Who is responsible for housing with care schemes?

'Whose responsibility?' is an 18-month research project which considers the roles and responsibilities of different organisations involved in housing with care (HWC) schemes and their impact on the quality of life of older people. It is one of three studies into HWC that are being funded as part of the Better Life programme. 

HWC promises older people the privacy and independence of their own front door in a secure community setting. They can also take advantage of a range of facilities and activities, and have the option of flexible in-house care and support.

In order to deliver this range of services in an increasingly diverse market, different organisations (or different parts of the same organisation) need to work alongside each other. A number of not-for-profit organisations and businesses are often involved in providing a wide range of services to a scheme, from housing maintenance to personal care, hairdressing and/or occupational therapy. External agencies - such as local authority social care, housing and other departments; health services; and other regulatory authorities - may also be involved in commissioning, safeguarding or inspecting. The roles and responsibilities of these key players can sometimes be unclear or even contested.

If a scheme is designed with insufficient car parking spaces, whose responsibility is it to resolve matters? What impact - both directly and indirectly - does this have on residents in the meantime? Where a local authority has nomination rights to a scheme, whose responsibility is it to ensure a mixed community in the scheme? What is the impact on more active residents, if the majority of newer residents are too frail to participate in activities?

Input from lots of different organisations need not spell disaster in the same way that a single organisation providing all of these services might not ensure coordination. However, it is vital that we understand the impact that blurred boundaries (and good partnership working) can have on older people and their quality of life, especially where they have high or increasing support needs. It is also important that providers and commissioners identify and share what works and what doesn't in making sure that responsibilities are clear between themselves, tenants and their families.

We began the fieldwork stage of the project in September and will be interviewing older people, their families and a wide range of professionals over the coming months. There will also be an online survey of housing with care providers. The final report and a guide with examples to inform providers and others will be published in late 2012.

Note: this blog was first published on the Community Care blog.