Derby Homes

Supported Living Service

The service provides housing related support to people living in Derby (aged over 60 and/or in receipt of disability allowance) to enable them to live independently in their homes. The service was launched in February 2007 and replaces the previous on site warden service. Our Support Officers now visit on a regular but flexible basis, depending on the needs of our clients (service users). During these visits, we work with our clients to develop a support plan and provide a package of support aimed at maintaining independence.

Referrals

To make a referral, please download and submit the referral form to the Supported Living Team at Head Office

The Supported Living Service is currently oversubscribed and we have therefore implemented a waiting list.

The aims of the Supported Living service are to

make sure the client receives the right support and care to help them stay independent by working with other agencies such as social care and health providers.
help the client stay in their home and get involved in local community or other activities if they want to.
agree an appropriate and flexible support plan aimed at increasing or maintaining independence.
provide a quality service with well trained and professional support staff.
continuously improve the service by consulting with our clients and stakeholders.

What can clients expect from the service?

Our support staff can provide a range of support depending on the clients needs. This could include:

helping to set up and maintain the clients home or tenancy
help with managing finances and benefit claims
helping the client to feel safe and secure in their home, for example by helping to report repairs or giving advice on home improvement work
giving advice about other agencies and working with them to help arrange for more specialist support or services
providing information about local community, religious or other social support groups and helping the client to access these groups.

We do all the above by meeting with the client to assess their needs and agreeing an individual support plan, which we will review at least every 12 months.

The service standards the client can expect from the Supported Living service

In providing the Supported Living service we will:

always carry and show identification when we visit
ensure that our Support Officers wear uniforms and name badges at all times
provide adequate levels of suitably trained staff to provide the service
visit on agreed appointments
always be polite and courteous
always call the client back if we say we are going to.

What do we expect from the client?

As part of the needs assessment process, the Support Officer will arrange with the client how often we will be visiting and agree a visiting schedule.

If a client is unable to keep an appointment we would ask that they let their Support Officer know, so that we do not take any unnecessary emergency action. Clients should not leave notes or cards in windows or doors to tell us they have gone out.

Clients should notify us if they are going to be away for a period of time, for example on holiday or going into hospital.
Please notify us if details change with regard to your phone number or your medication.

We will also ask the client to give us the details of someone they would like us to contact in an emergency, and to advise us if these details change

Feedback from our clients and their families

“It’s like an insurance policy getting the supported living service - it has given me peace of mind. I know that there's always someone there on the end of the phone to reply on to help in emergencies if I need to call for their help."

“I live over an hours’ drive away but I can rest assured that if my dad’s needs increase (he suffered a severe stroke) then his current monthly visit from his Derby Homes Support Officer will be quickly reassessed and he’ll get a daily visit until all the services he needs are set up.”

“If I need help I press my pendant anytime, day or night.”