Kensington and Chelsea · Central London
Supported Living for Kensington and Chelsea Residents
We don't have a supported living home in Kensington and Chelsea. Our three homes are in Whitton, Kingston upon Thames and Uxbridge, and someone from the Royal Borough can live in one, permanently or for a respite stay, once their social worker has agreed the placement. From the south of the borough Whitton is usually closest. From the north, Uxbridge is easier.
How do you get supported living through Kensington and Chelsea council?
Everything starts with a Care Act needs assessment from Kensington and Chelsea Adult Social Care, which the council runs jointly with Westminster. You can request an assessment through People First, the councils' shared information site, or phone the Social Services Line on 020 7361 3013 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). If the person already has a social worker or care coordinator, start with them.
Adults with a learning disability
The Community Learning Disability Team, a joint health and social care team, is at 1-9 St Marks Road, W11 1RG (020 7313 6880, duty worker 020 7313 6843). After an assessment it considers supported living, a care home or Shared Lives, as People First's accommodation page explains.
Young people leaving children's services
The transition team can start working with a disabled young person from 16. According to the council's transition guidance, the Kensington and Chelsea team covers physical disabilities as well as learning disabilities; Westminster's covers learning disabilities only. If your son or daughter has an Education, Health and Care Plan, ask for supported living to be discussed at their reviews from about 16, not after 18.
Mental health
Adults under secondary mental health care are supported by the CNWL North Kensington and Chelsea hub (Barlby Road, W10) or the South hub (Nightingale Place, SW10), or by the Older People Community Mental Health Team at the St Charles Centre. The referral comes through the person's care coordinator.
Moving to Whitton, Kingston or Uxbridge doesn't hand the person over to another council. If Kensington and Chelsea arranges supported living outside the borough, section 39 of the Care Act normally keeps Kensington and Chelsea responsible for the person's care and reviews. Chapter 19 of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance explains the ordinary residence rules.
Travelling from the Royal Borough to our homes
Which home is easiest for family visits depends on which end of the borough you live in. Times are rough estimates by public transport.
- Earl's Court, West Brompton and Chelsea (SW5, SW10, SW3): Whitton, in about 45 to 60 minutes. Take the District line to Richmond, or the Overground from West Brompton to Clapham Junction, then a South Western Railway train to Whitton. Kingston is similar, via Wimbledon or Clapham Junction.
- Gloucester Road and South Kensington (SW7): some Piccadilly line trains run to Uxbridge without a change. Many westbound trains go to Heathrow instead, so check the destination on the front of the train.
- North Kensington, Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill (W10, W11): Uxbridge, in about 45 to 60 minutes. Take the Hammersmith & City line to Hammersmith and change to the Piccadilly line, or drive out along the A40.
Before giving up a flat in the borough
Many residents rent from the council or a housing association, on the northern estates or at World's End. A secure social tenancy in central London is very hard to get back once given up, so talk to the landlord and social worker before anyone signs a notice to quit. A respite stay lets the person try one of our homes while keeping their tenancy.
In supported living the person has their own tenancy or licence, and care comes under a separate support plan from a provider registered with the Care Quality Commission. JNP Sidona is registered for personal care. We have not been inspected yet, so we have no rating.
Who pays for supported living for a Kensington and Chelsea resident?
The rent and the care are funded separately. Rent is often met through Housing Benefit. The council pays for care once the needs assessment finds eligible needs, then carries out a financial assessment to decide what, if anything, the person contributes. A personal budget can be taken as a direct payment under the bi-borough scheme. People First explains this on its personal budgets and direct payments page. Someone whose needs are mainly health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare. We give a price only after we have assessed the person. Our guide to paying for care covers the means test.
What to ask any provider
- Who is the landlord, and what kind of agreement will the person sign?
- How will staff help the person keep the routines they have now? That might mean a church in Notting Hill, a day service in the north of the borough, or Sunday lunch with family in Chelsea.
- Has the Kensington and Chelsea social worker agreed the placement, and who will carry out reviews?
- Can the person have a short stay before deciding?
The homes are described on our supported living page.
What we can help with in Kensington and Chelsea
- 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 Kensington and Chelsea we cover
Care across the borough, including these neighbourhoods. Each has its own page with local detail.
Our services
How we can help in Kensington and Chelsea
From a few visits a week to a carer who lives in, choose the support that fits.
Visiting care in Kensington and Chelsea
Regular visits for personal care, medication, meals and company.
Read more →Live-in care in Kensington and Chelsea
A carer who lives in, for one person or a couple.
Read more →Respite care in Kensington and Chelsea
Cover so a family carer can rest, recover or go away.
Read more →Kensington and Chelsea FAQs
Kensington and Chelsea families ask
Questions families ask us about Kensington and Chelsea. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Ask a questionMy daughter is 16, has an EHCP and uses a wheelchair but has no learning disability. Will the transition team see her?
In Kensington and Chelsea it should, if she has eligible social care needs, because the team here covers young people with physical disabilities as well as those with learning disabilities. Ask her school or social worker to make the referral, and raise supported living early.
My brother is under the South Kensington and Chelsea mental health hub. Can we refer him to you directly?
You can call us to ask questions or arrange a visit. If the council or NHS is funding his support, though, his care coordinator at the hub needs to make the referral and agree the placement.
Can we try a respite stay while my mother looks after him at home in W10?
Yes. All three homes take respite stays, depending on what is free at the time. Council-funded breaks for a family carer usually follow a carer's assessment, which the council may ask Carers Network to carry out. See our respite care page.
Will he have to change GP?
After a permanent move, probably. GP practices register people who live in their area, so he would usually join a practice near the new home. Kensington and Chelsea would still normally be responsible for his social care reviews.
Nearby
Other areas near Kensington and Chelsea
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