Housing for Independent Living

1. Housing for Independent Living Housing LIN Conference February 17th 2015

2. Imogen BloodDan Gaul

3. Qualitative or Quantitative Approach? Housing LIN Case Study Bolton Council

4. Project Overview • Aspirations • Demographic and Financial Pressures • Strategic review with partners • Inclusive Approach , what do older people want • Governance

5. Themes • Older People’s Housing Needs and Aspirations • Access to Housing • Maintaining Independence

6. Workstreams • Community Engagement • Stakeholder Partnerships • Data Analysis • Literature Review

7. Community Engagement strand • Produced and distributed a flyer • Ran 9 focus groups through ‘gatekeepers’ • Outreach: market and • lunch clubs • Stalls: e.g., sheltered scheme open day • Home visits/ phone calls with individuals

8. We heard from 170 people.. • Age range from 50s to 90s; half were in 70s; • 30% were men; • 20% were BME; • A third had a disability or long-term condition; • Two-thirds were owner occupiers

9. “It is really difficult to speak to an actual person anymore…you keep getting signposted on. The information is not in one place anymore” “There needs to be more done to promote what’s available – it needs really spelling out for owner occupiers, who will often assume they are not eligible – then people can pass it on to others” “I’m looking at places online and I’m not sure if they are private or council or what… you need a list of what‘s actually available at the present time” Information & Advice “I think there is a tendency for people working in services/ policy to assume that the general public know where this help is”

10. Uncertainties about moving • Financial risks/ uncertainty • Health – prognosis – care? • Couples – family • Changes to policies/ services • Understanding/ trusting the system • Timing a move What can be done to inform, reassure and support decision making?

11. Location, quality, access, affordability

12. What are the housing options for lower income owner occupiers? “I think it’s fair to say that everyone here is happy in their own homes and wants to stay in them as long as possible but, for many of us, we are also effectively prisoners in our homes because none of the other systems for housing are really affordable or accessible to us”. Equity release? Shared ownership? PRS?

13. Stakeholder Partnerships • 17 interviews • Challenges and pressures • Willingness to work together • Forward planning

16. SHOP@

17. How many older people do we serve?

19. What level of service do we need?

22. What services are currently provided?

24. Have we got the right commissioning strategy?

28. What is needed at community level?

32. SHOP@ Summary • The high level of housing stock for older people in the centre and east of the borough • The lack of Extra Care in Horwich and South Bolton. The lack of care services in Westhoughton • The relative lack of care services in the North of the authority’ • The limited opportunities for leasehold extra care development in the authority with the north of the borough and Horwich offering the best sites for development.

34. Project Outcomes

35. Short term Opportunities • Develop community partnerships-UCANs-Staying well-HIA-Think Positive- Health Trainers- Dementia Friendly Communities • Advice and Guidance • Dementia Support and service development • GT Manchester Big Lottery Fund

36. Housing Strategy Priorities • Improvement and coordination of information, advice and access to housing support services. • Increase the capacity of preventative services and the role of the community • Develop a wider choice of housing options that will support improved health and well being • Build on the strength of existing partnership arrangements to ensure housing’s role is one of leadership and influence

37. Group Discussion • How can we accurately estimate future demand for older people’s housing ? • How have you used research findings to influence your service development ? • How should commissioning strategies influence future SHOP@ prevalence rates

38. Contacts Imogen Blood 0161 747 9437 07866 631411 http://www.imogenblood.co.uk/ Dan Gaul 07938 958105 www.change3c.co.uk Jean Bray 07930 920181 SHOP@ www.housinglin.org.uk/SHOPAT shop@eac.org.uk

39. What is happening nationally?

40. National Questionnaire (1) • The 27 authorities have 129 extra care schemes with an average of 44 units per scheme • 22 authorities still provide 24/7 care across their provision • Main change is the move away from block contracts to a more flexible commissioning arrangement. One authority has a reablement package as an admission requirement. • The average allocations based on care needs are 30% low 32% medium and 38% high need. • Most schemes and in particular new schemes support people with dementia

41. National Questionnaire (2) • Most schemes remain popular and have waiting lists with few voids • Key barrier for development was getting the correct assessment processes and tenants in the extra care homes(8) followed by getting land in the right location(6) and then affordability, poor marketing and communication (all 5) • 67 schemes are currently in development at an average of 50 units per scheme

42. National Questionnaire (3) • The greatest incentives to attract developers are public land offered at attractive rates (9), support from the Homes and Communities Agency’s Affordable Homes Fund (5), and support from the Department of Health Care & Support Specialised Housing Fund, Only 2 authorities offered revenue funding as an incentive. • The main alternative to standard extra care provision is more flexible care provision including support for outreach hubs and specific services in rural localities (9 in total) and remodelling sheltered schemes ( 5) followed by reablement services and dementia (both 4). Downsizing was only mentioned by 2 authorities.

43. Group Discussion • How can we anticipate future demand for older people’s housing ? • How have you used research findings to influence your service development ? • Future SHOP@ prevalence rates