Working to achieve ERoSH's aims: turning outputs into outcomes

After months of hard work from our trustees, members of the Collaboration and Development group and Director of Policy, ERoSH is delighted to announce the launch of three inter-related tangible ‘outputs' and seek your invaluable help to turn them into 'outcomes'.

The three outputs address key ERoSH aims of:

1. Promoting the community resources of sheltered housing schemes and
2. Promoting and influencing joint working, both operational and strategic.

Firstly, we have produced a DVD which you'll shortly receive a copy of as well as be able to freely download from ERoSH's website. With additional funding from Care Service Improvement Partnership (CSIP), we have produced over 3000 copies of what has been described as an "inspirational" tool that emphasises the benefits of partnership working and demonstrates the range of health and social care related activities that do or should take place in sheltered housing, including: exercise, falls prevention, keeping active, helping access to other services, health eating, screening, social activities.

Here's what ERoSH members should do:

• We need ERoSH members to help disseminate the DVD to its intended audience - health and social care professionals who are responsible for training or for delivering or commissioning services.
• We also ask all ERoSH member organisations to order copies of the DVD or inform people of the link to downloadable version on the website and using existing networks (or developing new ones) ensure that these copies are then viewed at team meetings, training sessions of health and social care professionals - these include: occupational therapists, community matrons, social workers - the list is infinite!

Secondly, we have produced our new position statement. In this, we clarify the ERoSH position on a range of challenging issues facing the sector, including: needs led services, the hub and spoke model, floating support, allocations and consultation with service users.

Here's what ERoSH members should do:

• We ask all ERoSH members to disseminate this position statement to other local providers, to health and social care professionals and to the local Supporting People team. However, if you are uncomfortable with this model, let us know as we are also committed to promote a range of models.

Thirdly, our Director of Policy has written a joint CSHS / ERoSH good practice guide on Partnership Working. The guide sets out why partnership working is necessary, the external drivers and the obstacles to success. The guide suggests ways that obstacles can be overcome, illustrated with examples of good practice.

Here's what ERoSH members should do:

• We ask all ERoSH members (who get a 20% discount on the price) to obtain the guide and use it to improve partnership working in your locality.

Please let us know your progress with all of this so that we can build up evidence of the outcomes of the three products.