We know it can be a bit overwhelming when you first start researching supported living. Therefore, in this guide, we’ll explain how to begin your supported accommodation journey. 

We’ll cover everything from deciding whether it’s the right decision for you or your loved one, understanding how long the process can take, and knowing what your first steps should be.

Before we get started, though, we want to offer some quick advice. If you’re in a hurry to find supported living accommodation, it’s often easiest to contact available providers directly. Find Your Room can help – simply search for supported living providers on our website or app, and filter by Vacant. From there, you can contact schemes with availability, and discuss your needs.

What is supported accommodation?

Supported accommodation allows people with care needs to live independently, while still being able to access care and support from professionals.

Supported living accommodation can vary widely, depending on the property you’re considering. In some cases, you might share a house with a few other residents who have similar health conditions. In other developments, you might rent or purchase a self-contained apartment or bungalow. 

In supported accommodation, staff might provide personal care, assist with housework and shopping, and help clients with activities like attending college, shopping, or going out.

Some supported living schemes have staff on site 24 hours a day. Others will just have support workers who visit during the day – but you’ll usually have access to an emergency call line if you need help.

Find out more about supported living in England. 

Is supported accommodation the right choice?

Supported living could be the right choice for you if you need some extra support to live independently. You might struggle to live alone, manage a house, or handle your own personal care, but want more independence than a care home would offer. 

To decide if supported accommodation is the right choice for you, there are two main questions you should ask yourself:

 

  • Do I want to be independent? Some people may prefer to continue living with family or feel safer with the constant support of a care home. However, if you would like more independence than this, supported accommodation might be the right choice for you. Many people living in supported living accommodation value being able to plan their own routines, choose their own meals, and have their own front door.

 

  • How much support do I need? Supported living accommodation is ideal for people who need a little extra help – which may include companionship, administrative support, help around the home, and some personal care. However, if you require 24-hour care or have complex medical needs, you may benefit from a care or nursing home instead.

Who lives in supported accommodation?

There are a few main groups of people who choose supported living:

 

  • Young people with disabilities, who want to move out of the family home for the first time. These young people may have learning disabilities, physical care needs, or both. They’re often supported by family members, and are looking for a long-term supported living placement, although some individuals may intend to become more independent over time. 

 

  • Adults with disabilities or mental health conditions that make it difficult to live independently, who are looking for a short- or long-term placement. Some of these people may have lived independently in their own homes in the past. These may be people with a life-long condition, or individuals who are recovering from an illness or injury. Some potential residents may be homeless or struggling with addiction, and value the structure and support that an independent living scheme can offer.

 

  • Older people, who may or may not have a disability. These residents are often planning for the future, when they may be more frail or isolated. For many older people, supported accommodation is an alternative to finding a care home. 

How to set up supported living accommodation arrangements

So, you’ve decided that supported accommodation is the right choice. Now you need to take the steps to make that happen. First, you’ll need to understand exactly what you or your loved one’s needs are. You’ll search for a supported living property that suits, and, if necessary, arrange funding. Ideally, you’ll also be able to arrange a phased transition, so the move is as stress-free as possible.

Understanding your needs

Before you start looking for supported living accommodation, you need to understand exactly what support you need. Your local council can provide a needs assessment, where they will talk to you about your daily life and the areas where you need help. 

As a result of the needs assessment, the local authority will make some recommendations about support that could help you. They may find that you need personal care, help with socialising, or support with household tasks. 

They will be able to advise you on whether supported living is right for you. 

After your needs assessment, the social services team can also do a financial assessment, to see if you’re eligible for any help with paying for your care.

If you or your family members already understand your care needs, and you don’t need financial support, you may not require a needs assessment from the local authority. You could contact a supported living provider directly to discuss your needs, and they may be able to arrange their own assessment to decide if their care service is suitable for you.

Finding the right supported living accommodation

Finding the right supported accommodation can be tricky. Your social worker or hospital discharge co-ordinator may be able to help you find a suitable property, or you can search yourself.

Find Your Room’s supported living search lets you filter by location, availability, facilities, CQC ratings, and property type. You can also search by condition, so if you’re looking for supported living for adults with learning disabilities, you’ll know that the listed results are suitable. 

Once you’ve found a suitable property online, contact them and arrange a visit.  

Arranging funding and applying for benefits

If you or your loved one can comfortably afford to pay for your supported living accommodation, you can skip this step. However, many people looking for supported accommodation will need some help with fees.

When you move to a supported living property, you’ll generally need to pay housing costs (rent, council tax, and service charges), care costs, and the usual costs of daily living, such as buying food, paying utility bills, covering transport costs, and other sundries. 

Lots of supported living residents qualify for some help with these costs – find out how to pay for supported living.

Transitioning to supported living

Many people who move to supported living need a phased transition. This is especially true if you’re looking for supported living for adults with learning disabilities or autistic people – especially if they are younger or have always lived with family.

We know it isn’t always possible to arrange a phased transition. If you’re looking for support because a usual carer is unavailable, or because you’re no longer safe in your current home, you may need to arrange a quick move to supported accommodation. 

However, if possible, a phased transition can help you get to know your new environment, as well as meeting your neighbours and support workers. In the long run, this can make them feel more comfortable in their new home.

Phased transitions will look different for every resident, depending on their own needs. However, they usually start with short visits during the day, building up to overnight stays, before beginning to stay for several days at a time, until you’re comfortable moving in completely. 

How long to does it take to move to supported living accommodation?

In theory, moving to supported accommodation could happen quickly. If you’ve already had a needs assessment and understand your care needs, you can afford to pay for a supported living scheme, and you find a property with a vacancy, you could begin planning to move in almost immediately. However, in reality, the process usually takes a few months.

As it may take a while to arrange a move to supported accommodation, it’s often best to start looking early.

Reasons for delays when moving to supported accommodation include:

 

  • Delays in arranging needs assessments: Many local authorities have a backlog when it comes to arranging assessments, and you may need to wait.

 

  • Delays in arranging funding: If you need financial support from your local authority, you may need to wait to be assessed, and then again to find out if you qualify for funding. 

 

  • Difficulty finding suitable properties: This is often the biggest cause of delays. Depending on your needs and location, there may not be any local supported living schemes with current availability – or it may be hard to find them. However, Find Your Room can help you here. You can search for supported living schemes in your area, and use the filters to find an available property that meets your needs.

 

  • Phased transitions: Rather than moving in immediately, many people moving to supported accommodation find it easier to have a phased transition, where they spend time visiting the property and having short overnight stays before they move in fully. 

What if I need supported accommodation immediately?

You may not be able to wait a few months for a supported living placement. Perhaps you’re currently homeless, living in an unsuitable property, not receiving appropriate care, or waiting to be discharged from hospital.

If you need supported living accommodation in an emergency, there are a few options available to you:

 

  • If you are in immediate danger, call 999. 

 

  • If you are currently homeless, contact your local council’s housing team. They should have an out-of-hours team if you need help outside of business hours. 

 

 

  • If you are currently in hospital, talk to the hospital discharge team. They will assess your needs and help you find suitable accommodation.

 

  • To find available supported accommodation quickly yourself, search here on Find Your Room. Our supported living search lets you find properties with availability, and you can contact them directly to begin the move-in process.