing. The work of the Concordat has been centre stage of a summit held this week. More on this at: https://socialcare.blog.gov.uk/2015/11/24/mental-health-crisis-care-concordat-summit-today/
Serious case reviews - Adult safeguarding
Recent Serious Case Reviews, concerning the preventable deaths of two people with learning disabilities, have highlighted lessons for support and supported housing providers. These lessons and an extract have been summarised by Imogen Parry and can be accessed on the Housing and Safeguarding Alliance webpages hosted at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/CareAndSupportatHome/AdultSafeguarding/?parent=9016&child=8914
The district council contribution to public health: a time of challenge and opportunity
This report from the District Councils' Network in 2015 covers the contribution district councils make in improving the health of their citizens and communities. It focuses on district councils' role in promoting public health through some of their key functions and enabling roles, including a chapter that highlights the delivery of homelessness prevention services, housing advice, increasing the delivery of affordable housing, adapting homes through the Disabled Facilities Grant, and enforcing minimum standards in the private rented sector. More at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HealthandHousing/PublicHealth/HealthGain/?parent=8691&child=9912
Telecare News Headlines
This week's news headlines from the Telecare LIN can be downloaded in two formats (doc; pdf) at:
- Telecare News Headlines: 26 November 2015 (doc - 127Kb)
- Telecare News Headlines: 26 November 2015 (pdf - 475Kb)
Forthcoming Housing LIN events/meetings
Our last event of 2015 is a joint seminar on community-led approaches to housing for older people with Design Council/CABE next week on Friday, 4 December in Angel. Book now at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/Events/ForthcomingEvents/HousingEventDetail/?eventID=854
And, if you are not already registered to receive notifications about our events and meetings in your region, update your Housing LIN account by logging at: www.housinglin.org.uk/useraccount/
Stay networked with the Housing LIN for latest news, views and resources on housing with care matters.