Bridging the Gap Between Housing and Health

Under the leadership of Sarah Roxby, WDH's Executive Director of Housing, several innovative initiatives have been implemented to enhance residents' well-being and showcase the tangible benefits of cross-sector collaboration.

Innovative Partnerships Driving Change

Managing 32,000 homes and housing a third of Wakefield's population, WDH places tenancy sustainability at the heart of its strategy. Collaborations with various health and social care partners have been instrumental in achieving this goal.

• Mental Health Navigators: In partnership with NHS trusts, mental health professionals are integrated into WDH's housing teams. This initiative supports tenants facing mental health challenges, handling approximately 500 referrals annually with a 99% positive outcome rate. The programme has also led to significant reductions in antisocial behaviour cases, benefiting both tenants and the broader community.

• CareLink Telecare: Collaborating with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, reablement teams, and intermediate care providers, CareLink offers 24/7 telecare services. Utilising technology such as alarms and sensors, residents can call for assistance, ensuring prompt responses. This system has decreased ambulance call-outs, reduced hospital stays, and provided discreet alerts for domestic abuse victims.

• Healthy Homes Project: This health-funded pilot programme addresses damp, mould, and condensation—conditions that adversely affect respiratory health. Employing smart technology like Switchee thermostats, WDH monitors homes in real time, addressing issues proactively. The initiative also offers financial support to tenants experiencing fuel poverty, acknowledging that cold homes can exacerbate health problems.

• Asthma Pathways: In collaboration with paediatricians, midwives, and health visitors, WDH has developed referral systems to tackle housing conditions that worsen childhood asthma. Teams ensure that both the home's physical condition and the family's broader needs are addressed, fostering healthier environments for children.

• Hospital Housing Support Coordinators: Fully funded by the NHS, these coordinators operate within hospitals to facilitate safe discharges and ensure patients have suitable housing to return to.
  

Demonstrating Value

WDH's approach is grounded in two fundamental principles: prioritising residents' well-being and demonstrating financial value. Preventing tenancy breakdowns reduces costly void periods and interventions, while health partners benefit from fewer hospital admissions, quicker discharges, and improved public health outcomes.

This alignment has enabled WDH to integrate housing into health decision-making structures, such as Wakefield's Health and Wellbeing Board and the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System. Collaborations have led to innovations like trauma-informed practice training for housing officers and dementia-friendly housing initiatives.

Training Initiatives

WDH offers comprehensive training to its staff to enhance service delivery:

• Trauma-Informed Practice: Training housing officers to understand and respond to residents' trauma histories, fostering empathetic and effective interactions.

• Dementia Awareness: Educating staff on dementia to create supportive environments for residents with cognitive impairments.

• Mental Health First Aid: Equipping employees with skills to identify and assist individuals experiencing mental health issues.

• Safeguarding Training: Ensuring staff can recognise and act upon signs of abuse or neglect.

Lessons for Broader Application

Sarah Roxby advises starting with small, local partnerships that address immediate challenges and can expand into broader initiatives. WDH's success is built on evidence-based trials and pilots, which help secure further funding and stakeholder engagement.

Looking Forward

Over the next five years, WDH plans to extend its partnerships beyond Wakefield and advocate for the wider adoption of telecare technology to empower residents and support caregivers.

WDH's experience exemplifies how housing providers can collaborate with health partners to effect meaningful change. By focusing on prevention, technology, and sustainability, they demonstrate that healthier homes are not just aspirational but achievable.

Additional Resources

• West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership: A collaboration aiming to improve health and care services across West Yorkshire. WYP Partnership

• Kerlink: Provider of IoT solutions, including telecare technologies. Kerlink

• Telecare Services Association (TSA): The representative body for technology-enabled care services.

• Switchee Smart Thermostats: Innovative technology used in WDH's Healthy Homes Project. Switchee Smart Thermostats

For more information on WDH's initiatives and partnerships, visit their official website.

Why not use Housing Sage to produce the business cases and reports to get some of these ideas off the ground in your area.