Housing Needs Assessment 2006 - Westminster City Council

15. Key worker households15. Key worker households15.1 IntroductionThe term intermediate housing is often used with reference to specific groups of households such askey workers. The survey therefore analysed such households. For the purposes of analysis keyworkers were defined according to government guidelines as people working in any one of 6categories. These were:• Health (NHS)• Education• Social workers• Prison and probation staff• Emergency services• Local authority plannersThe nature of this study means that the key workers identified within the survey are those that areresident in the City. The data, therefore, includes key workers resident in the City who work outsideits boundaries and excludes key workers who work in the City of Westminster but live outside. Theanalysis of key workers concentrates on their current housing situation, future demands for housingand affordability.15.2 Number of key workersIn total it is estimated that there are 12,109 key workers living in the City of Westminster. The tablebelow shows the categories of key workers within the City. The main categories of key worker areeducation, health (NHS) and social workers. It is important to note that the employment categoriesused in the survey are broader than the key worker definitions used by government to determineeligibility for key worker schemes, but they are reflective of the broader public sector workforce.Table 15.1 Key worker categoriesCategory Number of persons % of key workersEducation 4,557 37.6%Health (NHS) 3,727 30.8%Social workers 2,827 23.3%Emergency services 825 6.8%Prison and probation service 143 1.2%Local Authority planners 31 0.3%TOTAL 12,109 100.0%Source: City of Westminster Housing Needs Survey 2006PAGE 135