Policy guidance: Developing national policy and practice

We have a long track record of working with national bodies and government, mainly Department of Health (DH) and the DH Care Service Improvement Partnership (CSIP), and Communities and Local Government (CLG) and its predecessors ODPM, DETR etc on national commissions, often in partnership with CURS (Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, University of Birmingham).

Commissions focus mainly around:

  • Informing the development of government policy
  • Reviewing policy implementation
  • Assessing evidence of policy or service change and how the change process is working, using practical examples

Central government

  • Worked with DH to set up the framework for the current Tier 4 funding programme for substance misuse projects, and advised on the evaluation of the bids (2007)
  • National performance measures for Quality and Choice in Older People’s Housing: A National Framework (DETR/DH 2001)
  • Guidance on Preparing Older People’s Strategies – linking housing to health, social care and other strategies (ODPM/DH 2003)
  • A series of guidance and training notes for the DH Change Agents team to issue to PCTs and local authorities about developing extra care housing under the current DH initiative (2004-2006)
  • A strategic commissioning workbook, also for the DH Change Agents Team, Strategic Moves: Thinking, Planning and Delivering Differently – Strategic Commissioning for Older People’s Services, January 2005

A review, prepared with the Centre for Housing Policy, University of York for the Countryside Agency on the Housing and Support Needs of Older people in rural areas (2004)

We are also a member of the CLG development group for its forthcoming Older People’s Housing Strategy National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society

Housing Corporation

We have undertaken a range of national Innovation & Good Practice funded commissions for the Housing Corporation. Examples of published reports are provided below

Policy and practice guide on linking community care, particularly the housing, care and support dimensions, into regeneration planning. Published in April 2000 by Pavilion Publishing titled ‘Social inclusion for vulnerable people: linking regeneration and community care – the Housing, care and Support Dimensions’*

National study on Category 1 sheltered housing, funded by the Housing Corporation and Places for People Group. Report published as 'What future for Category 1 sheltered housing? - updating ideas, policy and practice' (2001). CURS, Birmingham

Research and development study (with CURS, Birmingham University) on rethinking the current definitions for sheltered and supported housing: phase one report - ‘The case for a Common Currency: Clearer Definitions for Sheltered and Supported Housing’ (1999 to 2006). CURS, Birmingham, phase two consisting of live case study work in two pilot areas, County Durham and Liverpool

We are currently part of a consortium working on a commission for the Housing Corporation and Department of Health called ‘Raising the Stakes’ to develop definitions and industry standards for extra care housing.

We have just received funding work with two housing association partners – Places for People Group and Willow - to improve outcomes for older people in four regeneration neighbourhoods by engaging and empowering them with improved choice and voice for the future. The work will also demonstrate how housing associations can use their community development and regeneration skills to enhance the quality of life, health and well-being of all older people in those neighbourhoods.

National Housing Federation

Preparation of two guides on the Care Standards Act for the National Housing Federation (2000 and 2003)