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conference report
Call for choice and security in homes

Deciding on where and how you live and rights to stay in your rights under the Care Act to have
home were concerns raised by Preston Learning Disability someone to support their case.
However, only a month before the
Forum. Rose Trustam was there forum took place, the Lancashire Evening
Post had reported that two men who had
shared a house for nine years were being
emands to give people more of a There was a feeling at this year’s event evicted with less than a week’s notice
say in the type of home they had that choice had become more limited, because care provider United Response
Dand for stronger rights to stay put with people being made only one offer of was withdrawing from its contract with
were made at Preston Learning Disability long-term housing. the council. Because tenure was separate
Forum’s first Housing Forum. In some cases, rents and shared support from the contracted care service, the two
The event took place more than three costs were underwritten by the local men did not have to move.
decades after the north-west of England authority so people might, understandably, What this incident and the forum
was at the forefront of developing be steered towards these homes – even if meeting raise is the question of how far
supported housing for people resettled they were not the most appropriate. people’s rights have been eroded, and
from long-stay hospitals. how these men risked their homes and
The late David Brandon – Community New supported homes support being totally disrupted.
Living’s first editor – was director of North Recently, Lancashire County Council
West MIND in the early 1980s. He and approved its Housing with Care and Support
Tom McClean, director of nursing services Strategy 2018 –2025 (2018). This proposed “ It seems that tenancy
at Calderstones Hospital, a long-term schemes of flats for 6-12 younger people
institution, challenged a replacement within estate developments. rights have been
hospital unit in Preston. They suggested a Housing people in supported flats on weakened and it is rare
dispersed supported housing system, run one site could save significant support now for people to have
by newly formed charity Integrate. Against costs but would tend to separate people
the odds, the North West Regional Health from the community and, potentially, limit assured tenancies
Authority opted for this. their ability to be part of it. It would also It does seem to be the case that ”
The authority went on to develop a lend itself to more institutional practices.
model district service for resettlement, There was concern that, without
which was adopted by the region and neighbours nearby and the scrutiny of the tenancy rights have been weakened and it
later more widely (NWRHA, 1983). Care Quality Commission (which does not is rare now for people to have assured
Funding was transferred from health to inspect tenancies), problems would be tenancies. This can make them vulnerable.
social care for people moving into the missed. It was feared that commissioners Grant funding used to be available to
community but only if they were moving would decide to make savings by using support the extra costs of supported
into mainstream housing as secure tenants. these flats only for people with the schemes, which kept rents reasonable.
This policy, with the funding following highest needs who would also have the Today, supported housing schemes are
the individual and giving people secure greatest vulnerabilities and risks. often significantly more expensive with
tenancies, transformed the whole way much less security of tenure – and rarely
people thought about hospital Making more homes available offer assured tenancies. Some supported
resettlement. Preston City Council was willing to consider housing landlords offer personalised
adding supported housing to Select Move, support, but not all.
Today: less choice, fewer rights a choice-based allocations scheme covering One of the most important findings on
More than 35 years later, Preston’s Preston, South Ribble and Chorley. the day was that tenants were generally
Learning Disability Forum became Housing associations list vacancies on unaware of their rights around tenure, so
concerned that tenancy rights as well as Select Move and people can register and a major follow-up will be the development
choices (if any) in housing had been view homes that are available. Clearly, of some easy-to-read guidance, thanks to
reduced. It therefore opened up its regular while identities are kept confidential, care Advocacy Focus’s development worker.
meeting to some 60 people involved in providers/supported housing landlords l For a summary of the report from
housing and support to hear their views should be able to consider any Preston Learning Disability Forum, see
and about their experiences. This event applications with current tenants in Community Living’s website at: https://
was independently chaired by learning shared housing. www.cl-initiatives.co.uk
disability self-advocate Simon Cramp.
The forum’s original housing task group, Less security, higher rents References
which included the commissioner, Many attendees were concerned about Lancashire County Council (2018) Housing with
Care and Support Strategy 2018 –2025. http://
intended to develop a database of Lancashire’s strategy, which seemed to council.lancashire.gov.uk/documents/
supported housing vacancies. However, suggest people might have to move. s138807/
the database was open only to The local commissioner who attended North West Regional Health Authority (1983)
commissioning staff and it failed because said no one would have to move if they Services for People who are Mentally
people were not then aware of the range did not want to, and a representative Handicapped: a Model District Service.
of vacancies included. from Advocacy Focus said people had Manchester: NWRHA

28 Vol 33 No 1 | Autumn 2019 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk