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Housing Quality & Design Standards Information

Good quality design is essential and specific standards for any proposed supported and specialist accommodation should be discussed and agreed with local authority commissioners, who will work with local service user forums in designing future services.

Extra care housing and accommodation with support for working age adults with care and support needs should reflect as far as possible the Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) design principles[external link]

Where appropriate consideration should also be given to guidance from the Department of Health Building the Right Support; NHS Building the Right Home, and CQC Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture.

NHS England » National plan – Building the right support[external link]

NHS England report template cobranded supporting partners[external link]

Right support right care right culture (cqc.org.uk)[external link]

We are also keen to work with providers to deliver new models of support that meet the National Service Model Principles[external link]

In order to support one of the Council Plans core values “Tackling Climate Change”, all new building work should be designed to be as energy efficient as possible.

Appropriate design features for extra care housing and accommodation with support for working age adults with care and support needs should include:

  • Self-contained homes that are built with older people and other people with care and support needs in mind, which can be easily adapted.
  • Modern building standards and energy efficient design to help to keep energy costs as low as possible.
  • Maximise levels of natural light throughout the scheme and include windows with low windowsills to allow people who are seated or in bed to easily see out of the windows.
  • Equipment, signage, internal décor and landscaping that enable people who have physical, sensory or cognitive impairments to be as independent as possible.
  • Fully accessible, landscaped outside space that is stimulating, contains seating and opportunities to be active.
  • Hardwiring and wi-fi enabled telecare and telehealth equipment. Potential for the use of different types of assistive technology.
  • Communal facilities that are sufficient for the size of the scheme, providing facilities and activities that are complementary to those available in the local community and that facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle.
  • Located close to local amenities in order to enhance the opportunities for residents to take part in the life of the local community. Residents should have easy access to shops, doctors, pharmacists and leisure activities.
  • A restaurant/cafe to give residents the option to eat a hot meal with friends and visitors (in extra care housing).

Good design for a complex needs supported living scheme would ideally meet the following requirements:

  • A maximum of four fully self-contained flats with a mix of two- and three-bedroom flats, to accommodate staff and/or sensory room requirements.
  • Separate external entrances to each flat i.e. not a shared hallway to allow clients to avoid others when entering their flat.
  • Located in a quiet area, not close to schools and accessible for buses.
  • Level access throughout, big enough for wheelchair access.
  • Access to secure, enclosed garden space.
  • Measures to limit noise and visual contact to/from neighbours.
  • Self-contained communal staff space.

Staff/visitor parking or at a minimum street front pick up:

  • Built in assistive technology such as door sensors
  • Robust door and window frames and fixtures and fittings that can withstand behaviour that challenge
  • Capacity for adaptations such as secure, lockable cupboards and covers for electrical appliances, knives, cleaning products
  • Capacity for other adaptations as required to suit the needs of the tenant
  • Access to a Disabled Facilities Grant (DGF) may be available for essential housing adaptations to support people to remain in their own home

Both the accommodation and the care and support services need to be of good quality. 

Providers will need to meet legislative, regulatory requirements as appropriate (Charity Commission, Regulator of Social Housing, the Care Quality Commission and Community Interest Companies regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

In particular, the Council will expect providers to meet the requirements set out in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act which became law in August 2023.  This is likely to require the following (to be confirmed following a second consultation exercise due to take place in 2024):

  • A licensing scheme for all supported housing providers. All providers of supported housing in Lancashire will be required to be licensed by the councils in order to provide supported housing.
  • Only providers of supported housing that are licensed by the councils will be able to access specified and exempt accommodation housing benefit status.
  • The councils will also review the quality of the provision of support in supported housing services to ensure customers are getting the support they need and require, for example, as part of the Council’s approach to safeguarding vulnerable adults.
  • Assessment of the value for money provided by supported housing services, ensuring they are affordable for the councils and for the people who live in them.

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