whg leads the way in work to improve health

A groundbreaking partnership that is tackling health inequalities in Walsall is now being used as a regional blueprint for how health and housing can work together to better serve social housing residents.

Leading Midlands’ landlord whg started working with health partners in Walsall four years ago to explore the opportunities that could come from the two services working more closely together. The partnership has made a huge difference in improving outcomes for residents. The way in which it is improving access to health for some of the most marginalised in society is now being highlighted as a great example of how services can be delivered through seamless partnership working.

In the West Midlands Mental Health Commission report, published today by West Midlands Combined Authority, whg is showcased for its work to reduce loneliness and isolation using social prescribing and improve the health of those with the poorest outcomes. whg was the only housing association to sit on the commission, which was set up to look at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mental health and well-being.  As part of the research whg was interviewed about its work in the community, and provided insight on how poverty and deprivation has impacted customers. The report praises whg’s network of community champions, who are funded by health and use their lived experience and knowledge of the communities they live in to encourage and support local people into advice and local healthcare services.

whg is also working with the Black Country ICB to embed its partnership working model across the housing sector. Together they have set up the Black Country Health and Social Housing Forum, where housing providers from across the Black Country can find out more about whg’s approach and how they can replicate their work with the NHS to better serve tenants. Housing professionals are able to attend a four day development programme to learn from whg’s experiences.

Fay Shanahan, Corporate Director of Operations & IT, said: “Our partnership with health is unique in that we’re bringing the voice of our customers into our strategic conversations with health partners. We are helping them get closer to existing health services by building the bridge between them, using our expertise in our communities to make those links.

“The partnership is making a huge difference in improving outcomes for residents, focussing upon prevention and early take up of services to effectively screen for, or manage, illnesses such as diabetes and cancer. It has also had a significant impact in easing the burden on the NHS.

“We are delighted to be able to showcase the role that social housing can play to reduce health inequalities and close the widening health gap, and proud to work with the ICB and WMCA to share our knowledge.”

Leading Midlands’ landlord whg started working formally with health partners in Walsall in 2019 when place-based partnership Walsall Together – a collaboration of health, social care, voluntary and community organisations working together to improve health outcomes – was established. Since then the partnership has gone from strength to strength, with whg now having a network of teams working directly  in communities to improve health outcomes, the majority funded by health via the Black Country Integrated Care System.