Greenwich · South-east London
Supported Living for Greenwich Residents
A Greenwich adult can move into one of our supported living homes, for good or for a respite stay, but none of the homes is in Greenwich. They are in Kingston upon Thames, Whitton and Uxbridge, across London in the west and south-west. If the Royal Borough of Greenwich is funding it, the move is agreed through the person's social worker. Kingston is the nearest home, about an hour's drive from Woolwich or Eltham.
How Royal Greenwich refers people for supported living
The council funds supported living only after a Care Act needs assessment. The way in depends on the person's age and which team already knows them.
Adults not yet known to social care
Health and Adult Services handles adult referrals through its Contact Assessment Team at The Woolwich Centre on Wellington Street. Use the council's ask for support with adult care and health form, or phone 020 8921 2304 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4pm). If you are applying for someone else, get their permission first.
Young people moving to adulthood
Greenwich does things a little differently here. Its specialist SEND social work team works with young people from birth up to 25 who have complex disabilities, or who have an EHCP and will need care as adults. It carries out the “moving to adulthood” needs assessment, so a young person can keep the same social workers past 18. Referrals go through the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub on 020 8921 2599. If supported living is the long-term goal, say so at the EHCP review and ask for it to be written into the support plan.
Adults with a learning disability
Health support comes from the Greenwich Community Learning Disability Team, run by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and also based at The Woolwich Centre (020 8921 4860). It has a Preparing for Adulthood team and can help someone think through where they want to live. Any decision to pay for supported living still rests with the council.
Mental health
Oxleas also runs adult mental health care through its Recovery Team in Charlton, and an older people's team at the Memorial Hospital on Shooters Hill. If someone has an Oxleas care coordinator, raise supported accommodation with them as well as the council.
Ask about Greenwich options too. A home across London is a big step. Ask the social worker to set what is available inside the borough next to homes like ours.
Getting from Greenwich to our homes
- Kingston upon Thames is nearest: roughly an hour by car along the A205 South Circular, more in traffic. By public transport allow about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. From North Greenwich the Jubilee line runs straight to Waterloo, and Kingston trains leave from there. From Woolwich, Charlton or Eltham you go into London Bridge first.
- Whitton, near Twickenham, is a little further, also by train from Waterloo.
- Uxbridge is the furthest, around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
From Thamesmead or Abbey Wood, add extra time. Think honestly about who will visit and how often, and whether the person would give up a day service, college course, job or club in Greenwich.
Who pays for supported living for a Greenwich resident?
If Royal Greenwich arranges the placement, it normally keeps paying for the support and carrying out reviews after the move. Under the Care Act's ordinary residence rules, someone placed in supported living in another borough usually stays the responsibility of the council that placed them. Chapter 19 of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance sets this out. Ask for it in writing before the move.
Once eligible needs are confirmed, the council carries out a financial assessment of the person's income and savings. Rent is separate and is often covered by Housing Benefit. If the needs are mainly health needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare may fund the care. We give a quote only after we have met the person. Our paying for care guide has more.
A tenancy and a care plan are separate
In supported living the person holds a tenancy or licence for their room or flat, which gives them rights as a tenant. Their support is arranged under a separate care plan, from a provider registered with the CQC for personal care. In principle, the support provider can change without the person losing their home.
Ask us how this works at the home you are looking at. JNP Sidona is registered with the CQC but has not yet been inspected, so we have no rating. The homes are described on our supported living page.
What to ask any provider before a move across London
- Who is the landlord, and what exactly will the person sign?
- Who else lives there, and does the person get a say in new tenants?
- How is support covered at night?
- Will staff help with trips home to Greenwich, and who pays the fares?
- Which GP would they join, and how will the Oxleas team hand over to services in the new area?
- Can we start with a respite stay?
Support for Greenwich families in the meantime
If you care for the person, you can ask for a carer's assessment through the same Contact Assessment Team. It is usually done alongside the cared-for person's assessment, but you can ask for your own. Greenwich Carers Centre, at The Stables on Hornfair Road by Charlton Park (0300 300 2233), offers advice and support to carers in the borough. Greenwich Mencap supports people with a learning disability and their families.
What we can help with in Greenwich
- 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
Areas of Greenwich we cover
Care across the borough, including these neighbourhoods. Each has its own page with local detail.
Our services
How we can help in Greenwich
From a few visits a week to a carer who lives in, choose the support that fits.
Greenwich FAQs
Questions Greenwich families ask
Questions families ask us about Greenwich. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Ask a questionMy son is 19 and still has a Greenwich social worker from children's services. Who do we talk to?
Probably the same team. Royal Greenwich's SEND social work team works with young people up to 25 with complex disabilities or an EHCP, and it carries out moving to adulthood assessments. Ask that social worker about supported living first.
We live in Thamesmead and don't drive. How hard is it to visit Kingston?
It is a long trip: a bus to Abbey Wood or Plumstead, a train into London Bridge, then a train from Waterloo to Kingston. Allow around two hours each way.
Does the Oxleas learning disability team decide on a placement?
No. The Oxleas team gives health support and can help someone think about housing. Where the council is paying, the placement is assessed for and commissioned by Royal Greenwich's adult social care.
Our address is on the Greenwich and Bexley border. Which council do we contact?
The council you pay council tax to. Abbey Wood and Thamesmead are both split between the two boroughs, so check your council tax bill before you ask for an assessment.
Could my daughter try a short stay first?
Yes, our homes take respite stays as well as permanent residents, depending on what is free. It is a fair test of whether the distance works for her and for you.
Get started
Looking for care in Greenwich?
Tell us what is happening and we will tell you honestly whether we can help, and how.