Find advice, guidance and links to sources of support for young people about housing options and living as independently as possible.
On this page
- Housing options and choices
- Nottinghamshire County Council independent living and housing support
- Housing through your local Borough or District Council
- Independent living organisations
- Financial support for home and housing
Housing options and choices
Everybody needs a home. A place where they are able to do the things they like to do, somewhere they feel safe and secure or somewhere to be with friends or just to relax.
This may be staying in your current home, looking at moving into your own home, or supported accommodation that may help you to become more independent.
Your home and living circumstances should enable you to have as much independence as you can, whilst ensuring you have the right support to make this happen.
What are the different options?
The following are some of the different housing options that may be available.
Staying in your own home
You may want to stay in your existing accommodation but make some changes to meet your needs and become more independent. This could be through support to enable you to become more independent such as budgeting and cooking or adapting the property to make it more suitable for you through aids and adaptations.
Supported or 'move-on' accommodation
Some providers use the term 'move-on' for a type of service available through a supported housing arrangement. This is usually provided through a local authority or housing association.
Move-on accommodation can provide a young person with their first tenancy agreement. This is often a shared house but can be in single accommodation.
Shared lives scheme
In a shared lives scheme, there are different options, including living in a carer's home, daytime support, and outreach support to live more independently.
The shared lives carers will offer support and care. This can be a short-term or long-term arrangement.
In order to access this scheme you will need to be at least 18 years old and be eligible for social care support.
Getting your own home
This could include renting or buying a home.
Renting means that you will pay someone else to live in a building they own. You can rent homes through a:
- Council or housing association
- a voluntary or charity organisation
- A private landlord or letting agent
- a family member, friend or someone you know.
If you are buying a home, there are a number of ways you could own a home.
For example, people can enter a shared ownership agreement, either with investment from the family, help to buy or buy a home together with a number of other people.
They can also buy a home outright, should they have an inheritance or other money to do this with.
Supported living
Some people may require support to live independently. Supported living is for people with a learning disability or mental health problem who want to live as independently as possible.
To understand how much support you need, the Council will need to carry out an assessment. Supported living schemes offer you a tenancy in a rented property and support to live independently. The support available is usually 24 hours.
Supported living services are available through the local authority and in order to access this type of support you will need to be eligible for social care support.
To discuss your housing support needs you can contact the Customer Service Team (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Further information on housing options
For more about different housing options: Download No place like home guide (Mencap) [PDF]
You can also find out more by visiting:
- Housing information on the My Family Our Needs website
- Housing and how to choose where to live with complex disabilities (Sense charity)
Nottinghamshire County Council independent living and housing support
The following support is offered by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Preparing for adulthood team
Nottinghamshire County Council have a Preparing for adulthood team who can provide support for young people.
They work with young people who have an impairment and require social care support that cannot be accessed through community services already in place.
The Preparing for adulthood team can help with:
- being independent
- being part of the community
- getting the right support
- helping with safety and risks.
For details, go to the Preparing for adulthood team directory listing
Maximising Independence Service
The Maximising Independence Service (formerly known as the Notts Enabling Service) aims to improve your independence.
They agree goals that work to your strengths and develop a plan to improve your life skills and confidence.
A Promoting Independence worker will work with you on your goals for up to 12 weeks.
This is a free service that can help you with:
- travelling around independently: using public transport and staying safe
- improving skills in the home: managing household routines and cooking
- finding new social opportunities: finding local groups and activities
- finding work: looking for voluntary or paid work or signposting you to more specialist employment support
- budgeting: learning about money, organising and paying bills and making your money last
- keeping well: looking after yourself and improving your confidence.
This service is available for adults with social care needs regardless of age or disability, including young people who are approaching adulthood.
To make a referral to the team, contact the Customer Service Team (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Supported living
Nottinghamshire County Council can provide support so you can live in your own home. This is called supported living.
Supported living is for people with a learning disability or mental health problem who want to live as independently as possible. There are a range of care options to suit different levels of needs.
To understand how much support you need, the Council will need to carry out an assessment. If it is agreed that supported living is the right option for you then you will be helped to choose:
- who you live with - you can live on your own or share with others
- who provides your support - you can choose your support provider
- where you live - you can live in a flat, share house or an intentional community
To make a referral for a supported living assessment you will need to contact the Customer Service Team (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Shared lives scheme
Shared lives supports vulnerable people so they can live as independently as possible in the community.
Shared lives support can be delivered in several different ways:
- living in a carer's home - the person needing support may live in the carers own home and be supported in their everyday life - Sharing a carer's home can be to cover a short-term need (such as providing a break for a person's main carer) or a longer-term situation
- day-time support - regular support sessions held in the carer's home
- outreach support - the person needing support lived in their own home, a carer provide help as needed.
To make a referral for a shared lives assessment you will need to contact the Customer Service Team (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Occupational therapy support
Occupational therapy aims to provide support and intervention to help children or young people and adults with disabilities develop to their full potential.
It can assist with overcoming practical problems and maximising a persons independence in their own home, as well as supporting parents or carers to care for their disabled child or young person safely.
Following assessment, this could include the provision of aids and adaptations in the home environment to support an individual to live as independently as possible.
The Occupational therapy team can advise and support on accessing a Disabled Facilities Grant through your local council if adaptations are needed in your home. For more information, go to Disabled Facilities Grants (GOV.UK).
Disability Family Support Service - Occupational Therapy team
The Disability Family Support Service - Occupational Therapy team provide assessment and support for children and young people aged 0 up to 18 years.
Contact the team by:
Telephone: 0115 8041273
Email: childrenot.duty@nottscc.gov.uk
Contact the Adults Occupational therapy team
The Adults Occupational therapy team provide assessment and support for adults aged 18 or over.
To make a referral for adults occupational therapy support, contact the Customer Service Team (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Housing through your local borough or district council
This is accommodation managed by one of the seven borough or district councils in Nottinghamshire.
Each council has access to its own housing and this is managed by their own application process and is accessible via their website, by phone or by attending their office in person.
If successful in applying to your local borough or district council will you be provided with a banding based on your need and would be eligible to apply for appropriate accommodation as it becomes available.
The councils hold a variety of housing including flats, bungalows and houses. Some properties provide a sheltered and supported environment for individuals who requires a level of support.
You can find links to your local council at District and borough councils (Nottinghamshire County Council).
If you need to find out what your local council is, go to Find your local council (GOV.UK)
Independent living organisations
To find details of independent living support organisations and services, go to the Independent living support directory listings
Financial support for home and housing
You can find information on different types of financial support available if you are disabled, including housing benefits, at Financial help if you're disabled (GOV.UK)