A new accessible and practical resource supports councils with their local partners to plan for and deliver the range of housing and care options needed by older people and working age adults with care/support needs.

The South West Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Housing Learning & Improvement Network (Housing LIN) have joined together to produce an accessible and practical resource that supports councils, with their local partners, to plan for and deliver the range of housing and care options needed by older people and working age adults with care/support needs.

The nine actions set out in this ‘Housing and Care: Good Practice guide” are drawn from engagement and discussion with all councils in the south west of England, local and national good practice examples and a range of relevant resources and tools

The South West ADASS Regional Programme focuses on what councils can do better together and with partners to help lead improvement in adult social care services through an established structure of networks and groups. This guide is aimed at commissioners, and their partners, at councils with responsibility for adult social care however it is also relevant to council staff with responsibility for adult social care operational delivery, Children’s services commissioning and operations, housing strategy and enabling, planning policy, housing advice and revenues and benefits.

Ahead of the implementation of the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) £300m Housing Transformation Fund, as referenced in the Adult Social Care Reform White Paper, it is also intended to support the development of housing and care across the south west regional footprint and to assist councils to take a long-term strategic approach towards housing development for older people and working age adults with care/support needs.

Ian Copeman, Business Director at Housing LIN, commented: “This guide is intended to be a practical resource that sets out what ‘good’ looks like for a council that has an effective and successful approach to housing and care, with a range of ‘case study’ examples that councils can draw on to support and improve local delivery.”

Guide available here: