Page 15 - Community Living Magazine 32 - 4

living a life

Rightful Lives exhibits: above: Wild Rainbows make themselves clear; right:
artwork by Alexis Quinn; below: ‘What was bad’ by a detained inpatient
following: who they live with; where they At the same time, local
live; how they are supported; who authorities are not
supports them; friends and relationships; addressing the housing
how to be healthy and safe; how they issue. Homes to meet
choose to be part of the community. the needs of all should
All of this should take place in their own be developed.
homes, where they get good support, The situation is
help to make changes in their lives, and worsened by the fact that
have the same rights and responsibilities the Care Quality
as other citizens (Paradigm, 2014). Commission tends not to
These principles are reflected in the visit supported living
National Development Team for Inclusion’s settings because its
“real tenancy test”, which stipulates the inspectors cannot enter a person’s home applaud that there should be choice within
requirements for a tenancy to be without permission. They inspect the care the system for different models of care and
genuine, with a tenancy agreement in providers at their offices instead. As a housing.
place, tenants having control over where result, the protection an inspection should However, where there are guidelines and
they live and who with, their support and provide may be diluted or nonexistent and rules, these should be followed. Rights are
how they are supported, and what the reality of people’s situations is not seen. paramount. We all need a place of our own
happens in their own home (NDTI, 2015). The CQC does not seem to have got to – a sanctuary – and we need to make good
Sadly, the reality for many people in grips with its responsibility to ensure that housing and support a reality and not strip
supported living is different. Inevitably, it spurious supported living schemes are out the very essence of community life.
is all about money. People with a tenancy run correctly and should be registered. Its In the meantime, no doubt, our battles
can claim housing benefit or universal own Housing with Care standards say will continue, but we will continue to strive
credit to cover the cost of the rent and landlord and care provider should be to ensure Jamie’s human rights are upheld. I
use their own money or other welfare clearly separate and that tenants should will carry on banging the rights-based drum
benefits to cover outgoings. The only be able to choose who enters their home to fight for change. Those with the power
costs a local authority normally has to to offer care. to make change have many questions to
bear are care costs. However, local answer. Let’s get those answers. n
However, rather commissioners continue ● The Rightful Lives online exhibition can
than set up homes to use a model that be visited at www.rightfullives.net
for individuals with does not ensure these
bespoke care teams, rights, presumably Julie Newcombe is the mum of a
the trend has been because it is cheaper. A wonderful young man with autism and
for private providers general lack of learning disabilities and a co-founder of
to establish shared accountability means the Rightful Lives exhibition
housing with pooled public employees
budgets and pooled continue to get away References
care teams. The with it. The CQC really United Nations (2008) Convention on the
notion of choosing needs to do more to Rights of People with Disabilities. Article 19 –
who you live with or uphold people’s rights. Living Independently and Being Included in the
Community. http://tinyurl.com/zajxuth
who supports you has I do not doubt there Paradigm (2014) The REACH Support for Living
gone out of the are cases where this Standards. http://tinyurl.com/yyf9wuku
window and the pseudo-model works National Development Team for Inclusion
“tenant” is left in what well and that some (2015) The Real Tenancy Test – Tenancy Rights
is a residential home in people might choose In Supported Accommodation. Revised
all but name. it. I recognise and November 2015. http://tinyurl.com/y4z8uutz

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 32 No 4 | Summer 2019 15