Places to Live Staffordshire – More independence and control through housing options

The Places to Live Staffordshire commissioning team recently celebrated their first anniversary as an operational service.

The service is distinctive, as it offers adults with learning and/or physical disabilities a bespoke service that takes into account housing, care and support needs.

Consisting of four independent living advisors, the team provides a countywide service working with individuals and their families or carers, to prepare a personalised Housing Options Plan (HOP) that will help identify and assess their housing needs.

Their role includes:

• raising awareness of the full range of housing options for disabled people
• providing information and advice to professionals, individuals, families and carers on how to access a range of housing options
• assisting individuals in making housing applications, and providing support with signing tenancies

• liaising with districts, housing providers, private landlords and key agencies to co-ordinate implementation of an individual’s HOP

The first year of the service has seen some significant achievements. Nearly 300 people have been provided with information and advice, and directed to other useful services.

Fifty four individuals have been helped to move to more appropriate accommodation. For many this means living independently, as part of a community, for the first time in their lives. 

 Service user, Mike said: “I used to live with my friend in a big care home for people with learning disabilities. We wanted to live together in our own place, but as the home was closing we were worried we would be separated. My independent living advisor worked with us to make sure our wishes were heard and helped us move into a two bedroom flat where we have support on-site all day. We both feel very happy and safe, and very glad to still be together”.

In addition to face to face work, the service has captured for the first time detailed information about housing needs for adults with disabilities, including location and types of properties, tenure and support models, and the individual’s aspirations, such as a desire to live alone or in shared accommodation. This has provided invaluable information for commissioners and resulted in team members receiving Staffordshire County Council’s ‘All About You’ award.          

The Places to Live Staffordshire Commissioning team is part of the Older People and Prevention team within the Joint Commissioning Unit.

Contact: Eve Wilson, Information Officer, Older People and Prevention Team, email: eve.wilson@staffordshire.gov.uk, telephone: 01785 854 238.