Supported Living is accommodation-based support, where ongoing assistance is provided within a citizen’s accommodation.
Personal support plans are created for the individual which can include anything from support for a couple of hours a week right through to a comprehensive 24 hours a day service - depending on the citizen’s needs.
Each citizen has their own tenancy for their home, and they are provided with assistance to maintain this and budget for their household expenses.
In addition to support with maintaining their tenancy and support with day to day personal tasks, Supported Living also provides opportunities to learn new skills and participate in educational and recreational activities. Citizens are encouraged and supported to take part in their local communities and create safe relationships with friends and neighbours.
Supported Living Nottingham Locations
What is independence?
Independence means different things to different people and we realise this too. For some people independence means being able to manage their tenancy and all their money with no support, and for others it means washing their plate by themselves after lunch. One size does not fit all, and this is the principle we adopt in Supported Living.
Who is it for?
Supported Living is for anyone with a physical or learning disability, or mental health need who needs additional support to live an independent life.
We are prioritising helping people move from residential care to Supported Living.
Where does it happen?
Supported Living accommodation is spread out across Nottingham. We have a selection of shared houses and self-contained flats. Often the shared houses have 3-4 tenants, and many of the self-contained flats are within a cluster so citizens are likely to have neighbours living in Supported Living accommodation. Citizens and their advocates, if they have one, can be involved in finding suitable accommodation.
How long would it take?
Following an initial conversation with our Supported Living team, we would meet with the citizen to better understand their support needs and then match an accommodation and support provider to them. It’s difficult to set a time-frame for this as each conversation is unique. However, throughout the whole process, we keep the citizen and their families up to date with the progress.
Who pays for Supported Living
Housing benefit will pay for the citizen’s rent, if they are eligible. Support staff can offer help to ensure bills are paid and to help with maintaining their finances. If an appointee is in place, they can continue to help manage their finances.
Every individual will be assessed by the Fairer Charging team who will work out what contribution, if any, they need to pay towards their care package. The rest will be funded by Adult Social Care, the NHS, or a combination of both depending on the citizen’s needs.
Living in Supported Living, citizens will have access to additional benefits that will enable them to pay household bills. If needed, the Welfare Rights team can support with making benefits applications alongside the citizen or their appointee.
Why choose Supported Living?
- Citizens receive a tailor-made support package based on their individual needs.
- Individuals have their own tenancy.
- There are opportunities to access facilities and services in the local community, and chances to learn new skills.
- Citizens have a greater say about where to live and who to live with.
- Individuals have more choice and control over their own lives.
- Individuals have access to their full benefit entitlement.
- Citizens will maintain or regain their independence by living in Supported Living accommodation.
Links to the community
If a citizen can go out safely and confidently, they can come and go as they please in their community. However, if it is identified that support is required, this will be built into the citizen’s support plan and staff will help them.
As part of a Supported Living package, citizens are encouraged to participate in educational and recreational activities, and if a support worker is required to access this, it will be built into the support package.
Safeguarding concerns are taken seriously in Supported Living and citizens are supported to develop positive relationships with their community. Help with maintaining existing relationships with family and friends is also built into every personal support plan. Financial safeguarding is a is also at the heart of what we do and we support citizens to keep their money safe and make sensible financial decisions.
Supported Living: added extras
Waking Nights service ensures that during the night, there is someone on hand if a citizen wakes up and needs assurance or support.
24/7 Grid is a way of mapping out the week’s activities so that everyone knows what’s planned for the week.
Extra Care
What is Extra Care?
Extra Care is specialist-housing provision, which enables citizens to retain the independence of having their own home and maintain their rights of occupation, while having the benefit of an onsite care provision, which is accessed through a referral from Adult Social Care (ASC). Citizens who require support will have an individualised care and support plan which will include the number of support calls required to meet their needs.
