Supported accommodation provides safe accommodation and support for 16 to 18 year-old looked after children and care leavers. Providers of supported accommodation play a key role in enabling young people who have grown up within the care system to live independently.
While many children in the care system will be best placed in foster care or a children’s home from the age of 16, a looked after child can move to a supported accommodation if they wish to, and if it is deemed appropriate to meet their needs and keep them safe as part of a carefully managed transition to independence.
The aim of supported accommodation is to provide individualised, tailored support to young people to help them to develop the appropriate knowledge and skills to be able to live independently as an adult, whilst keeping them safe in a homely and nurturing environment.
Throughout this article, we will make reference to the Supported Accommodation Regulations (2023) and the accompanying Quality Standards. These requirements were designed to ensure a consistent and high-quality standard of care and support across supported accommodation.
Compliance with these standards is essential, not only for regulatory purposes but for the well-being of the young people being supported.
Find out about the training and development available at Meadows Psychology Services.
Ensuring Resident Safety and Well-Being
One of the primary focuses of supported accommodation providers is ensuring the physical safety, security and emotional wellbeing of the young people who reside within their premises.
- Physical safety and security: Young people who have left care have often experienced environments in the past where they felt very unsafe. It is essential that they feel safe and secure in their supported accommodation.
This is reflected in regulation 5 (Supported Accomodation Regulations, 2023), which highlights that the ‘accommodation must offer stability, be safe and must effectively protect young people from harm’.
Supported accommodation often includes on-site staff or support workers who are on hand to provide advice, guidance and assistance as needed. This can include help with practical tasks such as budgeting, managing household responsibilities, and accessing essential services in the community (e.g., job support).
Supported accommodation providers must also ensure that their premises are designed with key safety features, such as secure entry systems. Risk assessments, regular maintenance and safety checks should also be completed and should reflect the needs of the young people who reside within the home.
- Emotional wellbeing: Supported accommodation should support young people to access a range of services including mental health and emotional support, education, employment support and training.
This plays a key role in helping young people to develop with the skills and resources they need to thrive as they transition into adulthood.
Social activities, group outings, communal areas and meals all help to foster a sense of belonging, promote social connections, and help to reduce feelings of isolation. This can be particularly important as many young people will have experienced disruptions in their relationships and social support during their time in care.
In order to support the emotional wellbeing of these young people, regulation 7 highlights the importance of staff undertaking training in childhood trauma and trauma informed practices.
Staff are also encouraged to “engage in regular reflective practice to ensure staff wellbeing is supported, enabling staff to continue to support young people with their experiences of trauma and mental health needs.” (Supported Accomodation Regulations, 2023).
Compliance with Regulations and Standards
As noted, the Supported Accomodation Regulations (2023) and accompanying Quality Standards were set out to ensure that all providers of Supported Accomodation are providing high-quality care for young people.
The Quality Standards are four standards that providers of supported accommodation must meet. These standards cover leadership and management, protection, accommodation, and support.
- The Protection Standard (Regulation 5), as mentioned above, sets out the requirements to protect young people from harm.
This includes having policies and procedures which appropriately safeguard young people, ensuring staff members are appropriately trained, and ensuring that young people have access to advocacy services.
- The Accommodation Standard (Regulation 6) sets out the requirements for ensuring that young people can access safe and suitable accommodation. This includes providing a clean and comfortable living environment which meets health and safety standards, and providing appropriate cooking, washing, and personal care facilities.
- The Support Standard (Regulation 7) sets out the requirements for ensuring that each young person receives appropriate support. This includes providing support with accessing education, training, and employment opportunities, in addition to support with managing finances, developing key life skills, and accessing emotional support and appropriate healthcare services.
- The Leadership and Management Standard (Regulation 8) outlines the requirements for effectively managing supported accommodation. This includes having clear policies and procedures in place, providing appropriate training for staff, ensuring young people are involved in decisions about their care, and ensuring the quality of support offered is regularly monitored and evaluated.
Providing Comprehensive Support Services
The support standards outline the range of support services that must be available to young people. Providers are required to develop individually tailored support plans for each young person, which carefully considers their unique strengths, needs and goals.
A young person’s needs are likely to change over time and care plans should be regularly reviewed to ensure support remains effective.
Promoting Independence and Empowerment
Supported accommodation providers must help young people to develop life skills, develop independence, and gain opportunities for education, training and employment.
- Independent living skills: Structured one-to-one or group support can help young people to acquire practical life skills, such as budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and managing household.
Young people should be encouraged to take an active role in daily living tasks, with staff providing guidance and support or supervision as needed.
This hands-on approach helps young people to gain confidence and helps to prepare them for independent living.
- Education and training: Supported accommodation providers should work closely with local education institutions and training providers to facilitate young people’s access to educational and vocational opportunities.
Support may include helping young people to access appropriate funding and financial support, career guidance, assisting young people with navigating application processes, supporting young people to access formal attire to attend interviews or trial shifts, or helping young people to explore their interests and identify their educational and professional goals.
Building Strong Relationships with Young People
Supported accommodation providers must place a strong emphasis on prioritising trust, communication and building strong relationships with the young people.
Many young people will have experienced a lack of trust and stability in their early lives. Support staff should work diligently to create an environment which fosters a sense of safety, predictability and trust.
