Public Health EHO joint funded NHS-Islington post -funds secured 2011
Current objectives
1. Develop referral pathways from Health care agencies (GPs) and adult social care
for HHSRS assessments
2. Use Public Health and other intelligence/data to identify vulnerable people/poor
housing for HHSRS assessments
Progress 2011-14
Existing referrals from health intervention referral hubs e.g. SHINE and Help on your door
step working well as these are established partners and referral pathways. (Approx. 50-60
referrals a year mainly RSL tenants)
Progress May 2014-April 2015
Working with Health Care agencies
Age UK locality navigators - CCG commissioned service covering all age groups.
GPs nominate to the locality navigator patients with long term conditions navigators
then make referrals into REH for HHSRS assessments.
(approx. 7 referrals received)
Engagement with adult social care
Hospital social workers from UCHL and Whittington have engaged to arrange
HHSRS assessment pre discharge of hospital patient
(1 referral received)
Engagement with Public Health teams
Promoting, drafting and publishing housing fact sheets for Islington evidence hub
(excess winter deaths, fuel poverty, private sector housing and grants)
Post holder now a key partner with CCG/PH early intervention and prevention
working group (mapping out and co-ordinating all referral pathways and health
services to prevent ill health targeting patients with long term conditions)
Post holder now a key partner in Public Health teams Health and Housing working
group (Group co-ordinates and shares good practice of all tenure health interventions
across Islington and Camden Health trusts)
Working with Public Health intelligence teams to map out areas of borough where
highest health inequalities are in the private rented sector at local super output area
level (LSOA) (using 2011 census data and public health profiles)
Engagement with CCG (professional working relationships developing)
Post holder developing partner role with south locality MDT group consisting of
Mental health, community nursing, social services, GPs and a community matron of
integrated discharge department at UCLH
Prevent offer made for additional EHO salaried post awaiting outcome of bid from
CCG funds
Engagement with Whittington Hospital
Working with smoking cessation advisors and community respiratory nurses to
develop referrals for HHSRS assessments
Engagement with Season Health and affordable warmth team and Energy team
Using EPC data base and BRE excess cold calculator to target F and G rated private
rented homes (2 x cat 1 hazards for excess cold hazards identified)
Future work planned/developed
GP pilot referral scheme to explore link with fuel poverty and mental health
Meeting head of therapies and falls team at Whittington to develop referrals for pre
discharge HHSRS assessments e.g. falls and cold hazards
Seeking an audience with GPs using GP bulletins, GP conferences and GP training
events
Training local GPs and pharmacists with adult social care teams re referral pathways
Member of working group developing “all tenure” hoarding protocol amongst Islington
Council and external partners
Inter professional briefings for Environmental Health Officers
Briefings by Mental health therapists and smoking cessation workers organised for
EHOs to signpost tenants who may benefit from additional support from other health
services (part of NHS “making every contact count” philosophy and practice)
Reasons for success/progress
Use of BRE Excess cold calculator to justify and requirements for interventions
Use of BRE housing health costs calculator to make business case and Public Health
case for prevention by Environmental Health Officers
Networking, identify colleagues with an appetite for partnership working
Sharing office with Public Health colleagues no working for Council