What actions are being taken?
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This is a ‘living document’, capturing what is currently being done, and/or actions that are planned – it will be updated as and when progress is made and as more actions are taken. It brings together a range of activities and work being carried out by various individuals and organisations and aims to co-ordinate and amplify the impact. If you think that something you are doing aligns with the themes of the action plan and you’d like to consider including it as one of these actions, please get in touch.
Short-term
Campaigning for an increase in the availability of capital funding for housing
The CB-NSG Housing Group is working on an evidence-based campaign to increase the availability of capital funding for housing, and in particular housing to enable people to be discharge from inpatient hospitals.
Progress:
- Work to identify examples of good practice and data that can be used to inform the campaign is underway
- Work to identify what data is missing, and how this can be gathered, is underway
- Key stakeholders to approach are being identified
Next steps:
- Campaign to be developed, drawing on the data and examples identified above, in collaboration with people with lived experience
- Plans around how to implement campaign to be agreed
Sharing and replicating existing good practice
Examples of innovative working around housing to be explored, with assessment of whether these provide good outcomes for people with a learning disability, and whether they can be replicated.
Next steps:
- Survey and request for examples of innovative and bespoke supported living, and how these have been successfully implemented, to be developed and distributed
Campaigning to increase the minimum notice period from 28 days to 3 months
The CBF have been approached by a number of family carers for people with a severe learning disability whose relative has been given 28 days’ notice to leave their rented home, residential school, or care home. For people with a severe learning disability whose behaviour challenges, 28 days’ notice is not long enough to be able to find somewhere new for them to live that meets their preferences and needs.
Next steps:
- Collect examples and evidence of the negative impact of 28-day notice period for people with a learning disability, and in particular people with severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities and/or behaviours that challenge
- Use this to a) influence policy and practice on a local, regional, and national level, and b) publicly campaign for an increase to notice periods
Ensuring that housing can be adapted to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities
Foundations are developing a practical resource on what adaptations can be carried out that can meet the needs of people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Progress:
- Resource is not yet available on Foundations’ website, but you can see a previous report on how the Disabled Facilities Grant can be used to support people whose behaviour challenges, and a summary of a Roundtable that has been held on this topic
Medium-term
Supporting families to understand housing funding and to use this information to access the right funding options
Funding for housing is complicated and families have told us that they find it difficult to navigate. The CB-NSG Housing Group is working to identify existing information and resources on what funding is available to support people with a learning disability to get the right housing, to promote these resources where relevant, and to identify and fill any gaps.
Progress:
- Work to identify resources has begun – examples include the Learning Disability England Housing Guide, which is aimed at people with a learning disability and autistic people
Raising awareness of good practice and bringing together people working in the field of housing for people with a learning disability
The CB-NSG Housing Group, along with other members of the CB-NSG who have expressed an interest, are exploring whether it is possible to coordinate an event, bringing together people with lived experience, people working in the field of housing for people with a learning disability, and external people who we would like to help understand this area (including MPs) to share good practice, raise awareness of issues, and develop actions to overcome these.
Next steps:
- Currently funding for this is unavailable – we are continuing to explore funding options
Long-term
Supporting the development of strategic housing plans for people with a learning disability
Next steps:
- Produce resources aimed at a) local authorities, b) integrated care systems and integrated care boards, and c) national government setting out why support and housing need to be considered and planned together, rather than separately, including evidence and best-practice examples, and drawing on rights-based approaches
- Develop a housing needs assessment toolkit, drawing on/adapting the NHS England housing needs assessment form (part of the ‘Brick by brick’ guidance)
- Identify whether integrated care systems (ICSs) currently have representation relating to housing for people with a learning disability as part of a) the integrated care board (ICB), and b) the integrated care partnership (ICP)
- If ICSs do not have housing for people with a learning disability representation as part of the ICB/ICP, write to them and explain why it is important for housing for people with a learning disability to be included on these bodies