What is Supported Living?
Supported living enables providing tailored support to people with physical and mental health needs who have challenges completing everyday tasks or leading a quality social life. These services aim to lead people to greater independence through physical and emotional support in their own homes or in private accommodations.
Supported living accommodation covers support for children, young people and adults who experience:
- Autism
- Learning disability
- Different mental health conditions
- Down's Syndrome
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Acquired brain injuries
- More complex challenges
Supported living services enable people to lead enhanced independent living in their homes. Some people may prefer to live alone, enjoying the independence and privacy that comes with it. On the other hand, some may choose to live in a shared setting, where they can have their own space and front door but also have the opportunity to interact with others and build social connections. Support workers, who are highly trained, visit supported living accommodations or people’s homes to provide assistance with daily activities, including cooking, shopping, and managing personal finances such as bill payments.
Different Types of Supported Living
Supported living accommodation comes in several forms, always focused on high-quality support according to the person’s needs and preferences. Some supported living models assist people in their homes, while others provide individual or shared housing settings.
Before choosing a supported living service for yourself or a loved one, it is crucial to understand all the options. Types of supported housing in the UK include:
- Single tenancy – This model provides support in daily activities and during the night for people who prefer to live independently in an individual house or flat.
- Shared property – People with similar needs that require complex care can live in shared social housing, provided everyone has their own bedroom and tenancy agreement (smaller households). Trained staff are available on the property for any support required.
- Transitional housing – Young adults may face challenges with integration into adult life after leaving children’s care services. Transitional services can help them manage the challenges of ordinary life, such as cooking meals, cleaning, washing clothes, and paying bills.
- Village care scheme – Also known as the good neighbour scheme, this model involves volunteers from within the community assisting people in their area who need personal care.
How Does Supported Living Work?
Supported living services pave the way to more independent living by providing person-centred support with their own tenancy agreement. Supported living also offers tailored care with a sense of agency and dignity.
You can choose a supported living arrangement with independent home ownership in your family home or a shared local community with other residents. Support workers are dedicated to improving the quality of people’s daily living, self-esteem, and involvement in social activities.
Different Types of Supported Living
Living with mental health needs may often feel isolating and challenging. People living with signs of depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, and personality disorders frequently experience challenges in being part of their community or completing basic household chores.
We have designed our own supported living accommodations in Birmingham, followed by specialised care and support for young people and adults (+18) experiencing autism, learning liabilities, mental health needs, eating disorders, and complex care challenges that require Positive Behaviour Support.
Our highly trained support workers at Leaf Complex Care Birmingham area provide personalised care and support that enables people to live with a greater focus on their overall well-being and develop meaningful relationships.
Supported Living For People with Learning Disabilities
While people with learning difficulties or intellectual and developmental learning disability can live their lives with minimal support, society often fails to accommodate people who need extra support with learning disabilities. Supported living services could provide an alternative approach for people who need more complex care. Social workers within the local authority can share options for an appropriate social care provider that will meet people’s needs in their own homes or a provider with their own accommodation.
What Services Does Supported Living offer?
Supported living homes provide tailored personal care for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities, and various other needs. The housing benefit that supported living offers can help people cope with their everyday life routines through:
Medication Management
Supported living support workers are trained to manage people’s prescribed medication and monitor their efficacy safely. One key aspect of medication management is ensuring that supported people receive the proper medications at the right doses and at the right times. This requires health and social care providers to have a thorough understanding of each person’s medical history, including any allergies, current medications, and underlying health conditions.
Personal Care and Hygiene
Each support worker in supported living is highly trained in support services to enhance and maintain the health and self-esteem of the person supported by assisting with tasks about their hygiene. This includes dressing, showering, bathing, toileting, grooming, nail care, hair care, and more for the person supported.
Finance Management
Handling money in your own home plays a vital role in independent living. Therefore, supporting people with covering their own bills and other personal independence payments is an essential role of supported living service providers.
Looking After the Home
Living in a clean household is a human right and a major factor in improving the physical and mental health of one person. So, our support workers will assist with dusting, vacuuming, mopping, clearing the clutter, and more.
