The WHG and Black Country ICB Partnership

With a focus on prevention and community engagement, this partnership offers a model for tackling the social determinants of health and improving outcomes for some of the UK’s most deprived communities.

A Shared Vision for Healthier Communities

The WHG-ICB collaboration started seven years ago, spurred by research from Professor Michael Marmot, which revealed stark health disparities among social housing residents. Recognising that poor housing conditions, such as damp, mould, and poor ventilation, exacerbate respiratory illnesses and other health issues, WHG took action. Through their work with ICB, they aimed to break the cycle of poverty and ill health by aligning housing interventions with healthcare priorities.

“The data tells us 80% of health outcomes are determined outside traditional healthcare settings,” explains Taps Mtemachani, Director of Transformation, Partnership, and Population Health at the Black Country ICB. “Addressing these broader determinants is crucial.”

Tackling Asthma with A.C.E in Asthma

A flagship initiative of this partnership is A.C.E in Asthma, launched in response to the tragic death of a child due to unmanaged asthma. This programme identifies children in social housing with asthma and prioritises interventions to improve both their living conditions and their health. WHG’s Director of Stronger Communities, Connie Jennings, highlights the programme’s dual approach: sending surveyors to assess housing conditions while deploying social prescribers to address socio-economic barriers.

The results are striking, over 290 children have benefited. “We aim to create asthma-friendly homes by addressing environmental triggers and providing social support,” says Connie.

The Role of Community Champions

Central to this success is the Community Champion Model, which recruits individuals with lived experience to engage families who might struggle to access healthcare. Champions provide culturally sensitive, localised support, bridging gaps between residents and services. “The Champions’ lived experience is their superpower,” says Connie, “and they’ve proven to be a low-cost, high-impact solution.”

Breaking Down Silos

One challenge both partners faced was overcoming the NHS’s tendency to focus solely on clinical care. Taps explains, “We needed a paradigm shift from a deficit model of healthcare to one that empowers communities. By working alongside families, we’re addressing what matters to them, not just what matters with them.”

This approach aligns with NHS England’s Core20PLUS5 framework, which prioritises the 20% most deprived populations and focuses on clinical areas like respiratory health. With 82% of WHG’s homes located in Core20 areas, the synergy is evident.

National Implications

The WHG-ICB partnership has already gained national attention, earning recognition at the Health Services Journal (HSJ) Awards and inspiring similar collaborations across the UK. Future plans include expanding A.C.E in Asthma and promoting the Community Champion Model nationwide.

“This is a moment for health and housing partnerships,” says Taps. “By leveraging policy frameworks like the upcoming NHS 10-Year Plan and fostering strong relationships, we can build healthier, more resilient communities.”

For social housing providers, healthcare leaders, and policymakers, the message is clear: collaboration works. By uniting their expertise and resources, WHG and ICB are proving that housing can be a powerful lever for better health.