Drink wise, age well; reducing alcohol related harm among people over 50: a study protocol

Background: Evidence suggests that the use of alcohol among older adults (defined as those aged 50+) has increased in recent years, with people aged 55-64 now more likely to exceed the recommended weekly guidelines than any other age group. Methods/ design: This is a quasi-experimental study with a before-after design. A postal questionnaire will be sent to 76,000 people aged 50 and over registered with a general practice in five different 'demonstration' (intervention) and control areas in the UK. Multiple interventions will then be delivered in demonstration areas across the UK. At the end of the programme, a postal questionnaire will be sent to the same individuals who completed it pre-programme to establish if there has been a reduction in alcohol use, at-risk drinking and alcohol related problems. Qualitative interviews with clients and staff will explore how the interventions were experienced; how they may work to bring about change and to identify areas for practice improvements. Discussion: This study protocol describes a multi-level, multi-intervention prevention-to-treatment programme which aims to reduce alcohol-related harm in people aged 50 and over

Rural homelessness : prevention practices in Wales

Homelessness is largely understood as an urban issue and so rural homelessness is to a large extent invisible in both academic literature and in policy and practice discussions, just as it is often invisible in discourses of everyday rural life. This article draws on extensive interviews with homeless service users and providers in three rural authorities in Wales to give a clearer sense of the nature and challenges of rural homelessness. The article documents and explores the very different strategies employed by those facing homelessness in the rural context, as well as those of rural local authorities providing them preventative and person-centred support. Analysis of the struggle of many rural households to remain in place, often at the cost of homelessness and lowered ability to access services, will have resonance in a range of contexts and have implications for policy makers and practitioners in rural contexts beyond Wales

Policy transfer and part 2 of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014

Part 2 of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014and its implementation has been keenly observed by governments outside of Wales, as they continue to search for policy solutions to help address the homelessness crisis.This paper examines the extent to whichthere has been policy transfer from Wales to other national contexts and thepotential for such transfer to occur in the future.It is identified that some transfer has already taken place within the UK and there is thepotentialforfuture policy transferboth within the UK and internationally. Adaptation to each of the new contexts is necessary to underpin successful transferof provisions of the Act, however, outside of the UK this will need to be more extensive and includethe introduction of a right tohousing

Evaluation of homelessness services to adults in the secure estate

This evaluation aimed to assess how changes to legislative duties towards those leaving custody since 2015 had been implemented by local authorities, prisons and probation providers; what impact the changes had on housing prison leavers; and to identify areas of good practice in meeting the housing needs of prison leavers. Chapter 1 provide some understanding the policy context for the development and implementation of the National Pathway for Homelessness Services to Adults in the Secure Estate. Chapter 2 briefly covers the existing delivery arrangements for the pathway. A background paper accompanies this report and provides more in depth exploration of both these issues. Chapter 3 describes the methodology adopted to undertake the evaluation. In turn thereafter, chapters 4, 5 and 6 respectively present the findings in relation to the operation of the National Pathway at the reception, prerelease and community stages of a prisoner’s journey into and out of custody. In Chapter 7, better practices in relation to implementing the National Pathway are discussed. Finally in chapter 8 the evaluation findings are summarised and recommendations for improving practices are identified

Post-implementation evaluation of the homelessness legislation (part 2 of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014) interim report

