North Somerset: Respite service promoting independence for people with learning disabilities

• Respite service offered to people with learning disabilities and mental health problems
• Two-bedded flat available for families needing a break
• Accommodation is staffed 24/7 with residents supported with daily tasks, such as shopping, personal care and going out

There are nearly 200 people with learning disabilities and mental health problems living in supported housing in North Somerset, but many more are looked after by families and carers in private homes.

North Somerset has long offered a respite service to give families a break from caring responsibilities. Up to 2022 this was offered through a traditional model of block-booking a care home bed for those aged over 18. When that contract ended, the council looked at a new way of providing respite support.

Adult Social Services Accommodation Change Manager Rob Hepworth said: “It was a fairly typical offer. People who stay at the care home and just do the activities that were taking place, but that does not do much to encourage more independent living or get people used to the idea of supported housing.

“We know people who are living in the family home will not be able to live there for ever – parents get older and situations change. So we decided we wanted to develop something that helped prepare people for that and in time get them ready for independent living arrangements.”

While discussing hard-to-let properties with one of the local housing association partners, an empty two-bed flat in a supported living accommodation for people with learning disabilities was identified.

The provider did not have capacity to utilise the flat itself so after negotiations with the landlord, the council took on use of the flat and started working with one of its other supported housing providers, Cintre. Cintre run a 12-unit scheme for people with learning disabilities nearby and were able to staff the service. It opened in early 2023.

It works really well,” said Mr Hepworth. “When people are staying at the accommodation there are staff there 24/7. They help people with daily tasks, such as cooking meals, personal care, shopping and going out and keeping the flat tidy.

“Initially there was some concern from families about the fact meals were not provided. But we ensure there are all the basics there – bread, milk and butter - and the care providers will do a meal plan and there is always the option of going for fish and chips on the beach nearby as a treat. The concerns were quickly forgotten. One of the flats is also fully-accessible for people in wheelchairs so we can accept those with physical disabilities too.”

Having two rooms has also allowed the council to offer a flexible approach to respite care. One flat can be booked for a night at a time, while the other has a minimum three-night booking threshold.

Mr Hepworth added: “Before we would have families booking the same night every week, it meant that anyone who wanted to have a longer stay for a week say couldn’t. This has given us more flexibility and because the provider has a bigger accommodation centre nearby when there is no-one staying at the flats they are not staffed. It means we have been able to double the capacity of respite, while only increasing the total cost by 70 per cent.”

North Somerset’s technology enabled care team is also getting involved in the respite service. As there are various people staying with a number of different needs, it is an ideal opportunity to trial new and exciting assistive technologies that are being developed. The team will be working with the care provider over the coming months to start installing new tech to help give people staying there an opportunity to engage with the systems and see what works for them best

While the service initially took its time to bed in, it has proved incredibly popular. Over the first six months, nine different families have benefited from it and the one-year trial has now been extended for another two years. There are 154 nights booked already from April to December.

Adult Social Care Learning Disabilities Team Manager Donna Palmer said: “The new respite service has proven to be of significant benefit to our service users with a learning disability and their informal carers. The short breaks we are now able to offer provides adults with a learning disability the opportunity to develop skills of independence in a flat supported by staff working with a strengths-based approach. 

It also offers informal carers the opportunity to take a break knowing that their cared for family member is well supported. This service in North Somerset has been a real success in its first year and has enriched the lives of the families we support.”

However, there have been challenges to overcome too. Mr Hepworth said: “Having two rooms side by side means we have to make sure that when two people are staying they are compatible. We have some clients where we have to block out any bookings for the second room because it would not work so our brokerage team work closely with the provider to make sure assessments are done in advance.

“It has to be closely managed, but it is still working fantastically. We already have bookings for 2025 and we have heard from families who say that already it is getting their loved ones ready and more prepared for independent living as well as providing much needed respite care.”

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