Meeting documents

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The Board discussed a report from the Strategic Housing Group which proposed the establishment of a Homeless Reduction Board. The proposal arose from the paper discussed by the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board in July 2020 entitled Rough Sleepers and Complex Homeless -Covid response, lessons learned and planning for the future. The report recommended that action was needed to deliver improved collaboration between the health, care and housing systems, in order to improve the health outcomes of homeowners, tenants and the homelessness population. In order to help achieve that, this report proposes the adoption of a Health, Care and Housing Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership response to protect both rough sleepers and those homeless with complex issues during the COVID pandemic has proven that improved collaboration at a senior leadership level can make a significant positive impact to the experience and health outcomes of this cohort of people. The report proposed the establishment of a Somerset Homelessness Reduction Board that would sit within the governance framework of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board: -

·         Agreed to adopt the proposed Memorandum of Understanding - Improving Health and Care Through the Home in Somerset.

·         Approved the establishment of a Somerset Homelessness Reduction Board (HRB) to sit within the governance framework of the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board. The HRB to be operational before or during February 2021.

The Board discussed a report from the Strategic Housing Group which proposed the establishment of a Homeless Reduction Board. The proposal arose from the paper discussed by the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board in July 2020 entitled Rough Sleepers and Complex Homeless -Covid response, lessons learned and planning for the future. The report recommended that action was needed to deliver improved collaboration between the health, care and housing systems, in order to improve the health outcomes of homeowners, tenants and the homelessness population. In order to help achieve that, this report proposes the adoption of a Health, Care and Housing Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership response to protect both rough sleepers and those homeless with complex issues during the COVID pandemic has proven that improved collaboration at a senior leadership level can make a significant positive impact to the experience and health outcomes of this cohort of people. The report proposed the establishment of a Somerset Homelessness Reduction Board. That would sit within the governance framework of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Improving Lives (the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Strategy) and the Somerset Housing Strategy were both adopted during 2019. Both recognise that housing is a key social determinant and that housing conditions and housing circumstances are a driver of health inequalities. In order to deliver on health, care and housing priorities, it is widely recognised (nationally and locally) that enhanced collaboration is needed at a strategic/systems wide

level.  The first step to achieve this would be the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding between partners to collaborate on matters relating to health, care and housing. This all had national legislative drivers including the following: -

·         Health and Social Care Act 2012,

·         Care Act 2014,

·         Sustainability and Transformation Plans 2015 and the

·         Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

The proposed MoU contains specific ‘indicators of success’, including better strategic planning, better understanding of the preventative role of housing and greater collaborative care (among others). In order to achieve success, the MoU suggests that there are five areas that should be the focus of initial attention. These reflect priorities within the Somerset Housing Strategy and the Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy:

·         Rough Sleeping and Complex Homelessness

·         Independent Living

·         Climate Change – aspiring to zero carbon homes that deliver thermal comfort

·         Gypsy and Travellers

·         Health Impact Assessments

The response to the Covid Pandemic demonstrated the strong culture, within Somerset, of collaboration and innovation in relation to the Homeless and Rough Sleeper cohort and because of this Somerset was well placed to react to the call for ‘everyone in’ and established the Covid- 19 homelessness (Rough Sleeper) Cell. The resulted in providing safe accommodation and the wider provision of health and wellbeing services and support. The team of professionals across a range of crucial services grew rapidly and the trusted relationships formed during the initial phase have endured. There is now a significant determination to continue to improve lives for this socially isolated and vulnerable cohort into the future and work has already begun to embed this way of working as the new business as usual approach. Together this has avoided any outbreaks within the emergency accommodation whilst at the same time improving approaches to preventative healthcare, diagnosis testing (Hepatitis), substance misuse and mental health support. This has saved lives as a consequence of the valuable lifesaving skills training delivered over the same period representing a dynamic and agile partnership.

The Board discussed the report and the latest legislative developments in relation to evictions. It was noted that after 23 August 2020 landlords needed to give 6 months’ notice to quit. Possession applications can be made after 20 September but there would inevitable be delays in bring these to Court as there is a backlog. It was suggested that anecdotally some landlords are evicting people illegally and the advice given was for tenants to sit tight and make contact with the Local Authority or the police as it is unlawful to forcible remove a tenant without a Court Order.

There was a discussion about gypsy and traveller sites and the difference between ‘settled’ sites and traveller sites and that these could not be collocated. There was also some discussion about the number of people living in cars and vans at the side of the road which is a particular problem in some districts. The Board were assured that this was being addressed with appropriate tenacity and resistance from landowners and the community was being pursued.

The Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board: -

·         Agreed to adopt the proposed Memorandum of Understanding - Improving Health and Care Through the Home in Somerset.

·         Approved the establishment of a Somerset Homelessness Reduction Board (HRB) to sit within the governance framework of the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board. The HRB to be operational before or during February 2021.