Research aims and methodology: 1.1 Part 2 of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 introduced major changes to the way homelessness is being addressed in Wales (from April 2015), with the core changes aimed at extending services to include prevention of homelessness and providing assistance to all eligible applicants. A longitudinal post-implementation evaluation of this part of the Act is now underway, which focuses on both process and impact. 1.2 The overall aim of the evaluation is to understand how the Act has been implemented by organisations involved in supporting people at risk of homelessness (local authorities, housing associations and third sector organisations), and once completed, the research will inform the Welsh Government’s understanding of the impact of the legislation on people who are homeless/at risk of homelessness. 1.3 The specific evaluation objectives are to: Evaluate the implementation of the legislation by local authorities Evaluate the short and longer term impacts of the new legislation Identify, through interim and final reporting, the need for further improvements, developments and support to ensure consistently good services are delivered across Wales Assess the impact of the legislation on service users, local authorities and key partners Evaluate the impacts on homelessness of the much greater emphasis on prevention that is a core feature of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. 1.4 The evaluation comprises two waves of fieldwork, the interim report presents the findings from the first wave of fieldwork. As an interim report, no recommendations are provided within this report, but will form part of the final report. 1.5 The evaluation involves qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and a number of complementary phases utilising a number of different research approaches. To date the following activities have been completed: Quantitative analysis of secondary data Survey and review of 22 local authorities [first wave: June – August 2016] Consultation with 16 national stakeholders [October – November 2016] Selection of six case study local authority areas to consult and engage with service providers and service users [September 2016] Case Study: Engagement and consultation with service users [first wave: October 2016 – January 2017] 154 interviews were conducted. 1.6 The following activities are to be completed: Case Study: Engagement and consultation with service providers Survey and review of 22 local authorities Quantitative analysis of secondary data Case Study: Engagement and consultation with service users Collation and review of existing information: policy and literature review 1.7 The homelessness statistics collected by the Welsh Government on a quarterly basis from local authorities were examined. All of this data was taken from the publicly available Statistics for Wales website. 1.8 Sixteen interviews were conducted with national stakeholders from the following organisations: Community Housing Cymru (1); Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru (1); Cymorth Cymru (1);Higher Education institution (1);Homelessness Network (1);Shelter Cymru (2); Supporting People (1);Private Landlords Association (1); Take Notice Project (1);Welsh Local Government Association (1);Welsh Government (3); Tai Pawb (1) 1.9 All 22 local authorities were surveyed and both qualitative and quantitative information relating to the different stages outlined in the Act was gathered. 1.10 Six case study areas were selected on the basis of geography: urban/rural/coastal and north/mid/south Wales and whether housing stock had been retained by the local authority or transferred to an RSL. Additional criteria extrapolated from Stats Wales, including performance based on homelessness successfully prevented (s66) and relieved (s73) also guided selection. The location of case studies is not revealed in the interim or final report. 1.11 In total, 154 interviews were conducted with service users across the six local authority areas and the sample was influenced by the people who presented as homeless or were receiving assistance from the local authorities during the time of the fieldwork. Most of the interviews were arranged by local authority staff and conducted at local authority offices, or held at hostels and shelters

Post-implementation evaluation of part 2 of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 : final report

Research aims and methodology: 1.1 The Housing Act (Wales) 2014 introduced major changes to the way homelessness is being addressed (from April 2015), with the core changes in Part 2 of the Act aimed at extending services preventing homelessness and providing assistance to all eligible applicants. A longitudinal postimplementation evaluation of this part of the Act, which focuses on both process and impact, is now complete. 1.2 The overall aim of the evaluation is to understand how the Act has been implemented by organisations involved in supporting people at risk of homelessness (local authorities, housing associations and third sector organisations). The research will inform the Welsh Government’s understanding of the impact of the Act on people who are homeless/at risk of homelessness. 1.3 The specific evaluation objectives are as follows: To evaluate the implementation of the legislation by local authorities To evaluate the short and longer term impacts of the new legislation To identify the need for further improvements, developments and support to ensure consistently good services are delivered across Wales To assess the impact of the legislation on service users, local authorities and key partners To evaluate the impacts on homelessness of the much greater emphasis on prevention that is a core feature of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 1.4 The evaluation comprised two waves of fieldwork. The final report presents the findings from the second wave of fieldwork and reviews relevant findings from the interim report. 1.5 The Housing Act (Wales) 2014 – implemented in April 2015 - introduced a number of changes in the way that homelessness is addressed in Wales. The main changes include: The introduction of new duties for local authorities to help prevent homelessness for anyone who asks for help and the duty that authorities carry out ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent or relieve homelessness. More flexible interventions by local authorities to ensure more effective prevention of homelessness A change in organisational culture to underpin a person-centred approach between local authorities and people who come forward for assistance Increasing the length of time when people are considered to be threatened with homelessness from 28 to 56 days and extending the prevention duty to all, not just those in priority need Changes in the application of priority need, intentionality and local connection provisions Creating a new framework to involve housing associations Creating a new framework to work with the private rented sector in alleviating homelessness.</ul

Madoc-Jones, I., Wadd, S., Elliott, L., McCann, M., Seddon, J., Close, C., Adnum, L., Dutton, M., Whittaker, A. and Wilson, F., 2020. Factors influencing routine cognitive impairment screening in older at-risk drinkers: Findings from a qualitative study in the UK. Health and Social Care in the Community.

Cognitive Impairment (CI) screening is recommended for those engaged in harmful levels of alcohol use. However, there is a lack of evidence on implementation. This paper explores the barriers and facilitators to CI screening experienced across a service specifically for older drinkers. The findings draw on data gathered as part of an evaluation of a multilevel programme to reduce alcohol‐related harm in adults aged 50 and over in five demonstration areas across the United Kingdom. It is based on qualitative interviews and focus groups with 14 service providers and 22 service users. Findings are presented thematically under the section headings: acceptability of screening, interpretation and making sense of screening and treatment options. It is suggested that engagement with CI screening is most likely when its fit with agency culture and its purpose is clear; where service providers have the technical skills to administer and discuss the results of screening with service users; and where those undertaking screening have had the opportunity to reflect on their own experience of being screened. Engagement with CI screening is also most likely where specific intervention pathways and engagement practices can be accessed to respond to assessed need