Housing options for young people who need support

From year 9, when young people start planning for their future, they should be given information about help with housing. This includes benefits and funding for people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to live independently. As well as personal budgets, community support, and technology to support independent living.

Independent living does not describe a type of accommodation, or mean living alone. It means being in control of your living situation as much as you can be and being in an environment which promotes health and happiness.

Assessing how much support is needed

When a young person has complex needs, Adult Social Care will do an assessment to find out what support they will need, to enable them to live as independently as possible. This can include adaptations to a property, for example making it wheelchair accessible, or arranging personal assistance for young people with special educational needs. A financial assessment will determine what (if any) contribution a family will need to make towards the cost of social care services.

The Transition Team can help a young person from the age of 14 to 18 move from services for children to adult social care services. They will create a support plan with the young person, describing how their funding can be used to help them live independently.

Finding somewhere to live

Some families will continue to have their young person live with them when they become an adult. Other young adults may be able to privately rent a place to live, with or without financial support from their family. In both cases, you can still ask Adult Social Care for an assessment of need, if support is required to live independently.

It is the responsibility of the local borough or district council to allocate social housing. Some of the properties and supported housing schemes will be directly managed by the council, whereas others will be through housing associations. To join the housing register and to find out what types of supported living are available in your area, you will need to contact your local Housing Options Team. You can find their contact details by clicking on your local area below.

Housing Options Teams in Surrey

Support for young people to live independently

Support workers can visit people in their homes to deliver agreed assistance. They are available to people living in owner occupied or rented homes and supported living accommodation. Young people can access this support by being referred by a service already working with them. Self-referrals can also be made via the local district or borough Housing Options Team.

Personal Assistant (PA) Finder is a service run by Surrey Independent Living Council which can be used to find Personal Assistants seeking new work opportunities.

Adaptations to your home might be necessary to improve mobility or to accommodate specialist equipment. You may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant, available through your local district or borough council.

Shared Lives are a provider of adult placements, for people with learning disabilities to stay with a supportive family in a home environment.

Being part of the community

Some young people with SEND will only need a small amount of support at home, spending the day at college or work. If this is not the case, support services should help young people to access leisure and social activities in their local community. This can help the young adult continue developing their skills and is good for their emotional wellbeing.

  • Day services in Surrey are available through social care services for adults with complex or severe learning or physical disabilities.
  • Surrey Choices offer community groups and activities for adults with learning and physical disabilities across Surrey. People with learning disabilities can also hire personal assistants from Surrey Choices, to help them at home and when using community services.
  • The Local Offer directory can be used to search for inclusive sports clubs, theatre groups and events in your local area.

The Rights and Participation Team for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and SEND facilitate the SEND Youth Advisors Surrey (SYAS), a network of children and young people who meet to discuss and influence SEND services in Surrey. There are two participation groups that meet in Woking and Epsom to discuss changes within the service and to ensure young people's voices are heard. If you would like to get involved with SYAS, then please contact the team on rap.team@surreycc.gov.uk or by calling them on 01483 519571.

Services offering support and advice about independent living

  • Surrey Independent Living Council (SILC) helps parents and carers of young people with disabilities who want to use Direct Payments, live independently and arrange the support they require.
  • Golden Lane Housing gives advice and guidance on rented housing options and work closely with young people and families to find the right accommodation.
  • The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) is a national charity providing impartial advice, information and training on independent living.
  • FitzRoy is a national charity that aims to help people with learning disabilities to live more independently.
  • Shelter provide information about a person's rights when they live in supported housing.
  • Mencap provide easy read information about housing for people with learning disabilities.

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