Whether you support a disabled child or are considering supported living for yourself, you might have questions.
In this guide, we’ll look at what supported living for young people is, who is eligible, when you should consider it, and how you can find the right supported living accommodation.
But first, Find Your Room is here to help.
We know that finding the right supported living solutions can be difficult. As well as looking for suitable supported accommodation, you need to find a property with availability – and that’s where Find Your Room comes in.
Our supported living search lets you filter by availability, care type, cost, facilities, and CQC rating, so you can find the perfect supported accommodation for your needs.
What is supported living for young people?
Supported living for young people combines housing with care and support. It’s usually available for people who are over 18, although some supported accommodation may admit young people over 16.
Supported living in England can vary a lot, depending on the provider and the client’s needs. In some accommodation, residents will live in shared houses or flats, with a communal kitchen and other facilities. Other supported living schemes might provide clients with a private flat in a larger housing complex.
Some supported accommodation will have staff on site 24 hours a day, or support workers might just visit at pre-arranged times and be available in an emergency.
Staff may provide personal care, help clients with housework and meal preparation, and support them to attend college, go shopping, and manage appointments. They’ll also help the young residents to learn life skills and be as independent as possible.
For some young people, supported living could be a short-term transition before living independently in their own home. For others, supported accommodation will be a long-term solution, as an alternative to a care home.
There are two main types of supported living for young people:
- Residential care for young adults with complex needs, such as learning disabilities, autism, or physical disabilities
- Accommodation for young people who are homeless, care leavers, or need extra support as they transition to living independently
Let’s look at these types of supported living in more detail.
Supported living for young adults with disabilities and complex needs
Supported living can be a great alternative to care homes for young adults with disabilities. It allows young people with complex needs to have more independence, and live in a more home-like atmosphere.
Young people will often live in a house or flat with other residents of a similar age and with similar conditions. They can socialise, enjoy the independence of living in their own home, and plan their own days, rather than being encouraged to follow the routine of a care home.
Care workers might support young disabled people in a variety of ways, including:
- Providing personal care
- Helping with meal preparation, housework, and laundry
- Accompanying them to appointments
- Supporting them to attend school or college
- Teaching life skills, such as how to manage personal hygiene, prepare food, and go shopping
- Arranging social events
The young person’s family can remain involved in their life too – but some of the responsibility is lifted, as family members no longer need to be the main care providers.
Supported living for adults with learning disabilities or other complex needs is often a long-term solution. Individuals may live in the same supported accommodation for many years – although some people may move to other care services if their needs change.
Supported living for young people who are homeless or have an unstable living situation
Some young people need a little extra help because they have an unstable living situation, or they don’t have any family support. This could be because they are care leavers, young parents, struggling with addiction, or at risk of becoming homeless.
Supported living can give young people the assistance they need, and set them up for success in the future.
When you move to supported living, you might have your own flat, or you might live in a shared flat or house with other young people in similar situations. You’ll probably need to manage some cooking, shopping, and cleaning – but there should be support available as you get used to doing this.
While you live in supported accommodation, the staff team may be able to help you with:
- Building daily living skills, such as managing your personal hygiene and preparing meals
- Looking after your physical and mental health
- Understanding how to look after your home
- Attending school or college and getting qualifications
- Managing your finances
- Understanding relationships and building social skills
- Knowing how to care for your child and arranging childcare, if you’re a young parent
If you move to a supported living property, you may need to agree to follow certain rules or work towards specific goals. This might include attending college or following another learning programme, following curfews, and not taking illegal drugs.
This type of supported living is often intended to be temporary. While you live there, you’ll learn new skills and gain qualifications, so that you’ll be able to live independently when you’re older.
Am I eligible for supported living?
A range of young people might be eligible for supported living, including those who:
- have learning disabilities
- have physical disabilities or complex health needs
- are autistic
- are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- are care leavers or looked-after children
- are young parents
Most local authorities and supported living properties will have their own eligibility criteria – usually, an individual supported living scheme will support people in similar situations. Generally, young people will need to be over 18 and need some extra support. In some cases, people over 16 will be eligible.
To find out more about the criteria for individual supported living properties, you should contact supported living providers directly, or talk to your social worker.
Supported living might not be suitable for some people with complex care needs. If this is the case for you or your loved one, you could consider a nursing or care home instead.
Struggling to decide whether supported living feels right for you? Ask yourself these questions.
Do I want to live independently? Some people would prefer to stay with family or have the extra support of a care home for young adults if they have complex needs.
Do I need some additional support? This might include personal care, or it may involve help getting used to managing your own home, finances, and other responsibilities.
Is my current living situation unsuitable? You may be at risk of homelessness, unsafe at home, or aware that your family carers may not be able to manage your care needs, either now or in the future.
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, supported living might be the right choice for you.
When should we consider supported living?
Sometimes, the decision to move to supported living is easy – for example, if you’re currently homeless. However, if you currently have a home or support a young person in the family home, it can be harder to decide when to consider supported living, especially if you feel like you’re currently managing.
It’s a very personal choice, and there’s no right answer.
Some young people might be eager to have as much independence as possible when they turn 18 or 21. In other cases, it might be family members who are encouraging the move to supported living.
If you’re thinking of supported living for a young person who you currently support, ask yourself honestly whether you can manage their care needs. What would happen if you could no longer support the young person?
Arranging a move to supported living can take time.
Many people plan for their loved one to move to supported accommodation earlier than feels truly necessary. This gives you time to find the right place, arrange a phased transition, and avoid the stress of looking for an emergency placement.
Worried about the costs of moving to supported accommodation? Find out how to pay for supported living.
How do I find supported living for young adults with disabilities?
If you support a young person with disabilities, and you think that they might benefit from supported living, you should start by requesting a needs assessment from your local authority.
The needs assessment will make some recommendations about the support that your young person requires – and it should confirm whether supported accommodation is the right choice for them.
Many young people with care needs are eligible for financial support, too. After the needs assessment, they’ll have a financial assessment, to see if the council will pay towards the cost of their care.
Once the local authority has assessed your young person, they may be able to recommend individual supported living schemes, or you might prefer to look for them yourself.
Find Your Room’s supported living search can help you look for appropriate accommodation with availability. Contact a property directly, and arrange a visit to see if it’s the right place for your young person.
How do I find supported living for young people if I’m homeless, a care leaver, or a young parent?
If you’re in an unstable living situation or need a little extra support, you should start by talking to your social worker, if you have one.
If you don’t have a social worker, contact the adult social care or housing team at your local council. You can find your local council on the gov.uk website – from there, visit their website and search for the phone number or email address of the adult social care or housing team.
Explain your situation, and they can advise you on your next steps. This might include arranging a needs assessment, assigning you a social worker, or pointing you in the direction of services that can help you.
Alternatively, you could look for appropriate supported accommodation yourself.
At Find Your Room, we have a supported living search.
Simply enter your location and choose some options from the filters – make sure you look at the Care Type section in particular. We’d also suggest looking for properties that are vacant, so you know there’s space for you to move in.
Once you’ve found a suitable property, you can contact them directly and arrange a visit.
