Paul Smith

  • Warwickshire is at the heart of home improvements

    14 May 2018

    A partnership between authorities in Warwickshire is one to watch when it comes to ensuring disabled people get the home improvements they need. Paul Smith explains why.  


  • We must collaborate to make homes suitable for the elderly

    27 February 2018

    Paul Smith explains why the recommendations of the Communities and Local Government Committee’s report on housing for older people are so important.


  • How councils can spend extra DFG cash - quickly

    29 November 2017

    As councils submit requests for their allocation of the extra disabled facilities grants announced in the Budget, Paul Smith explains what the money can be spent on and how councils can spend it before the March 2018 deadline.


  • Working together

    19 September 2017

    If districts and counties can overcome their differences, they can use their collective knowledge to achieve extraordinary improvements that neither could bring about on their own, writes Paul Smith.


  • HealthMJ: How would you spend £250,000 on health and care?

    15 April 2016

    At a recent conference a public health director and representatives from a county council and a clinical commissioning group with a budget of £250,000 were asked to listen to service ideas from delegates. Paul Smith reports on the outcome.


  • Helping hands for home care

    19 January 2016

    There is a huge variation in the way disabled facilities grants – used to pay for home adaptations for home-based care – are delivered across each local authority. Paul Smith reports on a recent conference, which aimed to iron out some of the inconsi