How Supported Living is paid for – Example Case – Essex Council

Rent

Housing Benefits must fully meet individual tenants' rent, and there should be no expectation that any top-ups to rent are paid by the tenant or local Authority. This supports sustainability for the adult.

The rental income from the property must fully meet the landlord's property costs.

Bills

Tenants are responsible for paying utility bills.

Within shared accommodation, the utility bills must be in the landlord's name and form part of the ineligible rent to the tenant. The charges should accurately reflect the actual cost of utilities.

The utility bills should be in the tenant's name within a self-contained flat.

Costs of living

Cost of living charges are aspects such as food, clothes, activities, travelling and all other personal expenses for which the tenant is responsible.

Tenants may receive state benefits or have an income to pay for their costs of living, with support if required.

Support

Under the Care Act 2014, where it appears to the Local Authority that an adult may need care and support, the Authority must carry out an assessment.

Link to the Care Act 2014:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents/enacted

Support within Supported Living services is commissioned according to assessed eligible needs, and support within schemes is usually delivered using shared hours (core) and a 1:1 hours model.

Day time core

Any supported living scheme with two or more tenants can have elements of shared support if this is the best way to meet the needs of the tenants.

Daytime Core is an efficient method of delivering support to meet needs within Supported Living Schemes. It is formed by calculating the minimum staffing necessary to manage risk and meet needs across a group of tenants within a scheme. This would include consideration of assistive technology as a further option to support adults in self-managing risks, where appropriate. It is most often, but only sometimes, a single member of staff available from 7 am to 10 pm seven days a week.

Core affords all tenants flexible access to support across the period as and when required, rather than specific hours being delivered at set times and allocated to tenants. It is flexible and responsive to meet needs as they arise and is particularly beneficial to help manage anxieties when they occur and prevent escalation of behaviours. It can also support using technology-enabled care, such as a responder approach to alarms or sensors.

One Provider across a scheme delivers a core; there should not be a tie-in to the Landlord or Tenancy. The Provider would usually undertake core in situ. Adults moving to a tenancy within a scheme must be made aware of the core element of support and accept that suitable agreed needs are met by Core staffing.

The core is often complimented by individual tenants' additional support hours; these are commissioned separately and do not necessarily have to be delivered by the same Provider as delivers the Core support. Tenants can choose who delivers their individual support hours if they opt for a Direct Payment.

Night core awake

Night support is usually 10 pm-7 am (63 hrs a week).

Before commissioning awake night support, assistive technology and sleep-in support should be considered to maximise independence.

If support needs extend beyond 10 pm, awake staff are available to meet those needs with clear tasks to be identified in the ISP.

Household tasks are not usually undertaken during night time hours, and adults should be supported to complete these during the day, though this would be determined through person-centred planning.

Routine checks during the night should not be undertaken unless an identified need that cannot be met via technology is present.

Night core asleep (to be used alongside Assistive Technology)

Night support is usually 10 pm-7 am (63 hrs a week); assistive technology and sleep-in should be considered to maximise independence before implementing awake support.

Night Sleep support is available to respond to requests for help when required.

1:1 individual support needs that cannot be met by core

These hours are commissioned in accordance with the social worker's assessment of eligible needs to meet identified outcomes.

The tenant should have a choice on who provides their 1:1 support, which could be via a direct payment, the core provider or another provider via a managed service.

How support is reviewed

Essex County Council (ECC) is committed to meeting individuals' assessed social care needs through high-quality support services representing the best value.

Scheme reviewing is undertaken to reassess the needs of adults within supported living provision. The reviews are carried out individually in accordance with the principles of the Care Act 2014. In addition, the needs of others in the scheme and how their support is delivered are considered simultaneously. These are referred to as scheme reviews. 

The Supported Living Scheme reviews will:

• Ensure that all adults have an assessment that identifies needs under the Care Act 2014

• Use a person-centred approach, working collaboratively to gather the best information from the adults and, where appropriate, their support networks. This will identify their assets and strengths and inform the assessment of eligible needs to enable and sustain independence.

• Ensure that services commissioned to provide support represent the best value 

• Individually review everyone living at the same scheme at the same time to identify all Adults eligible needs across the scheme

• Consider whether support can be provided more effectively within the scheme by developing a core model of support

• Consider needs which may continue to require 1:1 support

• Consult all parties should the scheme review propose a change to the way that services are delivered

Hourly rates

All hourly rates are expected to be in line with Best Value expectations. All packages are currently spot purchased, and ECC may enter into negotiations with a support provider if it is felt that the hourly rate does not represent the Best Value.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for inspecting and regulating services in England that care for people living in the community including care homes and supported living.   We offer registration support for providers, which includes providing information and advice on regulations, best practice, good management and safeguarding. The service can be used to determine whether or not a provider should register with CQC and how this should be done or alternatively to help a provider learn how they should register with CQC once they have made their decision to do so.   To learn more about CQC supported living, visit us now.