Choosing the Right Care Model: Supported Living vs. Residential Care

As a potential provider looking to set up care services, understanding the distinctions between supported living and residential care is essential. This guide will help you decide which model aligns best with your goals and the needs of the individuals you plan to support.

What is Supported Living?

Supported living is not legally defined but is guided by the Reach Standards in Supported Living. These standards ensure that individuals have control over their lives and can live as independently as possible. The principles include:

• Choice of Living Companions: Individuals can choose who they live with.
• Choice of Living Location: Individuals decide where they live.
• Home Ownership: Ensuring individuals have their own homes.
• Personalised Support: Tailoring support to individual needs.
• Choice of Support Providers: Individuals can select who supports them.
• Quality Support: Ensuring high-quality support is provided.
• Social Relationships: Encouraging the choice of friends and relationships.
• Health and Safety: Individuals choose how to stay healthy and safe.
• Community Participation: Facilitating involvement in community activities.
• Equal Rights: Individuals have the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens.
• Life Changes Support: Providing help to make necessary life changes.

Prerequisites for Setting Up Supported Living

To establish a supported living service, providers need to ensure:

• Separate Contracts: Have distinct agreements for accommodation and care.
• Independent Providers: Accommodation and care providers should operate independently.
• Tenant Rights: Tenants must have exclusive occupation rights and the ability to remain in their homes even if they no longer need care.
• Flexibility: Tenants should have the freedom to change their care provider without affecting their accommodation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidelines, ensuring that the care model maximises choice, control, and independence.

What is Residential Care?

Residential care is defined under the Care Standards Act 2000 as an establishment that provides both accommodation and personal care.

Personal care includes assistance with daily activities such as feeding, bathing, and toileting. This model assumes that the individual needs comprehensive care and provides a full package of housing, care, and daily living support.

Prerequisites for Setting Up Residential Care

To establish a residential care facility, providers need to ensure:

• Integrated Services: Provide a comprehensive package where accommodation and care are combined.
• Single Contract: Care and accommodation are provided under a single agreement.
• Full-Time Care: The facility must be equipped to offer full-time, intensive support.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to the Care Standards Act 2000 and CQC regulations, ensuring the provision of high-quality, continuous care.

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SUPPORTED LIVING AND RESIDENTIAL CARE

1.Independence and Choice:

• Supported Living: Emphasises personal choice and independence. Individuals can choose their living companions, location, and support providers. They also have exclusive rights to their accommodation.
• Residential Care: Offers a comprehensive package where care and accommodation are provided together, often leaving less room for personal choice and independence.

2. Contractual Arrangements:

• Supported Living: Features separate contracts for accommodation and care. This separation allows individuals to change care providers without affecting their housing situation.
• Residential Care: Care and accommodation are provided under a single contract, making them inseparable.

3.  Regulatory Guidance:

• Supported Living: According to the CQC, supported living services should have separate providers for accommodation and care, ensuring no need for coordination between them. Tenants can remain in their homes even if they no longer require care services.
• Residential Care: Governed by stricter regulations where the assumption is that the person needs full-time care. The establishment provides a combined service of housing and care.

4.  Rights and Responsibilities:

• Supported Living: Ensures individuals have the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens, emphasising their role as active community members.
• Residential Care: Focuses more on meeting the daily living and care needs of the individual within the facility.

5.  Support for Specific Needs:

• Supported Living: The CQC's guidance for supporting autistic people and those with learning disabilities highlights the importance of choice, control, and a person-centred approach in supported living settings.
• Residential Care: Provides a more controlled environment where care is structured and integrated into the living arrangement.

Conclusion

Choosing between supported living and residential care depends on the type of care and level of independence you wish to provide. Supported living offers greater autonomy and flexibility, allowing individuals to live more independently with tailored support.

In contrast, residential care provides a comprehensive, all-inclusive care package, which can be beneficial for those requiring intensive and constant support. Understanding these differences and the prerequisites for each model can help you make an informed decision on the best service to establish.