HLINks - Housing LIN's weekly update at your fingertips

Coronavirus

Check out current and relevant sector guidance on the pandemic on our Coronavirus Info Hub.

You can also find out more about the recent launch of the St Monica Trust/Housing LIN RE-COV Study, on COVID-19 and its impact on the retirement village and extra care housing sector.

• Find out more

Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing

House of Lords debate on government Taskforce on Housing for Older People

This week’s House of Lords debate, sponsored by Baroness Sally Greengross, heard from Baroness Bloomfield detailing the forthcoming government Taskforce on Housing for Older People. The debate included Lord Kennedy's acknowledgment of the almshouse movement, and from Lord Best (chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People) who welcomed the news of the taskforce and referenced their current APPG Inquiry on shared ownership housing for an ageing population (SO HAPPI).

• Catch up with the debate

Government announces new measures to put an end to unscrupulous landlords exploiting some of the most vulnerable in our society

Yesterday the Government announced, in a Written Ministerial Statement from Minister Hughes, its intention to bring forward a package of measures to put an end to unscrupulous landlords exploiting some of the most vulnerable in our society. The Government is investing £11.5 billion through the Affordable Homes Programme, and announced a further £20 million for a Supported Housing Improvement Programme provided by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

See what Ian Copeman, the Housing LIN’s Business Director, commentted here.

• Full announcement

Government failing to ensure a decent life for older people as pensioner poverty spirals, according to a new report

The Centre for Ageing Better have published their flagship report, “The State of Ageing 2022” that provides a comprehensive view on how people are ageing, compiled from public and government data sets. Their analysis shows clearly that the state of ageing is getting worse and England is becoming an increasingly challenging country to grow old in, with pensioner poverty and levels of poor health increasing.

• Read full interactive report

Postdoctoral research associate post – deadline for application extended

The Open University (OU) is looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate as part of a new 3-year coproduced project, ‘Amar bari, amar jibon’ (my home, my life) that explores diversity and inclusion in later life environments focusing on Bangladeshi elders in East London.

This is an excellent opportunity to work with a dynamic research partnership of academic and community team members from the OU, Bangla Housing Association and Housing LIN.

Deadline for application: Thursday, 14 April 2022

• Apply here

Housing LIN microsite shares resources based on the findings from the Diversity in Care Environments (DICE) research study

Hosted by the Housing LIN, the resources on these Diversity in Care Environments (DICE) webpages are based on findings from the DICE research study, conducted by the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, in collaboration with the International Longevity Centre-UK and the Housing LIN.

This includes a policy report and an e-Learning Resource Tool.

• Explore microsite

What else caught our interest?

• Ageing Issues: Four pathways for improving co-research methods with older people
• Shakespeare Martineau: Green Homes Report: What Buyers Want
• Carterwood Market Movers report: Market Movers 2022 - older people's housing sector
• Inside Housing: Government cuts Discretionary Housing Payment fund by £40m
• Housing 21 blog: International Women's Day: Vanessa's Business Improvement Journey
• WorkHomeProject: Longlisted for the Davidson Prize for a second consecutive year!

Design, Construction, Planning and Technology

TAPPI2: From Principles to Implementation - Weekly

As announced in February, and elaborated on by Sarah Allport, Head of Communities and Governance at DMT in her coinciding blog, a second phase of the TAPPI programme will be launched at the TSA ITEC Conference on Tuesday, 29 March. Please note, the Housing LIN has secured their members a free pass to the launch!

DMT seeks an 'Evaluation and Shared Learning Partner' and 'Co-Production and Engagement Partner' to work closely with the Housing LIN and TSA on TAPPI: Phase 2.

• Evaluation and Shared Learning Partner: To work with key stakeholders to create a qualitative and quantitative benefits evaluation methodology and framework, capturing real-time data and evaluating during the programme as well as reporting the overall evaluation at the end of the programme. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, 8 April at 5pm.
   
