SUPPORTED LIVING
Support to live your life, your way
Flexible, person-centred support that helps people build independence, make choices, develop everyday skills and take an active part in their home and community.
A LIFE BUILT AROUND YOU
Support should enable life — not take it over
Supported living is about helping people have as much choice, independence and control over everyday life as possible.
We start with the person: their strengths, preferences, communication, routines, relationships, ambitions and the areas where support would make a meaningful difference.
The level of assistance can then be shaped around individual needs, from support with particular daily activities through to more regular help where this has been assessed as necessary.
EVERYDAY SUPPORT
Support shaped around individual goals
The activities supported depend on the person’s assessed needs, care plan and what they want to achieve.
Daily living skills
Support to develop confidence with everyday activities such as meals, shopping, personal routines and maintaining the home.
Personal care
Dignified support with personal routines where this forms part of the individual care plan.
Health & wellbeing
Support with agreed routines that help the person maintain health, wellbeing and a structured everyday life.
Community participation
Supporting people to access activities, appointments, interests and community opportunities that matter to them.
Relationships & connection
Helping people maintain important relationships and build meaningful social connections in ways they choose.
Building confidence
Encouragement and practical support to try new skills, make choices and become more confident in everyday life.
CHOICE & CONTROL
Making everyday decisions matters
Independence is not simply about doing everything alone. It is also about being listened to, making decisions and having control over how support fits into daily life.
People should be involved in decisions about their routines, goals and care wherever possible, with information provided in a way they can understand.
Support should encourage participation and choice rather than unnecessarily taking over activities that a person can manage themselves.
Choice can include
- How daily routines are organised
- What to eat and prepare
- How free time is spent
- Community activities and interests
- Personal goals and aspirations
- How support is provided
BUILDING INDEPENDENCE
Doing with, not automatically doing for
Our approach is to recognise what each person can already do and support them to maintain or develop those abilities.
Care workers can provide prompts, encouragement, practical assistance or more direct support depending on what is required.
Goals can be reviewed as skills, confidence and circumstances change so that support remains proportionate to the person’s needs.
Our approach
- Build on existing strengths
- Agree meaningful personal goals
- Encourage active participation
- Respect individual pace and preferences
- Balance independence with safety
- Review progress and changing needs
PERSONALISED SUPPORT
Different people need different kinds of support
Supported living arrangements can look very different depending on the person, their circumstances and the support identified within their care plan.
Learning disability
Support tailored around strengths, communication, independence, routines and individual aspirations.
Autism
Individualised support that takes account of communication, routines, sensory preferences and what helps the person feel confident.
Mental health
Person-centred support with routines, everyday living, wellbeing and independence according to individual needs.
Physical disability
Practical support that helps the person remain in control of everyday life while receiving the assistance they require.
Sensory needs
Support that takes account of accessibility, communication and the person’s preferred ways of engaging with others and their environment.
Multiple needs
Coordinated care where several needs interact and support requires clear planning, competency and review.
HOW SUPPORT IS PLANNED
Starting with the person
01
Understand
Learn about the person’s needs, strengths, communication, routines, relationships and goals.
02
Plan
Agree what support is needed, how it should be provided and how identified risks should be managed.
03
Support
Provide the agreed assistance while encouraging choice, participation and independence wherever possible.
04
Review
Check whether the support is helping the person achieve their outcomes and respond when needs or aspirations change.
WORKING WITH OTHERS
Support works best when people communicate
Where appropriate, and with the person’s rights and wishes respected, we work alongside families, representatives, commissioners and relevant professionals.
The person
Their wishes, goals and experience of the support remain central to planning and review.
Families & representatives
Important people can contribute knowledge and support where this is appropriate and consistent with the person’s wishes and rights.
Professionals
Relevant health, social care and commissioning professionals can be involved where coordinated planning or review is required.
RELATED SERVICES
Other support that may be relevant
Complex & Specialist Care
Personalised support where needs require additional planning, risk management, competency or coordination.
Home Care
Flexible support with personal care and everyday living in the comfort of the person’s home.
Companionship
Meaningful social contact and practical support to promote wellbeing, confidence and connection.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Supported living FAQs
What is supported living?
Supported living is an approach that helps a person live as independently as possible in their own home while receiving support with the areas of everyday life where assistance has been identified.
Is supported living the same as a care home?
No. Supported living is focused on providing support within the person’s own home and helping them maintain choice and independence in everyday life. The exact housing and care arrangements will depend on the individual circumstances.
Who can supported living help?
Support may be suitable for adults with different needs, including learning disability, autism, mental health needs, physical disability, sensory impairment or combinations of needs, subject to assessment and the scope of the service.
Can support change over time?
Yes. Care and support should be reviewed as needs, skills, risks, circumstances and goals change so that the level of assistance remains appropriate.
Can families be involved?
Families and representatives can be involved where appropriate while respecting the person’s rights, wishes, consent and information-sharing arrangements.
Does Angels provide the accommodation?
Housing and care arrangements vary. Please speak to our team about the specific situation so we can clarify what support Angels can provide and whether it falls within our service scope.
TALK TO US ABOUT SUPPORTED LIVING
What would greater independence look like?
Tell us about the person, their current circumstances, what support is needed and what they would like to achieve.