Collaborative Working at Local and National Level - Housing and social inclusion: how far have we come and how far have we to go - Social Welfare

Housing and social inclusion: how far have we come and how
far have we to go

Collaborative Working at Local and
National Level

Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government’s role involves
the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to
underpin the role of local authorities in addressing housing at local level.

The Departments primary focus has been on delivering homes for
households in the lowest income brackets
Rebuilding Ireland - €6 billion - commits to meeting the housing needs of over
137,000 households (50,000 social housing homes and 87,000 supported secure
tenancies in the private sector) by 2021
There is a strong focus on collaborative delivery across the public service to
ensure ambitious targets are met.
                    Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government

Collaborative
Working

     Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Successful Collaboration for DHPLG

   1.   Government Policy
   2.   Shared Goals
   3.   Agree Purpose
   4.   Agree Scope
   5.   Stakeholder Involvement
   6.   Set Realistic Timelines

               Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

1. Government Policy

Government policy in relation to older people is to facilitate them to live in
their own homes and communities for as long as possible and, where this
is no longer possible, to provide access to high quality, affordable long-
term residential care.

5 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

2. Collaboration based on Shared Goals

Rebuilding Ireland

•          Developing policy options for supported housing/housing
           with care so that older people have a wider range of
           residential care choices available to them.

•          Explore ways to promote the availability of stepdown,
           specialist housing, for older people and incentivise down-
           sizing, where appropriate.

Slaintecare

•          Enhanced, better structured and integrated community
           supports are part of the larger health and social care
           reform programme.

•          Significant shift in our model of care to one that is
           focussed on prevention and early intervention and which
           will provide most of the care in the community.

6 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

3. Agree the Purpose
•          Policy statement aims offers real choice that makes sense for
           older people, for the taxpayer and for Irish society.

•          Not about imposing solutions on anyone.

•          It is about provide housing options for Older People that are not
           currently available.

•          Older People are not a homogenous group and this statement
           will recognise that varying levels of support, based on need, will
           be required by individuals to continue living in their own homes.

•          An important first step and structures to be put in place to ensure
           that actions are implemented.

7 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

4. Agree Scope
•          To develop a far reaching range of housing options to
           provide appropriate housing choices for Older People.

•          Options that are suited to their to their individual needs so
           that they can plan ahead, and in so far as possible,
           Choose the right home for them.

•          Respond to the preferences of Older People by putting in
           place initiatives, and working with key stakeholders, to
           provide a systematic response across the continuum of
           care to enable Older People to remain living
           independently in their homes and communities for longer.

•          Listen to the voices of Older People.

8 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

5. Stakeholder Involvement

Joint Policy Statement
•          Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government
•          Department of Health

Stakeholders involved

•          HSE
•          City & County Managers Association | Age Friendly Ireland
•          Irish Council for Social Housing
•          Centre for Excellence in Universal Design
•          The Housing Agency
•          Members from the Older Peoples Councils (Nationwide)
•          NGO Sector
•          Private Sector
•          Academia,
•          An Garda Siochana

9 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Briefly - Context and demographic trends

• Current research reflects the preference of older people
  to continue to live as independently as possible in their
  own community.

• The changing demographics and the implications for
  future health care costs underpin the importance of
  developing a wider choice of appropriate housing options
  for older people suited to their needs.

10 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Context and demographic trends

Increased life expectancy
•   Since 2006 life expectancy has increased by almost two and a half years –Male 79.9 years,
    Female 83.6 years.

Rapid population ageing
•  60% rise in our population since 1960

•       Significant structural change in our population happening and projected to intensify in the future

•       By 2031 approx. 1 million people in the 65+ age bracket (almost 19% of the total population)

•       The population of people aged 65 + is expected to increase by a third over the next 8 years, and
        to double over the next 25 years (ESRI 2017)

•       The largest proportional increases in the population in Ireland will be in the category of those aged
        85 years and older

11 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

6. Set Realistic Timelines

               • Steering Group- key
                 stakeholders- met for 12
                 months 2017-2018
               • Consultative forum in
                 Farmleigh- Nov ’18
               • Submissions sought following
                 conference
               • February 2019- Update Event
               • February 27th- Launch of
                 Policy Statement
               • May 2019 – End 2020- The
                 Implementation Group

12 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Successful Collaboration

13 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Brief Summary of Outcome

•       New attitude to ageing and what it means- Policy document is for everyone

•       Objective not just to extend life, but to allow more people to live well for longer in the
        most appropriate setting.

•       Emphasis on quality of life.

•       Facilitate greater range of CHOICE/ OPTIONS

•       An agreed joined up policy statement establishing a clear framework for policy and
        an action plan to evolve and develop that policy

•       Acknowledgement of the input, advice and support of the key stakeholders in
        informing the policy statement

•       Stakeholder Involvement/Voice

14 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Briefly - Key Actions

•         Total of 40- 23 Housing, 12 Health and 5 Shared
•         All to be delivered in 2019-2020
Housing
1. Housing Adaptation Grants to increase
2. Rightsizing Schemes- social and private
3. New Funding Mechanisms- to encourage private sector involvement
4. Funding new housing models- Home sharing and House-splitting
5. Developer’s Blueprint
6. More Universal Designed Homes
7. Improved Planning and targeting of houses to meet older people’s needs.
8. Ensure that all Local Authorities have access to Age Friendly Housing advisors.

15 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

What worked well?

1.   Government Policy
2.   Shared Goals
3.   Agree Purpose
4.   Agree Scope
5.   Stakeholder Involvement
6.   Set Realistic Timelines

               Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

What I’d do Differently

• Dedicated Resource in each collaborating
  organisation

• Be Aware of other pressures on collaborators

• Strong Terms of Reference when establishing
  large stakeholder groups

                Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

Thank you

18 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland