London Borough of Croydon

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Housing options for people with learning disabilities

 

How do I find out what is right for me?

It is important that you think about what sort of housing you will need. For example, do you want to live on your own or share with other people and will you need support?

If you think that you will be able to live independently, with the support of your family and friends, then you should get a Housing Application Form from Croydon's Housing Department so that you register the fact that you are needing accommodation.

You should include any information about having a learning disability on this form as this may mean you are given some priority as being vulnerable under the Housing Act.

There are quite long waiting lists for housing but registering as early as possible will help. To get a form and find out more about your options you can contact the Housing Register Team.

If you feel you will need support then it is important that you have your needs assessed by a care manager from the Joint Community Learning Disability Team.

The care manager will work out with you what level of support you will require and what type of housing and support package will best suit your needs, and will also help you to fill in Housing application forms.

Here are the main housing and support options that you may want to choose from:


Registered Care (regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection)

Registered Care Homes

Registered care homes are generally larger than group homes (see below) and can have twenty or more residents, although many are much smaller with typically three to nine residents.

Personal care and full board are provided, and there's usually 24-hour staff cover.

A list of the registered care homes accredited with Croydon Council, is available from the Adult Social Services Contracts Unit, and the Inspection Reports are available from the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Adult Placement Scheme

In an adult placement (sometimes called 'adult fostering'), the local authority supports and supervises families who provide a place in their own home.

Some of these are registered while someone less disabled may be in supported lodging in an adult placement scheme, where they rent a room or bed-sit in a family home and receive minimal support.

Supported Housing

Supported housing takes many forms - it means any type of housing and support which is not a registered care home. Although not inspected and regulated in the same way as registered homes there are systems for checking that these services are safe and of good quality.

  • Support agencies which provide personal care are registered with and inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
  • We have a Supporting People Team who is responsible for monitoring the quality of our supported housing schemes.
  • The social and health care staff from the Joint Community Learning Disability Team continue to support and review people who take up places in supported housing schemes.

Group homes (or shared housing)

Group homes are usually smaller than registered care homes, with three or four people sharing. Support staff either visit regularly, or are there during the day and sometimes also overnight as well.

People who live there have tenancies and may do their own shopping, cooking and housework, with help from staff.

Cluster housing

Cluster units, either on one site (like sheltered housing for older people) or occasionally spread across a neighbourhood. Support staffs are usually on hand and there may be shared facilities such as a laundry and communal lounge. Flats or bed-sits are self-contained.

This type of housing is often suitable for people who want to live more independently than in a home but still have some support.

Individual Placements/Renting

More people with learning disabilities are now renting properties from local authorities, housing associations, or private landlords and receiving "outreach" support - this means that someone will visit regularly and help with various aspects of daily living. There are also a few companies who specialise in renting to people with learning disabilities.

Alternatively, if the family home is rented, your son or daughter may be able to take over the tenancy. Renting is not just an option for less disabled people, as there are several ways in which funding can be obtained for round-the-clock carers.

 

 

Contact Details

Contact name
Housing Register Team
Telephone
020 8760 5412
Email
hsg-register@croydon.gov.uk
Address
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon
CR9 1DH
Contact name
Housing Options
Telephone
01993 776 318
Address
78a High Street
Witney
Oxon OX8 6HL
Website
www.housingoptions.org.uk
Contact name
Commission for Social Care Inspection
Telephone
020 7239 0330
Fax
020 7239 0309
Email
enquiries.london@csci.gsi.gov.uk
Address
Regional Contact Team
4th floor
Caledonia House
223 Pentonville Road
London N1 9NG
Website
www.csci.gov.uk
Contact name
Adult Social Services Contracts Unit
Telephone
020 8726 6500
Address
Taberner House
11th Floor (North)
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 2BA
Contact name
Joint Community Learning Disability Emergency Response Team
Telephone
020 8239 4446 or 4447
Fax
020 8239 4288
Address
Rees House
2 Morland Road
Croydon CR0 6NA

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