Supported living and working aged adults

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The service

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Supported living is available to adults who meet the eligibility criteria under the Care Act 2014. Support living services provide support to individuals with an assessed care and support need to promote or retain independence within the local community.

People using the service are aged between 18 and 64 years old and living with:

  • a learning disability
  • autism
  • physical disability
  • and/or a mental health condition. 

People will hold a tenancy for the property they live in, with their care and support provided by a commissioned care provider. 

We currently provide supported living to 373 people. 

The current landscape

Adult support living services are provided in Medway under the contract Supported Living for Adults over the age of 18. Supported living services are purchased through a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). This ensures a diverse range of services in Medway, that can meet a wide range of individual needs. The DPS agreement started in March 2023. 

There have been many expressions of interest from local and national organisations to join the DPS framework. Due to the variety and complexity of individual needs, we breakdown services into one of 3 lots according to the level of need. This includes:

  • lot 1 - lower needs
  • lot 2 - higher needs in addition to low level support (must be CQC registered)
  • lot 3 - specialist support. 

Care providers who apply to join the DPS go through an evaluation process to determine their ability to provide services that meet the required standard. Providers are approved for lots that match the service they specialise in. 

Contract management

Supported living DPS contracts are managed by the Adults Partnership Commissioning Team with quality improvement and provider support provided by the Quality Assurance Team. Regular contract and forum meetings take place between us and service providers. This is to ensure commissioned services:

  • meet contractual requirements
  • continue to develop
  • improve quality standards
  • identify risks, and steps are taken to reduce them are implemented quickly. 

Working closely with service providers allows us to determine how the market is performing and identify any opportunities to develop the service.

Medway Council rates

Through the use of the DPS we take a person centred approach to brokering supported living services. These services are cost based depending on the level of need. We do not have a fixed cost/rate model. 

To ensure rates are in line with market averages and costed fairly using a digital cost of care calculator tool (CareCubed). CareCubed licences are available to all DPS providers. Providers are expected to use this tool to generate and evidence a fair cost of care. 

Current supported living providers

There are over 100 care provides of on our DPS made up of Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered and non CQC registered providers. The DPS is open and allows providers to express an interest to join the system through the contract. 

Supported living services do not always have regulated activity as part of the care and support package. This ensures the care and support provided supports individuals' independence. 

Through our current selection of providers, we have been able to create more choice to respond to individuals with low needs. During this contract, we continue to work with our providers to develop capacity to support individuals with learning disabilities and complex mental health, alongside accessible properties. 

Workforce

Medway's support living providers must follow safe recruitment practices, which is a requirement of the contract, and is outlined in the organisations recruitment policy. Current feedback suggests recruitment into the sector is stable. 

In recent years workforce pressures have been a challenge. Many organisations in Medway have internation recruitment licences which has had a positive impact on the number of care and support staff locally. Ensuring the resilience in the market is important, reviews of the workforce and practices are carried out by the Adult Partnership commissioning Team and the Quality Assurance Team. They include the use of collaborative digital tools such as the ADASS international dashboard. This allows us to review and share information with other local authorities and stakeholders. 

Commissioning model

Individuals needs and outcomes are at the forefront. Preferences, values and needs should be identified for a suited combination of support and housing. This individualised approach works towards ensuring:

  • better outcomes
  • that individuals are at the centre
  • the ability to have choice regarding support and housing. 

Referrals for individuals are published through the DPS for an average of 10 to 15 days. This allows access and interest to be expressed by suitable care providers. The evaluation process considers factors including:

  • quality
  • ability to meet needs
  • individual choice
  • price. 

This approach ensures each placement has the person at the centre by giving real choice and engagement during the process.

Recommissioning

The recommissioning of supported living will start late 2025 to ensure service agreements are in place for February 2027. During this time, we'll be engaging with providers and service user to get feedback and insight to help:

  • shape future services
  • ensure the best quality and value for Medway residents. 

When a service is recommissioned, it will likely follow the same model incorporating areas of development. These will be explored at the start of the recommissioning process.