Can a case lead approach deliver the "craft and graft" of integration?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and outcomes for adults with complex needs over time, within and between two teams that delivered integrated care across different Councils' services. The teams' approach to integration included two key features: a “case lead” way of working and the team itself operating as a single point of access (SPA) for residents in given neighbourhoods with high deprivation. Design/methodology/approach: The study was designed as evaluation research located in the realist tradition. Two teams acted as a case study to provide an in-depth understanding of how the case lead approach and SPA delivered the craft and graft of integrated working in the teams. Mixed methods of data collection included residents' ratings of their quality of life on five domains in an outcome measure over a six-month period. Residents and staff working in the teams also participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their respective experiences and receiving and delivering integrated care. The costs of care delivery incurred by residents were calculated based on their demands on public services in the year leading up to the teams' intervention and the projected costs for one year following this. Findings: The relationship between team context, case leads' inputs and residents' outcomes was mediated through the managerial style in the integrated teams which enabled case leads to be creative and do things differently with residents. Case leads worked holistically to prevent residents being in crisis as well as giving practical help such as sorting debts and finances and supporting access to volunteering or further education. Residents rated their quality of life as significantly improved over a six-month period and significant savings in costs as result of the teams' support were projected. Originality/value: The study used a multi-evaluation realistic evaluation methodology to explore the relationship between team context, case leads' inputs and residents' outcomes in terms that integrated services across different District and County Council Departments

The Design and Value of "Early Adopter" Low-Energy Houses.

Abstract\ud \ud Purpose. \ud This paper outlines an early adopter “low energy” domestic dwelling, social houses that were built with the collaboration of a University, the local council and the new residents. The origins of this project are from the early days of interest in sustainable housing, the 1970’s. The dwellings were innovative and built to what became known as “the Salford design” which performed to an unusual specification, using about 75% less energy than the UK average for space heating and over 40% less than for houses built to what were then standard building regulations. \ud \ud Design/Methodology/Approach.\ud A qualitative and interpretative stance was deemed to be the most appropriate. Within that lens, interviews were chosen as the primary research instrument. \ud \ud Findings.\ud A marked feature of the results is the variation in energy consumption by different households. A Salford-designed house could be habitable throughout the year without any space heating at all, comfortable at 10%, and very comfortable at 25% of normal consumption.\ud \ud Originality/Value.\ud As there continues to be interest and commitment to reducing energy - not just from the UK but also on a worldwide scale, the United Nations Conference of the Parties known as COP 22 (2016) met in Morocco to take forward many of the initiatives outlined in the Paris Agreement 2015. It is of interest, then, that the latest set of interviews showed that the houses built to the innovative and original 1970’s Salford design principles, protected by a highly insulated, well-sealed envelopes are still today functioning at a relatively low energy threshold

The problem of clothes drying in new homes in the UK

The current focus on air tight construction to minimise energy use in homes in the UK requires analysis of the behaviour of the occupants. The aim of this paper is to review current literature and explore the methods used to dry clothes, to assess current standards and reccomendation for the drying of laundry in new homes and the issues arising with increased moisture within the building envelope where there may be inadequate ventilation caused by impermeable design Design/methodology/approach: Literature is reviewed on new housing in the UK and as part of a wider study of behaviour questionnairres were delivered to occupants of a recently completed housing estate in the uk to ask the questions with regard to their laundry practice. Findings: There are inherent problems in drying laundry in new air tight homes. This case study identifies 95% of residents on a new estate own a tumble dryer and use either this high energy method for clothes drying or hang clothes internally within the property leading to higher energy use or potential mould growth. Research limitations/implications: Further research is required into how drying laundry impacts on internal air qaulity in new homes designed to be energy efficient Practical implications: The design of new houses needs to be considered to provide a shift in people's behaviour with regard to low energy clothes drying Social implications: Originality/value: Other research has focussed on tenants in social housing in properties of mixed ages. This is the first study which focusses specifically on new energy efficient housing for owner occupiers

