PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Supported Housing: Older People (1 December 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the finding of ARCO's November 2021 report, Putting the care in Housing-with-Care, that an expansion of the integrated retirement community sector could reduce the need for care staff by tens of thousands.

Asked by:
Marsha De Cordova (Labour)

No formal assessment has been made. However, we recognise that supported housing, including housing-with-care, can be the best model of care for some people, leading to better health, greater independence and closer connection with the community. An independent pre-evaluation scoping exercise commissioned by the Department has found good evidence for the benefits of extra care housing for older people.

We will continue to incentivise the supply of supported housing through the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund, alongside a new £300 million investment to embed the strategic commitment in all local places to connect housing with health and care and drive the stock of new supported housing. We will work in partnership with local authorities, housing providers and others to design and establish our new investment.

Our white paper on the reform of adult social care includes our strategy to build a workforce which is well-trained, developed, healthy, supported, sustainable and recognised. Reforming the way care is delivered has significant potential to manage demand for the adult social care workforce as part of longer-term planning.

Answered by:
Gillian Keegan (Conservative)
16 December 2021