Success stories of people living in a supported living scheme

The Supporting People programme has come under much scrutiny from central government since its implementation in 2003. One of the new measures they have put in place is the measurement of 'outcomes'.

The Supporting People Team at Darlington have always put a high emphasis on finding out what the service users in our different schemes were achieving and how their lives had improved since moving to a supported living scheme.

Below are some success stories which providers have told us about. Please keep checking them as we are going to change them regularly.

We have also produced a booklet which illustrates how the people of Darlington are benefiting from the Supporting people programme - How Supporting people is changing the lives of people in Darlington [pdf document]

Client group - Single people with Mental Health problems

Provider - Carr Gomm [external link]

Simon was referred to Carr Gomm by Darlington Borough Council's leaving care team. When he moved in he had very little confidence and low self esteem.

Project staff supported Simon to maintain his tenancy, improve his life skills including budgeting and to look at what options were available to him regarding education and employment.

Simon enrolled on a college course and this helped his confidence and self esteem. On completing the course, Simon found full time employment.

Simon was now in a place where he wanted to live more independently so a new tenancy. To help him settle he engaged with Carr-Gomm's resettlement worker for 6 months.

A year later Simon remains in his tenancy and job and calls back into Carr Gomm occasionally if he feels he needs some advice.

Client Group - People with a learning disability

Provider - Darlington Borough Council Adult Services

Mark has been living in a supported living scheme for several years. He shared the property with two other men and had been saying that he would like to live on his own for a long time.

This was identified in his support plan and Mark's support workers and family began to help him look for appropriate accommodation in the area of town where he wanted to live. Advocates were also used to ensure Mark was aware of the implications of this move and to ensure his views were listened to.

It was important to Mark that he lived near his work as he liked to walk to and from his job, and that there was a bit of outside space as he is a keen gardener.

With support, a ground floor flat was found in the area of Mark's choice. A direct payment enabled him to choose his own support provider and plan what he wanted to do in his life.

When asked recently if he thought he had made the right decision, Mark's reply was 'I'm happy, I wouldn't want to go back to my old place, I have moved on'.