• Co-Production and Engagement Partner: To work with us and the locality testbeds to ensure the views of people who draw on services both current and future, their families and carers and housing organisations are reflected in the programme and the Framework. Please note, the deadline for receipt of applications is today, Friday, 18 March at 5pm.

Keep a look out for a further announcement about recruiting up to 4 TAPPI test sites to aid support the implementation of the 10 TAPPI principles!

• Apply for funding

Do also register for next week's HAPPI Hour when we will be joined by TAPPI Inquiry Panel member, C&C's Managing Director, Julia Ashley. She will be talking about the merger of C&C and Aster Group and the opportunities this presents to transform the housing and care-tech choices of their existing residents and future customers.

• Attend virtual event

FREE GUIDE: ‘Managing the Transition to Digital Telecare: A Guide to Engaging Your Staff with the Technology’

Appello, the UK market leaders in digital telecare, have put together a guide to help you see the maximum benefit or return from your investment in digital technology, including digital telecare. This guide includes tips for planning an engagement programme and what you need to consider before, during and after the implementation of your new digital telecare systems.

• Read full guide

What else caught our interest?

• Policy Press book (to order): The Environments of Ageing: Space, Place and Materiality
• Built environment networking: 'What needs to change to 'level up' between development types and extend the flexibility that Class E gave to some sectors?'

Health and Social Care, Mental Health and Learning Disability

Learning Disability England framework: Good Lives: Building Change Together

Published by Learning Disability England, Good Lives: Building Change Together is a framework that brings together people’s thoughts and ideas about what it will take for everyone with learning disabilities to be able to live their good life.

This document articulates clearly what people say they want and need to live well, highlighting the challenges that currently exist and offering some hopeful examples where these have been overcome.

• Access framework

What else caught our interest?

• HM Government: Operational guidance to implement a lifetime cap on care costs
• The Spec (Canada) Our changed world: How the COVID-19 pandemic may change seniors housing

Wales

Welsh Housing Quarterly: Vision for Canolfan Lleu

Grŵp Cynefin has published a vision document detailing plans for for Canolfan Lleu, a holistic centre for wellbeing in Dyffryn Nantlle based in Penygroes in the county of Gwynedd. The vision summarises the narrative of the Canolfan Lleu project and sums up the core intentions, its aims, its approach to bringing change to the valley and what it offers.

• Read full document

Scotland

HAPPI Hour - Housing LIN Scotland presents, in partnership with SFHA

This HAPPI Hour has been rearranged for Tuesday, 26th April 4:00pm – 5:15pm

Following November's TAPPI Inquiry report launch and Scottish example of housing and care technology, we are pleased to host this HAPPI Hour session in partnership with Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to take a look at the Scottish government's recent Digital health and care strategy.

• Attend virtual event

What else caught our interest?

• Scottish Government guidance: 'Fire safety - existing specialised housing and similar premises: practical guidance' 

Events

Watch, Listen & Learn

You are invited to join our forthcoming HAPPI Hours! 

Forthcoming HAPPI Hours

• HAPPI Hour - Forging a new partnership to transform housing and care-tech choices on Tuesday, 22 March 2022, 4:00pm – 5:15pm
• HAPPI Hour - Fire safety in extra care housing on Tuesday 4 April, 4:00pm – 5:15pm
• HAPPI Hour - Housing LIN Scotland presents, in partnership with SFHA on Tuesday 26 April, 4:00pm – 5:15pm

View all previous HAPPI Hours – Recording, presentation slides and chat report available.

The Housing LIN's Summer Season of online HAPPI Hour sessions coming soon!

In next week’s HLINks

Next week, we are looking forward to our latest HAPPI Hour webinar on forging a new partnership to transform housing and care-tech choices. We are joined by C&C's MD, Julia Ashley and Aster's Chief Strategy Officer, Dawn Fowler-Stevens to share their learning and insights.

We're also looking forward to publishing a new guest blog by the Open University's Dr Sheila Peace about her new book and her thoughts on the meaning of home in older age.

The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter.