Supported Living Services in West Northamptonshire

Learning disability is described by the Department of Health and Social Care as a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence), with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning), which started before adulthood. Providers will have a key understanding of the needs and rights of people with learning disability to live well in their own home in the community, to have new experiences, relationships, and engage with their local community, as well as develop their skills, competence, and confidence to achieve this. The Provider's role will be to promote health and wellbeing and maximise the potential of Individuals, supporting them to fulfil their needs, wishes and ambitions. Care and support will be person-centred, and the Individual will be at the centre of decision-making and life planning, giving them choice and control. The Care and Support plans will clearly demonstrate the development and maintenance of life skills, interests, and activities. To ensure that plans are being regularly updated, they will be formally reviewed with the Individual to ensure they are fit for purpose.

The Northamptonshire All Age Autism strategy 2018-2021 provides an outline of defining Autism as characterized by: unique social interactions, non-standard ways of learning, keen interests in specific subjects, inclination to routines, challenges in typical communications and particular ways of processing sensory information. Autistic individuals experience the world differently and often view autism as a fundamental aspect of their identity. Autism is not an illness or disease. Autistic individuals, their families and carers, have a great many gifts and strengths. With the right sort of support, all can learn, develop, and live more fulfilling lives of their own choosing. Providers will work with the Individual, the agencies involved in their life and their circle of support to develop outcome focused Care and Support Clans which reference their particular requirements in relation to their experience of the world and their needs specifically arising from autism, as well as any other conditions or experiences which are unique to them and require inclusion in their care and support planning and delivery. Providers will ensure that all relevant plans which support reasonable adjustments within the wider system are also developed with the Individual, including (but not limited to) an Autism Health Passport. Providers will ensure emotional regulation plans are actively used and reviewed, presented in an accessible way, and, where possible, led by the Individual. Providers will ensure that Staff are very familiar with the individual's plans and support requirements related to emotional regulation, behaviours related to emotional regulation, and sensory stimulation, and can implement them on a day-to-day and long-term basis with the autistic Individual.

Commissioners have engaged with local Individuals with needs arising from mental health to develop this Specification, to understand what matters to them. Some key statements and contributions are included in clause 4.0 of this document. In addition, the requirements set out in the specifications are designed to support Northamptonshire's MHLDA Collaborative vision: Our vision for the future of Northamptonshire's health and care services is for a positive lifetime of health, wellbeing and care in our community...Wherever we work and whatever our role we all want people in Northamptonshire to be able to choose well, stay well, live well. The Collaboratives vision for people living in Northamptonshire with Mental Health needs is that people: * receive the right care at the right time, * work in partnership to ensure access to support to prevent mental health deteriorating, * to ensure people are supported to live well in the community, * participate in mainstream activities and supported into employment, * are discharged from hospital in a timely way and receive with the right support in the community, reducing readmission Providers will ensure plans developed and reviewed include crisis and risk management plans as appropriate to the Individuals needs and circumstances, which will be developed in collaboration with the relevant people in the Individual's life including their local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) and care coordinator.

The Equality Act, 2010, describes a physical disability as a "limitation on a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina." It has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on a person's ability to do daily activities. Commissioners want to work with Providers who do not just focus on the physical condition, but also understand how the condition affects daily life for the Individual and impacts activities such as work, leisure and personal care as well as their mental health. People with physical disabilities may also have other associated conditions, including neurological conditions, Cerebral Palsy, or Multiple Sclerosis. Many people may also have sensory impairments, including visual and hearing impairments, taste, touch, and smell. The Provider will need to support people with both physical and sensory disabilities. The Provider will be able to support comorbid conditions alongside the primary need of physical disabilities.

