HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health and Social Care Latest News
12 October 2026
Welcome to this week’s HLINks! Last week we published our AI State of the Nation Report on Specialist and Supported Housing, written by the Housing LIN with support and legal insight from HCR Law. Drawing on the findings of our first State of the Nation survey, it offers a snapshot of emerging practice around AI in the sector.
The report was issued alongside last week’s HAPPI Hour, which brought together a panel of experts on various aspects of AI in the sector, from planning and legal responsibility, to ethics and resident engagement. If you missed it, you can watch the recording and download the slides here.
HAPPI Hour takes a break this week, but there is plenty to look forward to next week, when the Dementia and Housing Working Group (DHWG) brings together a great panel of speakers on the 20th October for Dementia Across the Four Nations - Showcasing Innovation, Best Practice and Housing Readiness Across the UK. Book now to secure your place.
Also in this edition:
- DHSC issue guidance for housing providers on telecare and the digital switchover
- Just Checking join the Housing LIN family of sponsors
- Future Leaders explore creative leadership and allyship with Rama Gheerawo and Peabody’s Elly Hoult
- Celebrating Homeshare Week 2026
- Spotlight on leadership at the South West Leadership Set meeting
- Five lessons from Sam Goss at Barefoot Architects for creating successful cohousing neighbourhoods
And plenty more that caught our interest!
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our learning community
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Best wishes, The Housing LIN Team |
News Highlights
Housing LIN welcomes Just Checking as latest sponsor
We are thrilled to announce Just Checking as our newest sponsor, strengthening a shared commitment to using great spaces and smart technology to deliver better care and support outcomes for people.
Managing Director Amy Lewis also gave an insightful presentation at last Thursday's HAPPI Hour webinar, speaking about the responsible and ethical use of AI in social care, their work with AIICA and Just Checking's practical experience of this in the analysis of social care data. Watch the webinar recording.
Future Leaders explore creative leadership and allyship
Jeremy Porteus hosted a brilliant online session last week with the 6th cohort of Housing LIN Future Leaders.
Supported by Sovereign Network Group's Sarah Mitton & Andrew Cooper, they were treated to powerful and inspiring presentations by Rama Gheerawo & Elly Hoult of Peabody, who shared their insights on ‘Creative Leadership’ to ‘allyship’ and empathy and authenticity, drawing on their personal leadership journeys and sharing lessons from along the way.
Celebrating Homeshare Week 2026
Homesharing is an important intergenerational living choice and often overlooked in UK housing policy and practice. The Housing LIN supported last week's Homeshare Week 2026, to highlight the benefits of homesharing and share resources. Find out more on our dedicated topic page.
Putting the spotlight on leadership in the South West
Housing LIN CEO Jeremy Porteus reported from last week's meeting of the South West Leadership Set:
"Great to be joined by new and existing members of the Housing LIN’s SW Leadership Set this week. Informative discussions on latest specialist and supported policy developments and impact on commissioning, developing and managing housing with care across the South West. Thank you everyone for taking sector leadership in the region seriously."
Five lessons for creating successful cohousing neighbourhoods
At an event co-hosted by UK Cohousing Network (UKCN) and Barefoot Architects in Bristol, cohousing pioneer Charles Durrett joined a room of South West housing professionals and prospective residents to explore how to create “high functioning neighbourhoods” with community built in as standard.
In his new blog, Sam Goss shares five takeaways from the evening, and notes that community-led housing is now referenced in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and that UKCN is working with government to give cohousing a stronger position in the planning system.
Resource Roundup
AI State of the Nation Report - Specialist and Supported Housing
This report, written by the Housing LIN with legal insight from HCR Law, presents the findings of our first ever State of the Nation survey of AI in Specialist and Supported Housing. Based on an analysis of the responses alongside other recent data and commentary, it offers an indicative snapshot of emerging practice in the sector.
Set against the analogue-to-digital switchover due by the end of January 2027, it concludes with five priorities for providers, including building evaluation into pilots, getting data foundations right, investing in people and collaborating with partners and residents.
Telecare and the Digital Switchover: Guidance for Housing Providers
The Department of Health and Social Care have published new guidance for housing providers in England on telecare and the digital switchover in support of the National Telecare Action Plan. It sets out the essential steps organisations should take to help safeguard telecare users during the digital phone switchover by the end of January 2027, including information on data sharing, fire safety considerations and options for upgrading analogue telecare systems.
Webinar recording: Specialist Housing and the impact of Artificial Intelligence
Coinciding with the release of our AI State of the Nation report, last week's HAPPI Hour brought together expert voices in the field, including co-chair David Hall from HCR Law, Wei Yang, CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning, Just Checking’s Amy Lewis and Sarah Mitton and Matt Giles of SNG on their work in relation to technology, tenant and resident engagement.
What else caught our interest...
Greater Manchester dementia video: Live More: a social care trial offering earlier Shared Lives support for people with dementia
Housing 21 news: Housing 21 acquires 273 Extra Care properties from Bromford Flagship LiveWest
Housing Digital article: Taking the stairs just doesn’t age well
Inside Housing article: NHF chief executive calls for long-term funding for supported housing
ITV programme: Buyer Beware: Retirement Properties - Tonight
Standard Life Report: Retirement Voice 2026
The Conversation article: Success for Andy Burnham’s national care service will depend on home essentials
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group video: Geoffrey's Rightsizing Experience
Dates for your diary
HAPPI Hour webinars
- Dementia Across the Four Nations - Showcasing Innovation, Best Practice and Housing Readiness Across the UK on 20th October 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
- SHAPE Challenge Fund Launch – the shape of things to come on 27th October 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
- From caring places to neighbourhood health – Inspiring a new vision for adult social care on 3rd November 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
- Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans and fire safety – taking responsibility in specialist/supported housing on 10th November 2026, from 4pm - 5pm
- Technology unplugged - Delivering digital solutions on 17th November 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
- Housing storeys - Planning for accessibility and adaptations on 1st December 2026, from 4pm - 5pm
- The key to unlocking healthy communities on 8th December 2026, from 4pm - 5pm
- HAPPI Awareness Week showcase event on 15th December 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
While free to attend for Housing LIN members, spaces are limited. Reserve your place today and join us for inspiring conversations, fresh insights and engaging ideas.
Other Events Supported by the Housing LIN
Beyond Age: Rethinking Later Life
by Housing 21
14th October 2026, from 10am - 4pm
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