Webwatch: The Housing Learning and Improvement Network

The Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN), formerly responsible for managing the Department of Health’s (DH) Extra Care Housing capital programme, is a leading ‘knowledge hub’ for a growing network of housing, health and social care professionals in England involved in planning, commissioning, designing, funding, building and managing housing with care for older people.

The website provides useful tools, resources and examples of innovative approaches to enabling older people and people with disabilities to live well and independently in their own homes.

It provides specific information across 8 key areas for adult social care commissioners, housing and care providers, primary care services and NHS hospital trusts on shaping, commissioning, funding, and delivering a range of care and support solutions for people living in their own homes.

Members of the network enjoy access to:

• Publications: materials commissioned by the Housing LIN specifically to support action learning – e-bulletins, reports, factsheets, case studies, toolkits, technical briefs and viewpoints
• Information centre: key facts and figures on housing, health and social care
• Key learning resources: everything you need to know on funding, planning, designing and delivering housing for older people; integrating housing, health and care; innovations in housing and dementia
• Online directories: detailed information on all the DH funded Extra Care Housing and the new Care and Support Housing Fund schemes, and access to wider intelligence on the supply of housing with care in your area
• Discussion boards: opportunities to discuss, post Q&As and social networking to help test out thinking, access information from other network members
• Regional networking: free regional network and information exchange meetings in their area. These meet at least twice a year in each region and provide a platform to meet experts, tour latest schemes, capture latest policy and practice developments, investment opportunities and showcase local innovation
• Conferences and learning events: a series of conferences and seminars throughout the year to promote latest publications and disseminate key findings
• Research and analysis: drawing on latest research by trade and professional bodies and academic institutions that improves the evidence base for specialist housing and being the first to learn about the findings on the benefits of housing with care

Why get connected with the Housing LIN?

With the implementation of the Care Act 2014 and drive towards closer integration with care as set out in the NHS 5 Year Forward View, there is an urgent need for commissioners and housing, care and support providers to be able to access the latest policy and practice developments to respond to the changing landscape of care and support at home.

Rachael Byrne, Executive Director of Care and Support at Home Group, said:”The Housing LIN is an invaluable learning resource that plays an big part in helping organisations like Home Group ensure that our schemes and developments – past, present and future – meet the needs of elderly and disabled people. We are proud to be involved and will continue to regard the Housing LIN as an important partner that helps us to meet and overcome the many challenges that the care and support sector faces now and in the future. We would recommend others to participate and support them too.”

Visit here: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/