Maintaining Relationships with Family and Friends
This includes providing support for communication, arranging visits, and ensuring that the person can participate in social activities and community-based activities that are important to them. These services recognise the importance of maintaining trusting relationships for the person’s emotional well-being and overall quality of life. Support workers may also provide guidance on social skills and interpersonal relationships to help the person navigate social interactions with more ease.
Leisure and Social Activities
Supported living services usually have good community networks. They can offer a variety of indoor and outdoor leisure activities, such as board games, dancing, swimming, exercise, dining at a restaurant, and visiting entertainment facilities and local amenities.
Grocery Shopping, Meal Planning, and Food Preparation
A scheduled and balanced diet is important for people to retain their health and independence. In a supportive living scheme, the support team can provide support with grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking.
Finding the Right Supported Living Option for Your Needs
When it comes to finding the right supported living option for people’s unique needs, it’s essential to consider a variety of factors that cater to the unique requirements. From personalised care plans to tailored accommodation settings, exploring the available options can lead to a fulfilling and empowering living arrangement that supports the person’s preferences and enhances people’s quality of life.
Here are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration before opting for a specific supported living provider:
Housekeeping and maintenance – Inquire about the maintenance options provided in the supported living scheme (room cleaning, vacuuming, dusting, changing linens, trash pickup) and find out whether standard rent covers these services
Transportation alternatives – Ask about the possibility for residents to keep vehicles and other transportation arrangements
Dining options – Learn more about the meal schedule and the possibilities for dietary needs (vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, low-carb, or diabetic-friendly dishes). These should be tailored to the person.
Transitioning from Care Home to Supported Living Arrangements
Transitioning from a residential home into supported living is a significant step for those who feel ready for more independent living. Everyone has a unique emotional response to this process, so the changes can initially be quite uncomfortable at the beginning. Your social worker and support worker will provide support at every step of the way.
For example, your local council might design and implement a six-month plan, continuing to provide support throughout the transition process. Support workers accompany future residents on transport routes and assist them in becoming familiar with their new environment.
Who is Supported Living Suitable for?
Supported living is suitable for children, young people and adults living with a learning disability, autism, mental health needs, or other needs who require expert support with daily living tasks and want to live a more fulfilled life. Supported living services provide flexible, person-centred care that promotes choice, care control, and community integration.
People who prefer not to reside in a residential care home have the option to receive support in their own homes or private accommodations designed by social care providers.
What are the Benefits of Supported Living?
Supported living services offer you maximum flexibility and humanised care. Supported living helps people with various physical disabilities and neurodevelopmental differences to live fulfilling lives. The local authorities connect families in need with trained clinicians for physical and emotional support in their own homes.
⇒ Leaf Complex Care’s supported living in private accommodations in Birmingham for young people and adults (18+) provides people with a sense of trust within a safe environment. By living in a private accommodation, supported people have the opportunity to develop essential life skills and experience a greater level of privacy and personal space.
In a supported living setting, the person can:
- Create a home they love with families and friends by their side
- Enjoy an independent life with dignity and confidence
- Access tailored complex care and support from an expert team 24/7
- Receive a dedicated, friendly, and compassionate approach from support workers
How Leaf Complex Care Can Help with Supported Living
At Leaf Complex Care, we offer tailored care for autistic people, people with a learning disability, various mental health conditions, and behaviours that challenge. Our support workers and therapy team share one goal – to create an equal opportunity for receiving proper care and support for people who need complex care.
Our supported living services enable people to have support that meets their interests and needs, promoting self-sufficiency and enhancing their overall quality of life. Moreover, the private setting fosters a sense of belonging and community, encouraging social interaction and the formation of meaningful relationships. This model of supported living empowers people to lead fulfilling lives while receiving the necessary support to thrive and achieve their personal aspirations.
Hear Chantelle’s story, one of our support workers, about her everyday inspiration and motivation to provide humanised care and the reason behind why she started working in the sector.
We provide care and support for young people and adults (+18) in the Birmingham area.
Contact us and learn more about the benefits of supported living with 24/7 compassionate care.
