duration

Location
Virtual

For managers and leads in homelessness, rough sleeping, housing strategy, supported housing and allocations, this Policy into Practice session explains the policy direction and shares practical lessons from Islington and Greater Manchester on strengthening partnerships, improving access to homes and helping people stay housed. 

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    How can councils and housing providers turn national ambitions on rough sleeping into effective local action? 

    This Policy into Practice briefing brings together a clear explanation of the policy background and two practical perspectives on delivery. Learn from Islington’s progress in reducing rough sleeping and Greater Manchester Housing First’s experience of bringing partners, homes and support together. 

    Explore what has worked, the barriers that remain and ideas you could apply within your own services and partnerships. 

    Who you will hear from: 

    • Emma Lindley, HQN Associate and Housing Strategy Lead Officer at Ashfield District Council, will be chairing this session and will begin with a horizon scan of the national policy direction, local planning requirements and what they mean for councils and housing providers
    • Ian Swift, Director of Housing Operations and Deputy Corporate Director at Islington Council, and ADoH Leadership Board member, will share Islington’s progress in reducing rough sleeping, the approaches behind it and practical lessons for other areas
    • Emily Cole, Programme Lead for Greater Manchester Housing First and the Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme at Great Places Housing Group, will share lessons on making partnerships work, improving access to homes and helping people sustain tenancies. 

    What will be covered: 

    • The policy background and expectations for local action on rough sleeping
    • Islington’s approach: what it has achieved, how it has worked with partners and the challenges ahead
    • Practical lessons from Greater Manchester on referrals, access to suitable homes and support that helps people stay housed. 

    Why attend now: 

    Long-Term Rough Sleeping Partnership Plans are due to be agreed and signed off by 1 December. Holding the session on the deadline creates a timely opportunity to move from plan-writing to delivery: compare priorities, identify unresolved barriers and clarify what councils, strategic authorities and housing providers need from one another. 

    Who should attend? 

    Aimed primarily at managers, heads of service and strategic leads in social housing and local government with responsibility for: 

    • Homelessness, housing options and rough sleeping 
    • Housing strategy, policy and local partnerships 
    • Supported housing, tenancy sustainment and complex needs 
    • Allocations, move-on and access to housing. 

    Also relevant to directors and senior leaders with oversight of these areas. 

    If you would like to purchase a group ticket for different members of your team to attend all of the Policy into practice sessions or would like to book multiple members of your team onto any of the individual sessions, please contact [email protected] and we will apply a group booking discount.

  • Our speakers

    Emma Lindley, HQN Associate and Housing Strategy Lead Officer, Ashfield District Council
    Emma is a lead associate for HQN’s Strategic Network and has been an HQN Associate since 2013. She regularly writes briefings for HQN and has produced a toolkit on allocations and lettings. Emma has nine years’ experience of working in housing associations and a local authority in the East Midlands.

    She has worked in a variety of roles including managing a PRS portfolio, providing housing options advice, tenancy management and most recently strategic housing with responsibility for the homelessness service, affordable housing delivery and private sector renewal strategy.

    Emily Cole, Programme Lead – Greater Manchester Housing First & Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme (RSAP), Great Places Housing Group
    Emily leads the cross-sectoral partnership delivering the Greater Manchester Housing First and Rough Sleeping Accommodation programmes, having led the successful bid for the initial Government funded Housing First pilot in 2018.

    Emily has been a champion for change in housing and support services for the majority of her career, starting in London with a focus on mental health supported accommodation.

    In 2016, she joined Great Places Housing Group in Manchester to head up the delivery of support services across the North West and was involved in the development and delivery of the successful Greater Manchester Entrenched Rough Sleeper Social Impact Bond.

    Ian Swift, ADoH Leadership Board member and Director of Housing Operations and Deputy Corporate Director, Islington Council 
    Ian Swift MBE is Director of Housing Operations and Deputy Corporate Director at Islington Council, with over 40 years’ senior leadership experience in social housing. He is passionate about delivering high-quality, resident-focused services, strengthening tenant voice and using engagement to drive meaningful service improvement. Ian has a strong track record of leading housing transformation, operational improvement and positive cultural change, with a particular focus on ensuring that better services translate into better outcomes for residents and communities.

    Ian is responsible for the full range of housing services at a central London council managing 35,000 council homes and managing the second-highest homeless approaches in London.
  • Programme

    9:30am Welcome and introductions 

    Emma Lindley, HQN Associate and Housing Strategy Lead Officer, Ashfield District Council

    9:35am Horizon scan: ending rough sleeping – from national ambition to local delivery 

    Emma Lindley, HQN Associate and Housing Strategy Lead Officer, Ashfield District Council
    • Map the latest policy direction on homelessness and rough sleeping
    • Explore the Homelessness Strategy Action Plans and Long-Term Rough Sleeping Partnership Plans as areas move from planning into delivery
    • Set out the key delivery questions for the sector and what councils and housing providers now need from one another.

    9:55am From plans to practice: the local authority perspective 

    Ian Swift, ADoH Leadership Board member and Director of Housing Operations and Deputy Corporate Director, Islington Council 
    • Explore how councils can turn rough sleeping strategies and local plans into meaningful action on the ground
    • Understand the practical challenges facing local authorities from housing supply and service pressures to supporting people with complex needs
    • Hear what effective partnership working looks like and how councils, housing associations and other services can work together to deliver better outcomes.

    10:15am From partnership to lasting homes: the housing provider role in ending rough sleeping 

    Emily Cole, Programme Lead – Greater Manchester Housing First & Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme (RSAP), Great Places Housing Group
    • Discover what makes partnerships between councils, housing associations and support services work, drawing on Greater Manchester’s experience
    • Explore how housing providers can improve access to suitable homes and sustain tenancies through effective referrals, support and tenancy management
    • Take away practical lessons on overcoming barriers, agreeing responsibilities and strengthening your organisation’s contribution to ending rough sleeping.

    10:35am Discussion, Q&A and wrap-up

    11:00am Close 

  • Cancellations and substitutions

    If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

    Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

    If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

    Cancellations must be made in writing and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.

  • Price and booking

    If you would like to purchase a group ticket for different members of your team to attend all of the Policy into practice sessions or would like to book multiple members of your team onto any of the individual sessions, please contact [email protected] and we will apply a group booking discount.

    Tickets

    Ticket Type Price Spaces
    Member ticket £75.00
    Non-member ticket £100.00

    Registration Information

    Booking Summary

    Please select at least one space to proceed with your booking.

    If you experience any issues when submitting your booking, please email [email protected] with the name and date of the session along with the delegate name(s), email address(es) and job title(s) and we'll process the booking for you.

Dates



01 December 2026
9:30am - 11:00am
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Other events in the Policy into practice series
24 November 2026
Policy into practice: Healthy homes – identifying risk earlier and preventing harm
8 December 2026
Policy into practice: Welfare, benefits and household finances – what landlords need to prepare for
28 January 2027
Policy into practice: Connecting housing, jobs and skills – where social landlords add value
11 February 2027
Policy into practice: From £39bn to homes – what will make the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme deliver?

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