1.2 Analyse the range of housing and accommodation services available

This guide will help you answer 1.2 Analyse the range of housing and accommodation services available.

In health and social care, many people need somewhere safe and suitable to live. The right housing plays a big part in health, wellbeing, and independence. Accommodation services do much more than provide a roof over someone’s head. They support people to live as well as possible, manage their own needs, and be part of the wider community. People may use these services for a range of health or social needs.

Different Types of Accommodation

Several types of housing and accommodation support exist in the UK. They respond to personal needs, health conditions, family situations, and legal duties placed on local authorities. Here is a closer look at the main options.

General Needs Housing

General needs housing includes ordinary homes and flats. Most people live in these, either renting privately, renting from councils or housing associations, or owning their own home. These properties have no staff support attached. People use them who can live independently or with support from friends or family. Local authority housing departments or social landlords manage many general needs properties.

Supported Living Services

Supported living allows people with support needs to live in their own home but get flexible help. People might have learning disabilities, mental health conditions, or physical disabilities. Staff help with things like managing bills, shopping, cooking, or medication. Support can be a few hours per week to 24 hours per day, depending on the person’s needs. Housing is usually rented or provided with an assured tenancy, giving people rights and security.

Supported living promotes independence, choice, and control. People can decorate their homes, invite guests, and make decisions about their care.

Residential Care Homes

A residential care home provides accommodation, meals, and personal care from staff on site. Daily support covers washing, dressing, eating, and moving around. Residents might be older people, adults with a disability, or others needing high levels of help. The focus is on meeting personal care needs and keeping people comfortable and safe.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates care homes in England. Staff usually include care workers, senior staff, and a registered manager. Residents do not have the same tenancy rights as in supported living.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are similar to care homes but provide nursing care too. Registered nurses work alongside care staff. People with complex medical needs live here—such as those recovering from illness, with advanced dementia, or severe physical health problems.

Nursing homes support people who could not be safely supported at home or in non-nursing settings. The NHS may pay for places if people meet Continuing Healthcare (CHC) criteria.

Extra Care Housing

Extra care housing, sometimes called ‘assisted living’, is for older people or those with disabilities who want their own flat but might need some care. Each person has their own self-contained home. There is also a staff presence and sometimes communal areas, such as lounges or gardens.

Staff help with personal care, meals, or emergency support. People have their own front door, preserve independence, and often join social or leisure activities.

Supported Lodgings

In supported lodgings, someone offers a room in their own home and provides guidance and emotional support. It often helps young people (such as care leavers or those with homelessness risks). The lodgings provider supports the person to learn practical skills, such as budgeting, cooking, and finding work.

Sheltered Housing

Sheltered housing mainly serves older people who can mostly manage alone but want reassurance and some support. Residents have their own flat or bungalow, usually with emergency call systems and onsite support staff for emergencies. Often, there are social activities, shared gardens, or lounges.

Homelessness Accommodation

People at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness can access different services. Emergency hostels, night shelters, or temporary accommodation offer a roof at short notice. Hostel staff work with residents on tenancy skills, money management, health appointments, and moving to permanent housing.

Temporary accommodation is provided under the Homelessness Reduction Act in some cases. This includes bed-and-breakfast hotels, hostels, or self-contained flats.

Move-On and Resettlement Services

Some services focus on short-term support to prepare people for living independently. Called move-on or resettlement services, they help people leaving care, prison, hospitals, or homelessness. Support often includes finding a home, accessing benefits, and developing life skills.

Shared Lives Schemes

In Shared Lives, an approved carer shares their home and family life with an adult who needs support. The person may live with them long-term, stay for short breaks, or visit during the day. Shared Lives supports are highly personalised, aiming to build confidence and life skills in everyday home settings.

Hostels and Temporary Supported Accommodation

Hostels are shared buildings offering basic accommodation, meals, and support with finding longer-term housing. Many hostels support people with multiple needs — mental health concerns, substance misuse, or those leaving hospital, prison, or care. Hostel staff support practical needs and encourage positive changes.