The National Care Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE) defines brain injury as an injury to the brain from any cause that results in neurological impairment. Causes include trauma, tumours, infections, metabolic insults and disorders of the blood supply. The resulting impairments may improve, progress or remain relatively stable over time. Adults with ABI have often suffered life-changing events that have adversely affected both the Individual and their families. The Provider will support people in their continuous recovery, resilience and maintenance of independence as well as helping them to adapt to life changes due to the injury. Developing independence and respecting Individuals' autonomy and choice are key requirements of the care and support. Commissioners have engaged with local Individuals with acquired brain injuries to develop this Specification, to understand what matters to them.

The care and support provided at Bective House will enable the Individuals living there to live their lives, in their own home, as independently as possible, achieving their individually defined goals and outcomes on a day-to-day and long-term, aspirational basis. The needs of Individuals across the site will vary from person to person, and it is expected that the Provider will be able to offer a model of support that can flex to meet the needs of everyone on a planned and urgent basis. The service must provide a minimum of 1 member of staff present 24 hours per day, seven days per week on site. It is expected that the service will be able to offer a flexible support model ensuring there is adequate staffing at the site to meet the assessed risk, and care and support profile across the service at any given time. Weekly support hours shall be agreed between the Individual, the Provider and the agency responsible for the referral (Adult Social Care, NHFT, NICB). The Provider will need to deliver the Service effectively, responding to the changing needs of all Individuals at Bective Court and their progression towards independence.

The care and support provided at the Moray Lodge scheme enables the Individuals living there to live their lives, in their own home, as independently as possible, achieving their individually defined goals and outcomes on a day-to-day and long-term, aspirational basis. The criteria for Individuals referred to and living at this service are that they require a supported living environment with 24 hours of support available on site. Generally, it is envisaged that Individuals referred will be supported to gain readiness for living in the community, potentially stepping down from more restrictive support environments, with the goal of ultimately moving onto community housing where possible. Some individuals may be referred to support maintaining their independence and to prevent them from moving onto more restrictive support environments. The needs of Individuals across the site will vary from person to person, and it is expected that the Provider will be able to offer a model of support that can flex to meet the needs of everyone on a planned and urgent basis. The service will work with individuals to maximize their independent living skills, and where possible, support them to get ready for living independently in the community and move onto alternative independent housing. The service must provide a minimum core support of 2 support workers present on site 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It is expected that the service will offer a flexible support model ensuring there is adequate staffing at the site to meet the assessed risk, and care and support profile across the service at any given time.

The care and support provided at the Moray Lodge MHLDA scheme enables the Individuals living there to live their lives, in their own home, as independently as possible, achieving their individually defined goals and outcomes on a day-to-day and long-term, aspirational basis. The criteria for individuals referred to and living at this service are that they require a supported living environment with 24-hour support available on site. Generally, it is envisaged that Individuals referred will be supported to gain readiness for living in the community, ultimately moving onto community housing. Some Individuals may be referred to support maintaining their independence and to prevent them from moving onto more restrictive support environments. The needs of Individuals across the site will vary from person to person, and it is expected that the Provider will be able to offer a model of support that can flex to meet the needs of everyone on a planned and urgent basis. The service will work with Individuals to maximize their independent living skills, and, where possible, support them to get ready for living independently in the community and move onto alternative independent housing. The service must provide a minimum core support of 1 support worker present on site 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It is expected that the service will offer a flexible support model ensuring there is adequate staffing at the site to meet the assessed risk, and care and support profile across the service at any given time.

The service must provide a minimum of 1 member of staff present 24 hours per day, seven days per week on site. It is expected that the service will be able to offer a flexible support model ensuring there is adequate staffing at the site to meet the assessed risk, and care and support profile across the service at any given time. The care and support provided at Sandy Hill Lane will need to enable the Individuals living there to live their lives, in their own home, as independently as possible, achieving their individually defined goals and outcomes on a day-to-day and long-term, aspirational basis. The needs of Individuals across the site will vary from person to person, and it is expected that the Provider will be able to offer a model of support that can flex to meet the needs of everyone on a planned and urgent basis. It is expected that the service will offer a flexible support model ensuring there is adequate staffing at the site to meet the assessed risk, and care and support profile across the service at any given time.