Modernising Community Care - The Housing Contribution

2.0 STRATEGIC PLANNING

2.1 "Community Care: - The Housing Dimension (Env 27/1994)" remains the main, though not the sole, guidance on the housing sector's involvement in community care, specifically in relation to strategic planning for housing and community care. The 1994 circular has helped improve joint planning structures and the participation of housing agencies in community care planning. The key points are: -

• local authorities, as the strategic housing authority, have the lead in developing, co-ordinating and facilitating housing for people with community care needs;
• housing is an essential part of the planning process at every stage and should be an equal partner with social work and health;
• users and carers needs must be at the centre of community care planning, sometimes conveyed through advocates;
• community care plans should focus on outcomes and targets, be based on a regular analysis of local needs and existing services, and be consistent with housing plans;
• joint planning structures should involve all the key partners, and take account of planning cycles and investment decision-making processes;
• though subject to different timescales, housing plans, community care plans and health board strategies should be consistent in both the short to medium term.

2.2 Some local authorities have prepared a separate housing and community care strategy; others have chosen to incorporate consideration of the housing dimension within each of the various housing and community care planning documents.

2.3 Both approaches can be effective providing the full range of issues is covered so that a broad variety of housing options is developed in an integrated and co-ordinated manner to cope with the wide range of community care needs.

Involvement of Other Agencies

2.4 It is important to recognise that the housing input to the planning process should not be limited to the local authority. Others who should be involved are Scottish Homes, housing providers, including where appropriate private housing providers, users and carers and the local health board, primary care and acute NHS Trusts.

Scottish Homes

2.5 The role of Scottish Homes in the planning and delivery of community care is set out in its 1998 Care in the Community Policy Statement. This confirms that Scottish Homes has a strategic planning and investment role in community care housing. It is committed to partnership with local authorities and other local agencies, and investing in jointly agreed local priorities, while maintaining a national policy framework. Local authorities and Scottish Homes therefore need to develop joint arrangements, to ensure that investment plans are complementary and their development programmes are co-ordinated.

Housing Providers

2.6 Housing providers, particularly housing associations, have extensive practical experience to offer. Scottish Homes cannot, and does not expect to, represent their views. Accordingly, it is important to develop ways in which their expertise can be fed into the planning process and the necessary time and resources should be allocated to achieve this.

2.7 There is no simple solution to involving the number and variety of providers: - much will depend on the local context. Some approaches that could be considered are: -

• regular meetings between planning partners and housing providers to keep them informed of progress and on future programmes. This approach does not involve them in investment decision making;
• involving providers in housing fora where this is not the investment decision taking body. This might for example be a "solutions" group which focuses on finding practical solutions to implementation difficulties, or concerned with strategic plans in general terms;
• written consultations, as well as meetings, give more scope for contributions.

2.8 At the present time many local authorities are considering the transfer of their housing stock to a number of new social landlords. Flexible arrangements must therefore be put in place to ensure full and appropriate participation of a variety of housing players in the planning process.

Users and Carers Interests

2.9 Users and carers interest, often through their advocates, must be central to the development of the local housing and community care strategy. Even though this requires more time and effort in the short term it will lead to substantial benefits in the longer term. It is also important that users and carers are represented and engaged in the planning process. Different approaches have been used to achieve this in different parts of Scotland. In some areas, local authorities and other agencies have supported the development of a forum to represent a wide range of user and carer interests across care groups. In other areas, local authorities look to existing organisations operating in particular communities or representing the interests of particular care groups. Local authorities should take account of the existing network of groups and tailor their planning and implementation processes accordingly.

2.10 A basic requirement for an effective input to the planning process is for representative bodies to have sufficient and understandable information on the issues being discussed, together with an opportunity to gain knowledge and expertise in the operation of strategic planning in their areas. They may need the support of the statutory agencies to be fully effective on these and other matters.