Supported Living for Barking and Dagenham Residents

How far are your supported living homes from Dagenham?

All three are across London from the borough. Uxbridge is usually the quickest.

• Uxbridge: about 25 to 30 miles by car along the A406 North Circular and the A40, roughly an hour when the roads are clear. By public transport allow around an hour and a half: the Elizabeth line west from Chadwell Heath to West Drayton (sometimes with a change in central London), then a bus into Uxbridge.
• Kingston upon Thames: across central London and out from Waterloo by South Western Railway, around an hour and a half or more.
• Whitton, near Twickenham, is on a Waterloo line too and takes a similar time or a little longer.

From Rush Green or Marks Gate, add a bus at the start. Before anything is decided, think about who will visit and how often, and whether the person wants to keep a day service, college course, job or friendships in Barking and Dagenham.

Which team at Barking and Dagenham Council handles supported living?

For adults new to social care, the starting point is the council's Adult Intake Team, part of Adult Health and Social Care. Call 020 8227 2915 or email intaketeam@lbbd.gov.uk to ask for a Care Act needs assessment. The council's supported living and accommodation page says the borough has several supported housing schemes of its own, for short and long stays. If someone is already known to a specialist team, that team usually leads.

Adults with a learning disability

The Community Learning Disability Team is a joint NHS and council team for adults aged 18 and over, based at the Becontree Centre, 508 Becontree Avenue, Dagenham RM8. NELFT describes the team as responsible for assessment, care planning, specialist health care and buying care packages, so for most adults with a learning disability this is where a supported living placement would be discussed and agreed.

Adults with serious mental illness

NELFT runs three Mental Health and Wellness Teams for the borough. North is at the Becontree Centre, West at Barking Community Hospital on Upney Lane, and East at Beam Park Health Centre in Rainham. For someone under one of these teams, raise supported accommodation with their care coordinator.

Young people moving from children's services

The council's transition pathway starts at 14 (Year 9). Young people likely to need adult support go on a tracking list for the Specialist Transition Panel. At 17 an adult social worker carries out a Care Act assessment, and a support plan with a funding request goes to the Adult Resource Panel no later than three months before their 18th birthday. If supported living is the aim, say so at EHCP reviews well before that point.

Who pays if the person moves to west London?

Normally Barking and Dagenham Council, if it arranges the placement. Under the Care Act's ordinary residence rules, a council that places someone in supported living in another area usually keeps responsibility for funding and reviews. Chapter 19 of the government's Care and Support Statutory Guidance explains this. Get this confirmed in writing.

Support is funded once the assessment confirms eligible needs and a financial assessment has looked at income and savings. Rent is separate and often covered by Housing Benefit; where needs are mainly health needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare may pay instead. Some people take their council funding as a direct payment; in Barking and Dagenham the social worker can refer you to Empower, the council's Direct Payment Support Service (020 8059 3635), for help managing it. We give a quote only after meeting the person. See our paying for care guide.

A tenancy for the home, a separate plan for the support

In supported living the person signs a tenancy or licence for their room or flat, which gives them housing rights. Their care and support come under a separate agreement with a provider registered with the CQC for personal care. In principle they can change support provider without losing their home.

Ask us how this works at the home you are considering. JNP Sidona is CQC-registered but has not yet been inspected, so we have no rating to show you. Details of each home are on our supported living page.

What to ask any provider, including us

• Who is the landlord, and what exactly will the person sign?
• How is support arranged overnight?
• Will staff help with journeys back to Dagenham or Barking for family events, and who pays the fares?
• Which GP will the person register with, and how will the NELFT learning disability or mental health team hand over care?
• Can we start with a short respite stay?

Help for the family carer meanwhile

If you look after the person at home, you can ask for a carer's assessment of your own through the Adult Intake Team, or through Carers of Barking and Dagenham at 334 Heathway, Dagenham (020 8593 4422). The learning disability and mental health teams carry out carers' assessments too.

What we can help with in Barking and Dagenham

• Homes in Whitton, Kingston and Uxbridge
• Permanent or respite stays
• Support with daily living skills
• Help to build independence
• Tenancy and care explained clearly
• Community, day centres and outings
• Visit before you decide
• Referrals from social workers welcome