Housing & Health – Transformative Partnerships at Vico Homes

Jenny talks to Sarah Roxby from Wakefield District Housing (WDH) about creating impactful housing-health partnerships that deliver real results for tenants and communities.

Highlights:

• Mental Health Navigators: A 50/50 funded collaboration with the NHS. Supports tenants, reduces tenancy breakdowns, and improves access to mental health services.

• CareLink Telecare: A 24/7 service with partnerships including Yorkshire Ambulance Service, reablement teams, and intermediate care teams. Offers life-saving tech to keep residents safe and independent.

• Asthma Pathways: Working with paediatricians, midwives, and health visitors to address poor housing conditions linked to asthma.

• Healthy Homes Project: Health-funded pilot tackling damp, mould, and condensation using tech like Switchee. Supported by social workers and health teams.

• Hospital Housing Support Coordinators: Fully NHS-funded roles embedded in hospitals to assist with discharges and housing transitions.

• Trauma-Informed Practice: Training housing officers in collaboration with West Yorkshire Integrated Care System (ICS).

• Dementia-Friendly Homes: A joint project with the mayor’s Dementia Task Force.

• Homeless Healthcare: Ensuring better access to healthcare for homeless individuals.

Takeaway:

Start small, build local relationships, and expand through evidence-backed trials. Partnerships with health create healthier homes, sustainable tenancies, and save costs.

Resources:

• Telecare Services Association (TSA)

• NHS Winter Deaths Report

• West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership: WYP Partnership

• Kerlink: Kerlink

• Switchee Smart Thermostats

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