Living as independently as possible

Living as independently as possible

Moving from school into adulthood is a big change for everyone, with lots of things to think about. This section offers information, help and advice on some of the important issues you will face.

For money and benefit advice please see this page: Money, Benefits and SEND | Newcastle Support Directory.

Inclusion North and Skills for People have produced a series of short videos about Housing with Support options in Newcastle. These videos were produced as part of their engagement activity sessions to describe the current options available as well as idea about future provision. 

Housing Options in Newcastle

 

Community Clusters

This type of service is aimed at people who need a lot of support during the day and overnight. A Community Cluster is a small group of between 5 and 7 bungalows clustered on a "courtyard" where people have their own home. Support is provided by one provider who supports all of the people living in the cluster. This enables the provider to offer support to people with quite complex needs based on an agreed support plan. They are able to increase or decrease that support when required by the use of "floating" staff.

We have Community Clusters in Kenton, Denton, Byker, Walkergate, and Newburn.

Hear more from someone who lives in one of our Clusters:

 

Concierge Plus

Our concierge plus schemes provide apartment style living for between 10 and 15 people who are able to live independently but need quite a bit of support during the day.

These schemes have housing support on site 24 hours a day. Alongside this, each individual has their packages of care and support from a provider of their choice who provides up to about 25 hours of support per week. This support is either purchased by the local authority or through a direct payment. As individuals can choose who provides this part of their support, our schemes have a large number of different care providers providing support to people living in them.

We have Concierge Plus schemes in Fawdon, Kenton, Elswick, Benwell, Shieldfield, and Walkergate.

Find out more from someone who lives in one of these schemes:

 

Enhanced Concierge Plus

Enhanced Concierge Plus will look a lot like our existing Concierge Plus schemes, providing apartment living for 15 people.

Instead of having lots of different organisations providing housing and care support, one provider would deliver all aspects of the support to everyone living within the scheme. This would include an on-call service, direct one to one support, overnight support in the form of a waking night service, housing and welfare support, and day activities all rolled together.

We think this service would provide appropriate support and a pathway to increased safe independence for:

  • People who would typically be supported in an ISL setting but who have less complex needs
  • Young people in transition who no longer wish to live at home but for whom an independent tenancy would be difficult to maintain, and
  • Some people currently living in a residential setting.

Find out more about our plans here:

 

Supported Living

This type of support is most likely to be referred to as Independent Supported Living.

In a small property, which is occupied by between 2 and 4 people usually, support is provided around the clock by a care team who are responsible for supporting everyone who lives in the property. These tenancies usually include a basic element of telecare, managed by the care team, to enable support to be provided in the most effective way. In a small number of cases, this type of support is provided to a person living on their own.

We have services like this across the city. Find out more about Supported Living from someone who lives in one of our schemes:

 

Network

This is a network of individual properties within a short distance from each other (usually within a couple of miles of each other). A support worker lives close by and provides minimal levels of support to help the people in the network to manage their tenancy, deal with practical aspects of daily life, and to live independently. People live in their own tenancy, which is tied to the network, and receive support for fewer than 10 hours per week.

We have two of these networks in Newcastle, with 8 people within each. One is in Shieldfield and the other is in the Arthurs Hill area. We’re also testing out a new type of network where people live in different parts of the City, but are able to connect with each other and their support worker using technology.

Find out more from someone who is supported by one of our networks here:

 

Residential Care

Residential Care is for people with very complex needs who require support almost all of the time in a registered care setting. The person pays a set fee that covers the cost of board and lodgings as well as support from staff which is shared between everyone who lives there. People who live here are not tenants and they don’t get to choose who provides support to them.

Find out more about residential care here:

 

Shared Lives

Our Shared Lives scheme provides a ‘family’ home for people who need support throughout the day. People are matched with Shared Lives Carers who agree to share their home, family, and community life. The person is provided with 24/7 oversight and is supported to live a fulfilling life. The aim is to provide an ordinary family life, where everyone gets to contribute to real relationships and all are viewed as active, valued citizens.

Hear from someone who lives with a Shared Lives carer here:

 

Virtual Clusters

Our idea for a Virtual Cluster is similar to that of Community Clusters but instead of providing support within a single site ‘courtyard’ development, it will be provided to people living in 5 or 6 self-contained bungalows within a short walking distance of each other. A single care provider will provide dedicated and floating support as well as waking night support.

This service would be designed for:

  • People who would typically be supported in an ISL type setting but who have very complex needs
  • Some people living in out of area residential settings, where there was no other appropriate setting available within the City at that time.

