Improvement Service

GoWell is a ten-year research and learning programme that aims to investigate the impact of investment in housing, regeneration and neighbourhood renewal on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. This report uses the GoWell Wave 1 survey data from 2006 to investigate differences in residential, social and psychosocial outcomes between people living in high-rise flats and people living in other types of flats or in houses and makes recommendations for regeneration based on its findings.

Guidance for elected councillors from the Local Government Association to help them in meeting local housing needs and aspirations. The Guide presents three scenarios - large-scale housing growth, ensuring existing towns and cities remain vibrant, and sustainable small-scale development - and highlights the scale and opportunity of each, and demonstrates the need to tailor local activity to local need. It also sets out where councils might need to consider cross-cutting issues such as planning, equality, demographic change and changes to health and welfare systems.

An evaluation of two pilot projects - in North Lanarkshire and Argyll and Bute - that used co-production as a method of working with disabled people to ensure that their needs were addressed in local housing strategies. The report also discusses the theory behind co-production, and looks at how some other local authorities currently involve disabled people in developing their local housing strategies.

A guide to help housing providers engage effectively with local health and wellbeing leaders published by the Northern Housing Consortium. It explores the links between health and housing conditions, and describes the role of the housing sector in tackling health inequalities. It outlines six steps for housing organisations to take when putting together their offer: develop a core mission statement; produce an audit of resources and services; build relationships with health and wellbeing leaders; build a strategy with plans to work together on specific issues; implement plans; and evaluate progress. It also includes case studies. Although the guide is set in the English policy context, it has relevance for housing providers elsewhere.

Guidance for councils from the Local Government Ombudsman on how to ensure they respond appropriately to people that are unintentionally homeless and in priority need, despite cuts to funding and increased pressure on resources. The report outlines the rights of homeless people with regard to the provision of housing. It notes four areas in which councils can cause injustice to homeless people: homelessness prevention; the duty to make enquiries; making applications; and the provision of interim accommodation, and provides good practice advice in relation to each of these areas.

Report from the Scottish Housing Regulator which presents the findings of its research into the priorities of homeless service users across Scotland. It highlights service users' feedback on: access and customer service; prevention, information and advice; temporary accommodation, permanent housing; and support services. It concludes that the priorities of homeless service users include: quick and easy access to services; good customer service (to be treated with dignity and as an individual); good communication throughout the process; finding a safe and secure permanent home; and ongoing support to meet different needs at different stages of the homelessness experience.

This toolkit from the Scottish Homelessness and Employability Network (SHEN) provides information and advice for various practitioners regarding the employability issues for people experiencing homelessness. It provides advice in relation to: designing services; barriers relating to homelessness; creating a culture of employability; breaking down the barriers; employability support; young homeless people; substance users; armed forces veterans; people with mental health problems; ex-offenders; and Jobcentre Plus. It also includes examples of positive interventions and service designs from across Scotland that can promote and enhance the employability of those experiencing homelessness.

A briefing paper discussing how organisations working in housing management in Scotland can identify and make efficiency improvements, particularly in buying or tendering for products, work or services. It includes 17 case studies from around Scotland.

Final report from the Housing Commission examining how local authorities can ensure a sufficient supply of new homes for their areas.

Aberdeen City Council in partnership with ASPC, produce a quarterly housing bulletin which provides information on the state of the housing market in the Aberdeen Housing Market area.? Detailed information is provided on house prices, by area and house type, number of sales and highlights key changes over the quarter.? An annual bulletin is also produced.