Staff should be approachable, empathic, and non-judgemental and should ensure they have a good understanding of the impact of early trauma in order to effectively support and build trusting, nurturing relationships/
Young people should be encouraged to participate in the development of their individual support plans, and have their opinions and feedback heard, in order to ensure they feel empowered to take an active role in the decision-making processes that affect them and their care.
Collaboration with External Agencies
By forging strong partnerships with various external agencies, supported accommodation providers can ensure that those in their care have access to a comprehensive network of resources and services tailored to their unique needs.
One crucial area of collaboration is with healthcare providers, including both physical and mental health services, to ensure that young people receive timely access to medical attention, and therapeutic support services and appropriate interventions.
Similarly, collaboration with social care and other services, including social workers, housing authorities, and community-based organisations is important to support young people to navigate the often complex systems of financial assistance, housing support, and employment and education.
By maintaining strong partnerships with these external partners, providers of supported accommodation can leverage a wide range of expertise and resources to empower young people and facilitate their successful transition into independent living.
It is particularly beneficial for supported accommodation providers to collaborate with specialist trauma-informed psychological support services.
At Meadows Psychology Service, we understand the crucial role that supported accommodation providers play in bridging the gap between care and independent living for young people. Our mission is to ensure that every young person in supported accommodation receives the tailored psychological support they need to thrive.
Many young people in supported accommodation have experienced trauma, neglect, or abuse. Regulation 7 states that providers should “ensure that children are supported to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect.”
We can equip staff with the knowledge and skills to understand and manage the impacts of these experiences.
Regulation 7 also emphasises the importance of providing individual and tailored support to meet each young person’s unique needs. At Meadows Psychology Service, our team of specialist psychological therapists excels in developing bespoke support packages for supported accommodation providers.
Through thorough psychological assessments and formulations, we ensure that every young person receives care that addresses their specific circumstances and challenges.
We also recognise that maintaining high standards in staff training and employment practices is essential (regulations 17-19). At Meadows Psychology Service, we offer comprehensive training packages* that ensures that all support staff are well-equipped to meet regulatory requirements and provide the highest quality care.
Regular Training and Development for Staff
Providing high-quality, trauma-informed support for young people transitioning into independent living can be a complex and multifaceted challenge, and the importance of ongoing professional development and training for staff cannot be overstated.
The landscape of service provision and legislation surrounding the care of young people is constantly evolving. Supported accommodation providers must stay up to date with the latest policies, regulations and best practices to ensure compliance and the delivery of high-quality support.
Young people residing in supported accommodation may present with complex emotional, behavioural and mental health needs. Ensuring staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate these challenging situations is paramount.
Ongoing training in areas such as trauma informed care, attachment and de-escalation techniques is key to ensuring staff feel empowered to provide effective and compassionate support.
*At Meadows Psychology Service, we offer comprehensive training packages that cover a range of key areas, including:
- Child Development and Psychologically Informed Practices
- Trauma-Informed Approaches
- Psychologically Informed Environments
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Attachment Theory
- Emotional Dysregulation
- Adolescent Behaviours
- Support with Social and Emotional Needs (including Mental Health)
At Meadows Psychology Service, we recognise that supporting young people with complex needs can be emotionally demanding and staff may be at risk of burnout or compassion fatigue.
When staff feel supported, valued and equipped to excel in their roles, they are more likely to experience job satisfaction and remain in their positions. This is essential to building and maintaining a positive and consistent environment for young people.
Our highly qualified psychological therapists have extensive experience in supporting young people and the carers and professionals who support them. All of our training, supervision, and wraparound support services place significant importance of staff wellbeing.
Monitoring and Evaluating Service Quality
Maintaining a high standard of service quality is essential, and providers must have robust systems in place to monitor and evaluate their performance, including the ongoing assessment of young people’s progress and outcomes.
The personal, social, and practical skill development of young people should be monitored, in addition to progress made in respect of the young people’s emotional wellbeing.
At Meadows Psychology Service, we undertake comprehensive psychological assessments which are regularly updated, using evidence-based standardised measures. We also utilise a robust outcomes monitoring framework to evidence the impact of the support that we offer.
Gathering feedback from the young people also plays a key role in this area. Supported accommodation providers should activity seek the input and perspectives of the young people who reside in the home.
This not only allows providers to gain valuable insight into the young people’s experiences, but it also empowers them to have a voice in shaping the support they receive.
Become a Responsible Supported Accommodation Provider with Meadows Psychology Services
Supported accommodation providers (16+) play a critical role in supporting young people transition from the care system to independent living.
These providers bear significant responsibility to ensure the wellbeing, development and successful integration of their young people into the community.
This can be achieved by:
- Providing a safe and nurturing environment.
- Facilitating comprehensive support services.
- Promoting independence and life skills development.
- Ensuring staff have access to continuous professional development and training.
- Promoting collaboration and community integration.
The team at Meadows Psychology Service have extensive experience in supporting young people transitioning into independent living.
We work with a number of supported accommodation providers across the country, providing customised support packages designed to meet the unique needs of each young person and to support the organisation to meet the regulations and standards.
Our holistic approach addresses both the psychological and practical needs of young people, ensuring a comprehensive support system.
To find out more about how Meadows Psychology Service can help you to comply with the latest Supported Accommodation Regulations and Quality Standards, contact us today.
