Hot off the press: HLINks – our essential sector news, including on COVID-19, the launch of the Workhome Project and a new Housing LIN blogs, and so much more
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
STOP Ageism
The Housing LIN has signed up to this major campaign to STOP Ageism set up by Guild Living and L&G, and academic research partner, the University of Bath. The campaign’s objectives accord with our vision of creating a society where there are better quality homes and better housing choices for all ages.
You can also read a guest blog for the Housing LIN by Guild Living’s Eugene Marchese in which he outlines their work and the research that underpins it.
This week’s new Housing LIN Blog
The View of a long term resident in Sheltered Housing
This guest blog for the Housing LIN is by Trude Silman, aged 91, and a resident of a social rented sheltered housing scheme in Leeds for the past nine years. In it, she reflects at first hand on the housing and care needs of older and disabled people living around her. She makes a number of poignant observations and suggestions about living in sheltered housing stemming from her experience, in particular, during the pandemic.
Coronavirus Update
A selection of latest/updated government advice guidelines and plans that are relevant for our sector include:
- COVID-19: Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities
- COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes
- COVID-19: how to work safely in domiciliary care
- COVID-19: impacts on health - reports and tools
- COVID-19 and renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities
Other relevant COVID-19 news include:
- SCIE: Updated Hub - Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for social care
- ADASS: Budget Survey 2020: Impact of Covid-19 on budgets
- Think Local Act Personal: Covid-19 adult social care provision: stories of promise
And remember, check out on our Coronavirus Info Hub for a range of Housing LIN practice briefings for the sector and links to other useful information and websites.
Also, post or reply to questions on our discussion forum. It allows you to share information, raise issues and ask questions to solve a tricky issue. For example, can you share your organisation’s COVID-19 risk plan in preparation for the 2nd wave or information about how you are engaging with residents?
Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing
- the Affordable Housing Commission: Making Housing Affordable After Covid-19
- NLGN: Communities vs. Coronavirus: The Rise of Mutual Aid
- APPG for Healthy Homes and Buildings: ‘Bridging the Health Gap: Why Housing is a Health Issue’ - Recording of the 16th July session is now available
- Savills: Housing Solutions For An Ageing Society
- Centre for Ageing Better: Real time evaluation of Leeds Neighbourhood Networks
- Centre for Ageing Better: The Good Home Inquiry launched to find policy solutions for England's housing crisis
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- Collaborate CIC: The immediate crisis is passing: we need to build back better from the ground up
- BBC Radio Four: Four Thought: Ending Ageism
- Inside Housing (registration required): Why housing older people needs a far more nuanced approach
- The Guardian: Covid-19 impact on ethnic minorities linked to housing and air pollution
Have your say: Will COVID-19 be the catalyst for greater use of technology in supported housing?
Last chance to participate
Appello, in partnership with the Housing LIN, are calling on your support to help identify changes in perceptions on technology and identify best practices for the sector moving forward.
Design and Technology
- GOV.UK: Homes England backs a new “healthy housing” toolkit by Design for Homes
- PRP Architects: Safe, Happy and Together: Design ideas for minimising the spread of infection whilst nurturing social interaction in later living communities
- Design Council: Making life better by design: Design Council’s story of impact
- New book: Creating Built Environments: Bridging Knowledge and Practice Divides
- GOV.UK: New law changes to bring better connectivity to the UK
Health and care
- ADASS: Adult Social Care - Shaping a Better Future - Nine Statements to Help Shape Adult Social Care Reform
- Public Health Institute: Direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on health and wellbeing
- RADIX: Equalise and Untick the Future of Health Care post-Covid
- Nuffield Trust: Lessons from the last hospital building programme, and recommendations for the next
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- KSS AHSN: Bringing care closer to home
Dementia
- The NDAA: Staying Connected campaign
- Foundations: Research into dementia & the DFG. Urgently looking for OTs in England to complete this survey.
- Care Home Professional: New dementia care Institute launches with multisensory project
Homelessness
Planning
- LaingBuisson: Inefficiencies in planning for older people’s housing, says report
- Knight Frank: Unlocking potential for senior living developments – Analysing the planning landscape
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- Inside Housing (registration required): Taking the development reins: a move away from Section 106
Planning tracker
Older People’s Care Development – Local Development Plan Monitoring
In association with Tetlow King Planning, this document monitors current local authority planning consultations that may be of interest for those seeking to develop housing for older people. The tracker is updated fortnightly.
Wales
Welsh government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus
In other News:
- Building Better Places: The Planning System Delivering Resilient and Brighter Futures
Scotland
Scottish government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/
In other News:
- Inside Housing (registration required): Scottish government agrees to post-coronavirus homelessness plan
Forthcoming Events
Getting ready for VJ Day on 15 August – Get engaged
Saturday, 15 August 2020 is the 75th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day), marking both the surrender of Japan and the end of the fighting during the Second World War. We have been approached by the National Memorial Arboretum, who along with The Royal British Legion, are playing leading roles in the commemorations. They are looking for individuals from the Second World War generation who are interested in sharing their stories and memories from VJ Day. It would like to hear a range of stories from those who served in the Asia Pacific region and their loved ones, to those who marked VJ Day at home.
Housing LIN Events
In light of the coronavirus outbreak we have cancelled all our upcoming regional meetings and training courses until further notice. We are currently exploring how to hold these events online, so watch this space!
In the meantime, we are pleased to be involved/support the following virtual events:
- Appello - Meeting expectations with digital telecare (various dates)
- Healthy City Design 2020: International Congress & Exhibition (12 to 13 October)
- HRF Academic Conference - Happy Homes, Happy Society? (12 to 13 November)
Next week
We are expecting 2 new guest blogs. The first by Professor Karen West at the University of Bristol on their bereavement and extra care housing project with the ExtraCare Charitable Trust and Cruse Bereavement. This is followed by Josh Gallagher’s on Advanced Care Planning and end of life care in a housing setting. For more information on bereavement and end of life care, check out our dedicated webpages under the link below.
The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter.