What is Supported Living

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Supported living services enable people with a range of needs to live happy and fulfilling lives, independently and safely in their local communities. When a person goes into supported living, they have their own home with their own tenancy agreement. At the same time, they receive support and care which can range from a few hours a week to one-to-one support, 24 hours a day.

Many people with learning disabilities, autism and other needs require some level of support, so that they can maximise their independence and live the life that they choose. A supported living service can help if someone does not want to live in residential care but would find it difficult to cope on their own at home. Supported living helps people to make choices about how they want to live and to keep doing the things that are important to them.

This page will help you to understand what supported living is, how it differs from residential care and who can benefit from this service.

Supported living empowers people with a wide range of needs to retain their independence by being supported to live in their own home. People in supported living have their own tenancy and with support, are responsible for their own bills. In some cases they will furnish, or part furnish their home and take responsibility for repairing any damage. Supported living gives people the security of their own home, with their own tenancy agreement with a landlord. 

There are options to live alone or to share with other people. The type of housing offered includes self-contained flats, houses, bungalows and completely bespoke solutions. Some supported living homes will have assistive technology services which help residents to learn the skills they need for daily living.

Supported living services help children and  adults with a wide range of needs including:

• Learning disabilities
• Autism
•  Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• Mental health needs
• Behaviours that may challenge
• Complex needs
• Acquired brain injuries (ABI)
• Forensic needs
• Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)

The care and support provided will be tailored to the specific needs of each individual

16 - Young Adults:

Additional to the above, we Embrace all age groups from 16 years with a focus of: 

• Life skills training: Collaborate with organisations to provide training in areas such as cooking, cleaning, and budgeting.
• Collaboration with  education and employment organisations: Helping young adults access education and employment opportunities.
• Supported living can be a great option for young people who need more support than they can get from living on their own or with their families. We also Embrace young people who want to live in a safe and supportive environment where they can have access to a variety of services.
• The resident can stay in their own community: Important for young adults who want to stay close to their friends and family.
• The resident can receive the support they need: Provide a variety of services to meet the individual needs.
• Resident can live in a safe and supportive environment: Staffed 24/7 and can provide residents with the support they need to stay safe and healthy.
• Resident can have access to a variety of recreational activities: Variety of recreational activities to help residents stay active and engaged. 

Embrace Group provide help across a range of areas to enable people to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. This includes support with:

• Taking medication
• Personal care, such as getting washed and dressed
• Going to college
• Finding a job or voluntary work
• Help with money, including claiming benefits
• Following a healthy lifestyle
• Maintaining links with family and friends, and building new relationships
• Cooking, cleaning and looking after the home
• Accessing leisure and social activities
• Choices and behaviour
• Money and rent
• Practical life skills

Embrace Group also assist in housing that provides support and care for our young people who are transitioning from care to independence. These young people may have a variety of needs, including physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities.

A move into supported living can be the first time someone has left their family home and may feel like a big step. Embrace Group will carefully plan the transition into a new home, tailoring this to the individual’s specific needs. For some people this means a gradual transition over a number of months to minimise any anxiety and ensure that they are looking forward to the journey ahead. In other cases, a person may be happy to move into their home straight away.

If an individual wishes to live with others, Embrace Group should match them with other people who have shared interests and lifestyles.