Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has called on the government to overhaul how housing with care and support is planned, commissioned, designed and delivered.
In its A place we can call home report, SCIE recommends ministers create a national long-term vision and strategy for housing with care and support as part of its forthcoming social care reform white paper.
Other recommendations include legislating for a new ‘Housing Future Fund’ that obliges partners in local places including the NHS and local authorities to pool statutory funding and work together to develop a single plan for housing for older people.
In addition, SCIE called for the government to streamline and simplify the national planning framework and guidance to encourage greater levels of investment in housing with care and support development.
SCIE also recommends increased capital investment in housing with care developments and improved information, advice and advocacy to support people to find the right option for them.
For local authorities and local partners, SCIE suggests partnerships are formed to produce a single plan for improving housing for older people within a local place, co-produced with people who draw on support.
For developers and providers, the trade association said they should provide a diverse range of different housing with care and support options for older people, broadening choice at all levels of affordability.
In addition, developers should ensure that all new developments adopt the 10 HAPPI design principles as a minimum, they said.
“This report is a wake-up call; it makes a compelling case for investing in innovative housing with care and raising public awareness of their later life housing options,” said SCIE chairman Paul Burstow (pictured).
“Better housing can help people to live in places that matter to them as they age, to remain independent as long as possible and stay connected with their family, friends and communities,” he added.
Independent advisor Sir David Pearson said: “Excellent housing with care – including care homes, supported living, extra care and the many other models – is at the heart of supporting people to live the best lives they can.
“I hope that the important recommendations from the Commission will inform future policy and practice for years to come.”
