Neighbourhood Health Framework

The Neighbourhood Health Framework places Joint Strategic Needs Assessments firmly at the heart of neighbourhood health planning for ICBs, Health & Wellbeing Boards & local authorities in England. The Framework makes it explicit that understanding local need should shape new neighbourhood health, as set out in the NHS 10-year Plan.

Key priorities include:

• Improve people’s health and care outcomes, reduce health inequalities and help them stay well at home
• Organise services around the person with more convenient, personalised and joined-up care
• Reduce pressure on more acute services - including hospitals and care homes
• Cut waste and duplication, and 
• Help the NHS deliver against core targets

In relation to housing, while there are references to neighbourhood level interventions that offer alternatives to in-patient hospital care, the Framework also specifically highlights:

• The national plan to end homelessness (opens new window) aims to end all forms of homelessness and improve local support for people with complex, co-occurring needs
• Housing policy reforms to improve housing in England, including the Decent Homes Standard (opens new window), which will include new minimum energy efficiency standards. These set a minimum standard for all rented homes to be safe, decent and warm. And Awaab’s Law (opens new window) also requires social landlords to investigate and remedy dangerous hazards within fixed timescales.