Lewisham · South-east London
Supported Living for Lewisham Residents
Yes, an adult from Lewisham can live in one of our supported living homes, permanently or for a respite stay. The homes themselves are not in Lewisham: they are in Kingston upon Thames, Whitton (Twickenham) and Uxbridge, on the other side of London. Our office is on Lewisham High Street, so you can talk it through with us here before anyone travels, and if Lewisham Council is paying, the move is agreed with the person's social worker.
Do you have supported living in Lewisham itself?
No. We are a Lewisham business, but our three homes are all in west and south-west London, a long way from a day service in New Cross or family in Catford. For some people the right home is worth that distance; for others it is not. What we can offer locally is the first conversation, at Tower House, 67-71 Lewisham High Street, before anyone visits a home.
Three routes in through Lewisham Adult Social Care
Lewisham Council pays for supported living only after a Care Act needs assessment. Who starts that depends on where the person is now.
An adult with no social worker
Ask Lewisham Adult Social Care for a needs assessment on 020 8314 7777 or at gateway@lewisham.gov.uk. The council's assessment page offers a short online self-check first, and says a full assessment can take up to six weeks. If the person is eligible, a social worker helps look at options.
A young person coming up to 18
If they have a social worker in children's services, housing belongs in the transition plan they are building. If not, you can ask for an assessment yourself. For questions about the move, the council's transitions pages point families to the Kaleidoscope Child Development Centre at 32 Rushey Green, Catford (020 7138 1100). One change catches families out: adult social care is means-tested, so at 18 the young person may have to contribute to their care.
Someone under a mental health team
Adult mental health care in the borough is provided by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, whose Lewisham services include community mental health teams and a rehabilitation service at Heather Close in Hither Green. If the person has a care coordinator, raise supported accommodation with them as well as with the council.
Ask about Lewisham's own options too. The council's supported independent living page describes flats of your own, shared houses and homes with staff on site, plus Shared Lives and sheltered housing for over-55s. Ask the social worker to set those next to homes like ours.
From Lewisham to Kingston, Whitton or Uxbridge
- Kingston upon Thames is the nearest. By car it is roughly 50 to 70 minutes along the A205 South Circular, which is slow through Catford at busy times. By train, allow about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes: Lewisham to London Bridge or Waterloo East, then a train from Waterloo to Kingston.
- Whitton, near Twickenham, is about the same or a little longer, also via Waterloo.
- Uxbridge is the furthest, around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
From Downham, Bellingham or Grove Park, add the journey to Lewisham or London Bridge first. Think about how often family will visit, and what the person would leave behind: a place at the Mulberry Hub or the Leemore Centre, a course, a job.
Who pays for supported living for someone from Lewisham?
There are two parts. The person pays rent and bills, often with Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, plus food and personal items. The council may pay for the support if they are eligible, after a financial assessment.
When Lewisham places someone in supported living in another borough, it usually stays responsible for them under the Care Act's ordinary residence rules, explained in chapter 19 of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance. Get that confirmed in writing before the move. Lewisham also allows direct payments to choose a provider. If needs are mainly health needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare may fund the care. We quote only after we have met the person; our paying for care guide explains the means test.
Your home and your support are two different agreements
In supported living the person is a tenant with tenancy rights, and their support sits in a separate support plan, so in principle the support provider can change without the person losing their home. Ask who the landlord is at any home, ours included. JNP Sidona is registered with the CQC for personal care and has not yet been inspected, so we have no rating to show you. More about the homes is on our supported living page.
Questions worth putting to any provider
- What will the person sign, and with whom?
- Who are the other tenants, and does the person get a say when someone new moves in?
- How is support covered overnight?
- Will staff help with visits back to Lewisham, and who pays the fares?
- How will the GP, health checks and any SLaM care be handed over to services near the new home?
- Can the person try a respite stay first?
If the person needs help to have their say, Lewisham Speaking Up provides advocacy for people with learning disabilities in the borough.
Support for Lewisham families while you decide
If you are the main carer, you can ask for your own carer's assessment. Lewisham's unpaid carers service is run by the charity Imago (0300 373 5769), which can also help with a carer's assessment.
What we can help with in Lewisham
- 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 Lewisham we cover
Care across the borough, including these neighbourhoods. Each has its own page with local detail.
Our services
How we can help in Lewisham
From a few visits a week to a carer who lives in, choose the support that fits.
Lewisham FAQs
Questions Lewisham families ask
Questions families ask us about Lewisham. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Ask a questionCan we meet you in Lewisham before visiting a home?
Yes. Our office is at Tower House on Lewisham High Street, SE13. Call first to arrange a time.
My daughter is 17 and has a social worker from Lewisham children's services. Where do we start?
With that social worker. Ask for supported living to be part of her transition plan. Kaleidoscope on Rushey Green is the council's contact for questions about the move to adult services.
He goes to the Leemore Centre three days a week. Could he keep going from Kingston?
Probably not every week; the journey is over an hour each way. Ask the social worker about day services near the new home, and think hard about whether losing that routine is worth it.
Would Lewisham still be his council after he moves?
Usually, if Lewisham arranged the placement. The ordinary residence rules normally keep the placing council responsible for funding and reviews. Ask for written confirmation.
Get started
Looking for care in Lewisham?
Tell us what is happening and we will tell you honestly whether we can help, and how.