HOW?

In order to ensure that the place-based solutions arrived at address the ‘why?’, we have used evidence from the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, which is part of the What Works Network, to inform the brief and assess the response.


The network is made up of 9 independent What Works Centres, 3 affiliate members and 2 associate members. Together these centres cover policy areas which account for more than £250 billion of public spending. What Works Centres are different from standard research institutions. Each centre is committed to increasing both the supply of, and demand for, evidence in their policy area, and their output is tailored to the needs of decision-makers.


The centres help to ensure that robust evidence shapes decision-making at every level, by:


  • collating existing evidence on the effectiveness of programmes and practices
  • producing high quality synthesis reports and systematic reviews in areas where they do not currently exist
  • assessing the effectiveness of policies and practices against an agreed set of outcomes
  • filling gaps in the evidence base by commissioning new trials and evaluations
  • sharing findings in an accessible way
  • supporting practitioners, commissioners and policymakers to use these findings to inform their decisions



The Centres are funded by a combination of government and non-government sources including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Big Lottery Fund.



The right home environment can:


  • Protect and improve health and wellbeing and prevent physical and mental ill-health;
  • Enable people to manage their health and care needs, including long-term conditions, and ensure positive care experiences by integrating services in the home;
  • Allow people to remain in their own home for as long as they choose.


In doing so it can:


  • Delay and reduce the need for primary care and social care interventions, including admission to long-term care settings;
  • Prevent hospital admissions;
  • Enable timely discharge from hospital and prevent re-admissions to hospital;
  • Enable rapid recovery from periods of ill-health or planned admissions.


In addition to this body of evidence, Public Health England’s publication ‘Improving Health & Care Through the Home: A National Memorandum of Understanding 2018’ states:


Key features of the right home environment (both permanent and temporary) are:


  • It is warm and affordable to heat;
  • It is free from hazards, safe from harm and promotes a sense of security;
  • It enables movement around the home and is accessible, including to visitors;
  • There is support from others if needed.


This Memorandum of Understanding has seen over 25 stakeholders give a renewed commitment to joint action across government, health, social care and housing sectors to improving health through the home.