HLINks archive

#Jeremytalks

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending Friday, 18 September 2020.

From Monday this week, the government latest rules for social gatherings in England took effect with variations for other parts of the United Kingdom. We have updated our Covid-19 Practice Briefing (No1) for extra care housing and retirement housing operators accordingly.

In other news, it is #ForAccessibleHomes week, an initiative championed by Habinteg Housing Association to raise awareness of the lack of accessible homes in the UK. We are a proud supporter of the campaign and, to coincide, we held our 2nd HAPPI Hour webinar yesterday, putting the spotlight on designing HAPPI accessible housing with PRP Architects. And, staying with design, we also published a new Housing LIN Cyrmu case study on Linc Cymru’s new extra care scheme and independent living bungalows in Tondu and Maesteg by architects, Quattro.

The TCPA also launched the final version of the Healthy Homes Bill for England this week. This sets out suggested legislation for Government planning policy to adopt a holistic approach to delivering new homes which actively work to improve health and wellbeing. You can read about this and a round-up of other relevant news and events on later life living with regard to homes and communities, dementia, health and social care, design and technology, other planning matters and more in this comprehensive bulletin.

Check it out and register here to keep in touch with 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

#Jeremytalks

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending Friday, 11 September 2020.

It’s been another bumper week of news with the government setting out it’s latest rules to limit the spread of Covid-19 by making social gatherings of more than 6 people indoors or outdoors illegal from Monday, 14 September. We will be updating our Practice Briefing accordingly.

In other news, the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP announced a raft of measures to stimulate the housing market, with further details in Homes England’s Affordable Housing Programme prospectus, including how 10% of the allocations will be used to support programme delivery to increase the supply of much needed specialist or supported housing.

In addition, coupled with the recent Planning White Paper, the government announced a new consultation to consider how best to raise accessibility standards for all new homes in recognition of the importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people.

In this week’s HLINks, we also feature our latest guest blog on Coastline Housing’s Click and Connect service in Cornwall. You can read about this and a 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 in this comprehensive bulletin.

Check it out and register here to keep in touch with 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

#Jeremytalks

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending Friday, 4 September 2020.

In this week's edition, we report on the 2nd technology report by Appello. This follows the joint survey we undertook with them earlier this year whose results show the growing appetite for investment in going digital. We also released two guest blogs. The first on a couple's reason for downsizing and the second (following Channel 4's programme on Friday evenings, Lodgers for Codgers) on homesharing.

I am also delighted to announce that during lockdown we have developed and tested out an exclusive new Housing LIN brand called 'HAPPI Hour', our exciting new online platform for our popular thematic and regional events. We will be running a series of hour-long webinars on a variety of themes starting this month. Get your drinks ready.

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.

Check this out and register here to keep in touch with 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

#Jeremytalks

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending 28 August 2020.

In this week’s edition we bring you a kaleidoscope of features through the prism of housing, care and support for older and disabled adults.

Hot off the press, we kick off with a National Housing Federation report we have written for them on supported housing, released to coincide with their #HomesAtTheHeart campaign and this week's particular emphasis on living well. Our report sets out what is required to ensure there is sustainable development of supported housing for adults with long term care and support needs. And to coincide with the NHF’s campaign, we released a guest blog by Habinteg's support worker, Laura Gregg, on her challenging experience of working in a floating support service with very vulnerable adults during the pandemic in Teesside.

And, staying with Covid, the Government has updated its Coronavirus Adult Social Care info hub. I am delighted to report that the Housing LIN's practice briefing is now cited.

In other news, we also cover the Home of 2030 announcement of the 6 finalists shortlisted to go forward to the final selection process this autumn. This will ascertain who will be the ultimate winner and have the opportunity to develop innovative low carbon, age-friendly homes. I was privileged to be a judge of this government competition.

And following Frances Holliss' piece in last week's online Guardian Opinion, today is your last chance to take part in our working from home survey. We have teamed up with the Workhome Project to take the pulse of home working in the UK's social housing. Whether working in social housing or a tenant, please complete by the end of today.

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.

Check this out and register here to keep in touch with 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

Have a good bank holiday weekend, stay connected and be safe,

Jeremy

#Jeremytalks

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending 21st August 2020.
 
In this week’s edition we bring you a selection of new Housing LIN resources. They include 2 new guest blogs. The first by LIFEstyle by ENGIE’s Paula Broadbent on Empowering our older generation by giving them energy to create their own future. The other by Honorary Professor at the University of Geneva, Roderick Lawrence entitled, Housing Matters for All, in which he sets out how to accommodate a growing diversity of activities, lifestyles and needs in our housing.

And a reminder: this week is your last chance to take part in our working from home survey. We have teamed up with the Workhome Project to take the pulse of home working in the UK's social housing. Whether working in social housing or a tenant, please share your experiences under Covid and complete online by 28th August.