Find out more about this new type of service here:

 

Living on your own or with Family

Where people are able to live independently in their own tenancy or with family/friends but they need more regular support, this can be provided by a Domiciliary or Home Care agency. The type of support can include personal care, practical aspects of daily life, support to access the community or manage risks. The level of support that is provided can vary widely in terms of the number of hours or the tasks to be completed, but it is provided at set times and days agreed with the person, and support is not available 24/7.

We support people in this way in homes right across the City, find out more here: Support for people aged 16-25 to find appropriate accommodation.

Life Skills

Please click here:

Travelling independently

Independent travel for young people with SEND

National travel and mobility

Relationships & community

Friendships, social life, personal safety, sexual health and sexuality - all these are key issues for you and your young person and you'll need to discuss them, here are some services that can help: Health and life.

Housing
Housing in Newcastle

You can find information on housing advice and homelessness, council and other affordable housing, private rented, housing development, and housing plans, policy and performance on the Newcastle City Council website

Renting Private Property

Renting a home from a private landlord is another alternative to renting from the council, another social landlord (or housing association) or buying your own home.

You can find out some general information and advice about renting privately on Shelter's web pages. Here you can find out about rental agreements, renting from a landlord or a lettings agency, rental deposits and private tenants' (and landlords') rights. There are also hints and tips on looking for and viewing properties to rent.

Newcastle's Private Rented Service

Newcastle's Private Rented Service can help with:

  • Local advertising of properties both online and in their office. All properties advertised through the scheme have been inspected by one of our Officers and meet basic safety standards and all landlords who use our Tenant Finder Service have signed a code of conduct.
  • Help with tenancy agreements and sign-up. They provide a comprehensive sign-up service where they assist tenants in understanding their tenancy agreement, and their rights and obligations as a tenant. They can also assist with utilities change over and other useful advice and support.
  • Advice on benefits and grants. They can advise and assist in applications for housing benefit or discretionary housing payment as well potential grant availability.
  • Advice on your rights as a tenant. They advise and assist with many issues that can arise in the course of renting a property such as repairs, rent arrears, harassment from a neighbour or your private landlord, energy efficiency issues and leaving your tenancy.

 

If you or someone you care for is aged between 16-25 there is information to help you find a home below.

Living independently

Young people who are able to live independently can use Tyne and Wear Homes to apply for social housing. This  includes council and housing association homes as well as private rented and low cost home ownership throughout Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside. The type of housing on offer includes general needs housing and specialised housing for people with disabilities or other particular needs.

You can register with Tyne and Wear Homes by visiting www.tyneandwearhomes.org.uk or call your local housing office or the Property Shop on 0191 278 8600 to have an application form sent to you by post.

Support in your own tenancy

There is support available to people who need help to maintain their independent tenancy. This can be accessed via Newcastle Gateway. You will need a support worker from a partner agency to make a Gateway referral for you. Partner agencies that can complete referrals include:

  • Adults, Children’s and Specialist Social Services
  • Housing Advice Centre
  • Mental Health Services (including NTW employees)
  • Probation and Youth Offending Team
  • Newcastle-based housing and support providers

Young people living in Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) accommodation may also be entitled to support from YHN’s Advice and Support Team. Their aim is to prevent homelessness and help people sustain their tenancies. They can provide assistance to people who need benefits advice, debt counselling, help moving into your new home or have rent arrears problems. There are also specialist workers for clients aged 16-25.

Supported accommodation

Supported accommodation for people who are not able to live independently is available via the Newcastle Gateway. You will need a support worker from a partner agency to make a Gateway referral for you (see above for list). If you have a social worker there may be other supported housing options available, depending on the extent of your needs. Please see this page about Housing with Support options.

Housing advice

If you need housing advice, are at risk of homelessness or are homeless please contact the Housing Advice Centre (HAC) on 0800 1707 008, or email housingadvicecentre@newcastle.gov.uk. The telephone service is available Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 12 noon and 1 - 4.30pm.

We are currently operating a remote service.

Staff at HAC will assess your situation and give you free confidential advice with the aim of helping you to keep your home or assisting you to find one which meets your needs. HAC can help if you are:

  • Struggling with rent or mortgage payments
  • Served with a notice or your tenancy is coming to an end
  • Struggling to stay in your home and need help or support to do so
  • Homeless in a crisis
  • In debt
  • Unsure about your benefits

HAC may provide emergency accommodation to you if you are homeless, but this is a limited service and only available to those in priority need. HAC can't immediately assist everyone who has a housing problem, so try to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. If this is not possible, they will try to find a solution and options to make sure that you have a safe place to stay.

For additional general advice on housing and homelessness issues you can also visit the Shelter website or call their free telephone helpline on 0808 800 4444.

ne on 0808 800 4444.

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