The Council’s approach to commissioning specialist and support housing
A specialist and supported housing need assessment has been undertaken by the Council over the period to 2034 which covers a range of housing and accommodation types for all ages and needs including:
- Supported housing,
- Specialist housing for older people (e.g. retirement housing, ‘sheltered housing’ and extra care housing),
- Accessible housing, and
- Shared Lives.
Where appropriate estimates of housing need are indicated for different tenure types.
Whilst the assessment of demand for supported and specialist housing and the Council’s commissioning intentions are shown in relation to different ‘client’ cohorts, it is recognised that people’s needs are often complex and that innovative approaches to housing and support that go beyond these ‘cohort’ definitions will be required and indeed desirable:
- An assumption that mainstream housing suitably designed and/or adapted will be appropriate for many people with care and/or support needs.
- Opportunities for inter-generational living will form part of the required housing solutions.
- Housing solutions may be multi-functional, e.g. providing a mix of mainstream housing, supported housing and potentially other facilities.
- All housing and supported accommodation for people with care and/or support needs should assist and facilitate inclusion in community life.
- This is consistent with current national policy (e.g. from the Social Care White Paper) which places a stronger emphasis on the role of preventative approaches, including the role of housing, i.e. approaches to supporting people to remain living in their own homes, in both mainstream housing and supported housing, including the use of home adaptations and digital technology to support and promote the independence of older people and other people with care/support needs.