AT HOME An Audit Tool for Housing and Housing related support for Older people from Minority Ethnic communities Kalyani Gandhi: Chair, HOPDEV BME Working Group Philip Brown: University of Salford

What is AT HOME? Promote real changes in translating policy into practice First tool of its kind keeping needs and aspirations of BME older people central to planning services Means to assess, identify and provide lasting solutions.

Why AT HOME ? HOPDEV and BME working group National and local policy framework Inequality in housing and support to BME older people Barriers and challenges to BME service development

Benefits of using AT HOME Improvements in identifying local needs and aspirations Improve/direct strategies and policies in service development and implementation Vehicle for good practice/innovation

Benefits of AT HOME Means to deliver appropriate services Encourage partnerships: local and national Enhance inspection mechanisms Enhance monitoring and evaluation

Making a difference ‘AT HOME will help people in charge of housing and us to work together so that we can have better housing’ ‘AT HOME will help us get the help we need to live the lives we want’ - BME older people participating in the pilot of AT HOME

Leading principles Raising awareness Developing good practice Monitoring practice Continuous improvement Wide audience

Development of the audit tool  Existing tool review  Consultation around content and format  Continuous refinement  Product testing

Development of the audit tool Consultations indicated a need for:  Flexibility  Complementary practice  Engagement with the communities  An aid to assist in a coherent process of change

AT HOME A modular audit/self assessment tool covering: – BME older peoples experiences and perspectives – Improving understanding of communities – Commissioning issues – Information provision and access to services – Monitoring issues – Linkages between services and agencies

AT HOME Action planning design Allows for consideration of action needed Dissemination of models of ‘good practice’ Assists with HC, AC & SP commitments Encourages older people, providers and commissioners to communicate Flexible format that can be developed

Format of AT HOME CD-Rom containing: – Two options of completing AT HOME To print the full tool To complete interactively – Leaflet for older people about the tool

Looking forward… Starting point – not an end point Encourage joint working (social care, housing and health) Helps embrace and respond to multiple inequalities