Multiple factors in the assessment of firesetters' fire interest and attitudes

Purpose: The number of measures available to practitioners to assess fire interest and other fire-related attitudes is limited. To help establish the utility of such measures, this study explored whether three fire measures contained multiple factors and whether such factors related to firesetting behaviour. Method: The Fire Interest Rating Scale, the Fire Attitude Scale, and the Identification with Fire Questionnaire were administered to 234 male prisoners (117 firesetters, 117 non-firesetters) and results were factor analyzed. To determine the relationship of the resulting factors with firesetting behaviour, their ability to discriminate firesetters from controls was examined and compared to the original scales. Results: Responses were best represented by five factors, four of which discriminated firesetters from non-firesetters. One factor demonstrated significant accuracy in discriminating single offence firesetters from repeat firesetters. Taken together the factors offered more clarity than using the original scale outcomes and showed equivalent predictive accuracy. Conclusions: The five factors identified may aid practitioners in helping to formulate the specific treatment needs of identified firesetters

Financial viability appraisals for site-specific planning decisions in England

In England, appraisals of the financial viability of development schemes have become an integral part of planning policy-making, initially in determining the amount of planning obligations that might be obtained via legal agreements (known as Section 106 agreements) and latterly as a basis for establishing charging schedules for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Local planning authorities set these policies on an area-wide basis but ultimately development proposals require consent on a site-by-site basis. It is at this site-specific level that issues of viability are hotly contested. This paper examines case documents, proofs of evidence and decisions from a sample of planning disputes in order to address major issues within development viability, the application of the models and the distribution of the development gain between the developer, landowner and community. The results have specific application to viability assessment in England and should impact on future policy and practice guidance in this field. They also have relevance to other countries that incorporate assessments of economic viability in their planning systems

Can Self-Build Housing improve Social Sustainability within Low-Income Groups?

This paper explores how affordable communal self-build housing affects levels of social cohesion, social capital and participation amongst low-income community members. Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with members of five low-cost self-build communities in England and Wales elicited that through a shared vision and sustained common sense of purpose, high levels of social capital and participation were evident at the start of the projects, and can continue into later phases. However, without a formal social structure and continued shared visioning within self-build housing communities, social cohesion was found to deteriorate with negative consequences for participation, and in some cases showing a lack of social cohesion or leading to conflict

Displaced and vulnerable: A case study of ‘out of area’ housing

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Emerald in Housing, Care and Support on 18/09/2020. The published version can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1108/HCS-05-2020-0005 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version

Delivering alcohol identification and brief advice (IBA) in housing settings: a step too far or opening doors?

Within the UK, there is a drive to encourage the delivery of alcohol screening (or identification) and brief advice (IBA) in a range of contexts beyond primary care and hospitals where the evidence is strongest. However, the evidence base for effectiveness in non-health contexts is not currently established. This paper considers the case of housing provided by social landlords, drawing on two research studies which were conducted concurrently. One study examined the feasibility of delivering alcohol IBA in housing settings and the other the role of training in delivering IBA in non-health contexts including housing. This paper draws mainly on the qualitative data collected for both studies to examine the appropriateness and feasibility of delivering IBA in a range of social housing settings by the housing workforce. Findings suggest that while it is feasible to deliver IBA in housing settings, there are similar challenges and barriers to those already identified in relation to primary care. These include issues around role inadequacy, role legitimacy and the lack of support to work with people with alcohol problems. Results indicate that the potential may lie in focusing training efforts on specific roles to deliver IBA rather than it being expected of all staff

The financialisation of housing land supply in England

The aim of this article is to identify the calculative practices that turn urban development planning into the supply-side of land financialisation. My focus is on the statutory planning of housing supply and the accounting procedures, or market devices, that normalise the practices of land speculation in the earliest stage of the urban development process. I provide an analysis of the accountancy regime used by planning authorities in England to evidence a 5-year supply of housing land. Drawing on the work of Michel Callon on market framing, I assess the activities of economic agents in performing or ‘formatting’ this supply, its boundaries, externalities and rules of operation. I evidence the effect of this formatting in normalising the treatment of land as a financial asset and in orienting the statutory regulation of land supply to the provision of opportunities for the capture of increased ground rent at a cost to the delivery of new homes