In this week’s HLINks you can also read our curated round-up of other relevant news and events on later life living through the lens of homes and communities, health and social care, design and technology, and planning matters.

Check this out and register here to keep in touch with 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 and @HousingLINews.

Lastly, if you would like to talk to us about any matters highlighted, share learning about your work and/or require our expert advice and guidance, 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

#JeremyTalks ...

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending the 14th August 2020.

In this week’s edition we bring you a selection of new Housing LIN resources. First up, following the publication of the government's refreshed Supported Living guidance last week, we have updated two of our Covid-19 Practice Briefings to give greater clarity on the latest guidance and how best to implement it. They are Practice Briefings No1 on specialist housing and No3 on housing and dementia.

We also bring you three diverse guest blogs we released this week, as follows: On the homelessness front, the founders of social capital investors - Drum-London -share their thoughts on the use of temporary accommodation during the pandemic and how to learn from this to develop a sustainable long term housing solution.

We also published a blog by Tetlow King Planning’s Managing Director giving his take on the government's recent Planning White Paper. John Sneddon shares his disappointment that the White Paper failed to recognise the housing needs of our ageing population.

With the 75th anniversary of VJ day tomorrow, our final blog is by Housing 21's Vanessa Pritchard-Wilkes in which she draws attention to the resources available from the Royal British Legion and the National Memorial Arboretum to commemorate the end of WW2.

In this week’s HLINks you can also read our curated round-up of other relevant news and events on later life living through the lens of homes and communities, health and social care, design and technology, and planning matters. There is also a survey for you to take part in. We have teamed up with the Workhome Project to take the pulse of home working in the UK's social housing. Whether working in social housing or a tenant, please share your experiences under Covid and complete our survey by Friday, 28 August.

Check this out and register here to keep in touch with 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 and @HousingLINews.

Lastly, if you would like to talk to us about any matters highlighted, share learning about your work and/or require our expert advice and guidance, email ‘Jeremy talks’ at: info@housinglin.org.uk.

You can also listen to Jeremy talks… here

Best wishes, stay connected and be safe,

Jeremy

Jeremy talks….

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's free weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending 7 August 2020.

Usually in August we have a news 'holiday' and there is a summer break from HLINks for the whole month. This year, with Covid-19 still impacting on our daily lives, we will be reporting throughout August and capturing relevant sector news. We recognise the importance of keeping you informed and the information is certainly unabated. It’s been another busy week!

On the national stage, the government published its long awaited Planning White Paper. The measures outlined are a green light for housebuilders to construct new housing within certain confines; namely, on sites designated for growth. Despite lobbying with other sector bodies for more favourable planning conditions for housing an ageing population, the paper did not propose anything specifically to boost planning for accessible homes for an ageing population, although they do invite suggestions on how best to meet the needs of diverse groups and to meet equalities legislation.

It also released its updated Covid-19 guidance on supported living. It builds on the previous advice to supported living providers and is primarily for supported living settings, but many of the principles are applicable to extra care housing for older people. It also references the resource on our Coronavirus Info Hub.

And staying with government announcements, the NHS' 2020/21 People Plan was issued this week. It focuses largely on workforce issues to support training and learning in our health and care services in a more integrated way, including the use of digital; for example, for remote assessments. However, while home based care is acknowledged, disappointingly, there is no mention of housing or multi-disciplinary working with our sector. So much for integration!

In other news, In other news, I was interviewed by BrouHappy on behalf of Ian Williams Ltd for an exciting new series of podcasts that delve into social housing. I shared my thoughts on affordable housing for older people, gave examples of designing for ageing and looked into my crystal ball on what the future of social housing could be, especially through the lens of housing for older and disabled adults.
 

We also put the spotlight on technology with the publication of the findings of our joint survey with Appello. The resulting paper is the first that will be coming out in the coming weeks. It makes interesting reading and evidences the rapid adoption of digital in our sector and commitment to transform services.

We also released two guest blogs. One on value of housing the homeless during the pandemic by Dr Rachel Manning at the Warwick Business School, and continuing our look at HAPPI balcony designs from last week's blog, the other is on the use of public and private space under lockdown, by architect, Stuart Carr.

In this week’s HLINks you can also read our curated round-up of other relevant news and events on later life living through the lens of homes and communities, health and social care, design and technology, and planning matters. There is also a new survey for you to take part in, in partnership with the Workhome Project. This is seeking your feedback on working from home in social housing and how your organisation has responded in the light of Covid-19. Take part by Friday, 28 August 2020.

Check all of this out in our latest weekly bulletin on our website or register online to receive our alerts and other notifications of your choice sent direct to your inbox.

