This report and its appendices provide information to support the Health, Care, and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee’s scrutiny of the council’s services to meet the housing needs of working age adults with additional needs.

The committee considered a report on Supported housing for working age adults with additional needs.

The slide pack was published as part of agenda: Link to the Appendix 1 for Supported housing for working age adults with additional needs. The slides presented by the officers are outlined below (in italics), with the principal points noted below.

A The Head of Service Living Well introduced the presentation on Supported housing for working age adults with additional needs.

B The Head of Service Living Well presented:

What is supported living / housing?

b.1 It was noted that supported living as a flexible service model offering tailored support for independence under the Care Act 2014.

b.2 There are differing models for supported living and they may include individual or shared housing options.

Objectives of this Scrutiny Meeting

Current care and support by primary client group

b.3 The total number of people living in supported living is 185 and are broken down into the different categories according to primary client group.

Future demand based on identified need – 18+

Future provision and demand continued

b.4 It was noted that there is approximately 17 people who may need a Supported Living, residential or nursing service when they transition to Adults services.

b.5 Development of a commissioning strategy for working age adults in 2025/26 will include accommodation needs and will be aligned to the new Supported Housing strategy.

C The Strategic Housing Manager presented:

Housing Market Area Needs Assessment – Future Demand

c.1 There is a Housing Market Area Needs Assessment conducted every five years and the current assessment covers the period of 2020-41.

c.2 There has been a large increase in the number of older people with dementia and mobility problems whilst changes for young people are smaller. This reflects the projections that older age groups are expected to see the greatest proportional increases in population.

c.3 Regarding accommodation, the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing added that the focus is on the flexibility of accommodation being built/taken on through RPs so that homes exist for people of different conditions. The numbers that exist, as represented in the slide, help to inform future plans but are adaptable if they change.

Sourcing Accommodation in Herefordshire

c.4 It was clarified that as a non-stock holding local authority, the council is reliant on Registered Providers (RP) for housing stock and it works closely with a range of RPs to try meet demand.

c.5 In order to secure accommodation for a range of vulnerable groups, the Strategic Housing Team works in collaboration with social care.

c.6 In response to a comment on the opportunity of building suitable accommodation for different vulnerable groups, the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing noted that there will likely be a mixture of provision.

Applying for Affordable Accommodation

c.7 It was noted that there is a balancing act between negotiating accessible homes as part of the overall affordable stock. Regulations for homes are moving on all of the time and there are a lot of homes that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38