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Essential partners: health, housing and the regulator

In this section we hear from some of the most important partners for councils and the care and support sector more broadly: housing, health and the regulator. Contributors include: Matthew Taylor CBE (NHS Confederation), Suzannah Young (National Housing Federation), James Bullion CBE (Care Quality Commission).

Care Act 10 years on banner

Under the Care Act, councils are required to promote integration, cooperation and partnership with the NHS and other key partners to enable a care and support system which is person-centred. As highlighted throughout the articles, housing plays a centrally important role in social care and in supporting people who draw on care to be as independent as possible. 

As social care's primary integration partner, the NHS perspective is similarly critical and considers how health and social care can work better together to deliver improved outcomes, including smoother hospital discharge and a more preventative approach to care. The regulator plays a key role in ensuring quality and safety of care. With the CQCs new assessment regime for adult social care and Integrated Care Systems, it is clear the regulator has an important role to play in helping to fully realise the ambitions of the Care Act. 

Matthew Taylor CBE

Matthew Taylor CBE: Chief Executive, NHS Confederation

With its aim of consolidating and modernising social care, the Care Act offered clarity on people’s rights and access to advocacy and support, along with a focus on prevention and personalisation, it was in many respects a landmark document for the aim of better integration.

Highlighted pages

The Care Act 2014: Ten years on from Royal Assent

Swindon Borough Council: Innovate housing solutions for older people in inter-generational communities

Swindon Borough Council is seeking to develop directly and with partners a greater range of housing options suited to people in late life. The council has developed and enabled specialist housing options, such as extra care housing, to meet the housing and care needs of older people.

Bath and North East Somerset Council: Digital Transformation - supporting hospital discharge through a shared referral management system, a partnership between acute care and community services

A digital solution designed to assist a two-way conversation between hospital staff and patients to assist discharge. A simple online referral form helps patients put in place the support they need as they prepare to go home from hospital.  The form focuses on eight areas of need, with priority given to discharge dependent services delivered by third sector partners.  A dashboard view enables ward staff to keep up to date with the progress of referrals and third sector partners are able to work together to deliver a more co-ordinated approach to care.