And remember, if you would like to talk to us about any matters highlighted, share learning about your work and/or require our expert advice and guidance, 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

Jeremy talks…

Two hard-hitting reports out this week reveal both the health and care system failures of the handling of Covid and tragic results of the thousands of deaths of older adults in care homes, and also the impact of Covid on the health and wellbeing of 50-70 year olds. The first by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee is highly critical of the initial decision to allow 25,000 untested elderly patients to be discharged from hospital into care homes and the years of neglect of the social care sector. It stated that this was an "appalling error". The second, a joint report by Ipsos Mori and the Centre for Ageing Better, captures the experience of lockdown among people in their 50s and 60s. Findings highlighted negative impacts such as on areas of mental & physical health as well as positive ones; for example, time with family, community involvement, time for reflection.

This week we also share two Covid retirement living-related guest blogs which, whilst highlighting different accounts of living in retirement housing, have a common bond in that they both address the way services have had to rapidly adjust in the light of the pandemic, turning the negatives into positives. The first, led by Hannah Humble at the University of Bristol, is on balconies and community space in extra care housing and how, with Coronavirus taking hold, they have utilised outdoor space to support community connectedness. The second, by Chris Barber, Central & Cecil Housing Trust's Resident Engagement Manager, showcases a variety of creative digital activities that have significantly helped their residents stay engaged, socially distanced but connected during lockdown.

In this week’s HLINks, you can also read our curated round-up of relevant news and events on later life living through the lens of homes and communities, health and social care, design and technology, and planning matters. Check all of this out in our latest weekly bulletin on our website or register online to receive our alerts and other notifications of your choice sent direct to your inbox.

And remember, if you would like to talk to us about any matters highlighted, share learning about your work and/or require our expert advice and guidance, 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

Jeremy talks….

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending 24 July.

Back in April, as Coronavirus was taking hold, I wrote a blog about how for the majority our homes are ill-prepared for accommodating home working. I pointed out that it is not just about the design and use of our physical space for live/work, it's also about the social architecture and our relationship with the places where we live and work.

A few months on, working on the kitchen table to using a spare room as an office has become “the new norm” for many. Indeed, COVID-19 has been transformational in the way we have rapidly had to look at the design of our home and the use of indoor and even outdoor space for homeworking. It is also creating a rethink about the design and use of office accommodation too and the nature of work.

To better understand about this transformation, and to capture and share learning and thought-leadership, we have partnered with an international group of academic and non-academic organisations to establish the WorkHome Project. Take a look at the project’s Mission and accompanying blogs, podcasts and resources. You can also follow the Workhome Project on Twitter at: @workhomeproject

In this week’s HLINks you can also find out about the STOP Ageism campaign we have signed up to and read a round-up of relevant news and events on housing, health and social care matters. Check all of this out in our latest weekly bulletin on our website or register online to receive our alerts and other notifications of your choice sent direct to your inbox.

And, if you would like to talk with us about any matters highlighted and/or share learning about your work, email ‘Jeremy talks’ at: info@housinglin.org.uk.

You can also listen to Jeremy talks… here

Best wishes and stay safe,

Jeremy

Jeremy talks….

Welcome to Jeremy talks and my weekly piece to audio to coincide with the Housing LIN's weekly bulletin, HLINks, week ending 17 July.

This week I was pleased to speak at two influential events: the first a webinar organised by ILC-UK, in partnership with the DICE Project and the LIN, on combatting loneliness in extra care called, ‘In it together: Making housing for older adults more inclusive’ and – the second, as a panellist on the APPG on Health and Housing’s virtual session on the impact of poor quality housing on health inequalities. I also presented virtually two HAPPI Awards at the 2020 Housing Design Awards. There were lots of strong contenders but the winning schemes were submitted by Quad Architects for Audley Stanbridge Earls (a project award) and PRP Architects for Grants Hill House (a completed scheme award). HAPPI days!

In other news, ahead of a promised Planning White Paper, we have also put our name to a letter along with leading retirement housing sector trade and professional bodies calling on the Secretary of State for Housing, Robert Jenrick MP, to review housing for older people as part of the forthcoming planning reforms to be announced.

And on the publications’ front, we feature three very different guest blogs that reflect the interests of our broad membership. They include one from James Bullion, the new President of ADASS on his key adult social care and housing asks of government, one by Becky Walker, Oxford City Council’s Home Improvement Agency Manager on their rapid discharge grant programme and, the last. by Suzanne Noble from Silver Sharers on lodging.

To read these, and a round-up of relevant news and events on housing, health and social care matters, check out our latest weekly bulletin on our website or register online to receive our alerts and other notifications of your choice sent direct to your inbox.

And, if you would like to talk with us about any matters highlighted and/or share learning about your work, email ‘Jeremy talks’ at: info@housinglin.org.uk

You can also listen to Jeremy talks… here

Best wishes and stay safe,

Jeremy