Temporary supported accommodation focuses on transitional housing for people between living situations. Support is flexible and prepares people for a permanent address.

Specialist Housing and Accommodation Services

Some people need specialist environments or adapted housing. These options support people with specific physical, mental, or social barriers.

Step-Down and Step-Up Services

‘Step-down’ services help people move from hospital or secure settings back to the community. People can recover or develop skills in a structured but less restrictive place.

‘Step-up’ services provide extra care quickly to stop a crisis or hospital admission. Both approaches aim for timely movement between levels of care.

Housing for People with Physical Disabilities or Sensory Impairments

Adapted or accessible housing includes features like ramps, wider doors, lower kitchen units, or level-access showers. Sometimes housing is custom-built for wheelchair users or people with visual or hearing impairments, making daily life easier and safer.

Mental Health Supported Housing

Mental health supported housing covers a wide range of settings. People might live in group homes, individual flats with floating support, or residential therapeutic communities. Support often covers daily living, accessing healthcare, managing medication, and building social networks. Housing stability is important for recovery and reduces time in hospital.

Drug and Alcohol Recovery Accommodation

Some accommodation services specifically support people recovering from addiction. These include drug and alcohol recovery houses, dry houses (where alcohol is not allowed), and harm-minimisation hostels. Staff are trained in relapse prevention, health promotion, and supporting life changes.

Young People’s and Care Leavers’ Accommodation

Young people and care leavers often need more intensive support in their first home. They can access semi-independent accommodation, supported lodgings, or intensive keywork in small group homes. Support helps with life skills, education, employment, health, and accessing the right benefits.

Who Organises or Funds These Services?

Local Authorities

Local councils have legal duties under the Care Act 2014 and Homelessness Reduction Act. They assess needs, offer information and advice, commission supported accommodation, and allocate social housing.

NHS and Health Trusts

The NHS sometimes funds specialist placements, such as for people with severe mental health or continuing healthcare needs.

Housing Associations

These are not-for-profit landlords providing a large share of social housing. They often own or manage supported living or extra care services.

Voluntary and Community Sector

Charities and social enterprises often run hostels, supported lodgings, advocacy, or outreach. Well-known organisations include Shelter, St Mungo’s, and Centrepoint.

Private Sector

Private landlords house many people, especially in short-term lettings, Temporary Accommodation, or when social housing is scarce. Some private companies also run care homes and supported living services, but under CQC regulation.

How People Access and Use Accommodation Services

Access depends on a person’s needs, risks, preferences, finances, and legal rights.

• Social services assess and refer people with care needs.
• Housing departments assess homelessness or priority need groups.
• Voluntary sector projects offer direct help at point of crisis.
• GPs, hospitals, or probation can arrange specialist placements (such as step-down services or move-on accommodation).
• Individuals can apply to social landlords or private lettings, with or without support.

Tenancy agreements differ between accommodation types. In supported living and general housing, residents have more legal rights and responsibilities. In residential care, arrangements follow care contracts and national regulations.

Key Features and Benefits

Each form of accommodation comes with distinct key features.

Promoting Independence

Supported living, extra care, and sheltered housing support people to do as much as possible for themselves. The right support can prevent deterioration, promote self-esteem, and lead to better outcomes.

Flexible Support

Accommodation can range from full-time nursing to very light-touch, visiting support. Services can increase or decrease as needs change.

Community Integration

Many services encourage people to take part in local life, see friends or family, volunteer, or find employment. Shared lunches, activity groups, or trips break isolation.

Privacy and Security

The main priority for all housing is to offer safety from risk — including domestic abuse, homelessness, eviction, or unsafe environments. Staff are trained in safeguarding and risk assessment.

Recovery and Wellbeing

Some services use structured programmes or peer support, such as for mental health or substance misuse. People are encouraged to build skills, confidence, and resilience alongside addressing practical needs.

Cost and Funding

Accommodation costs vary. People in residential and nursing care may pay towards their board and care, depending on their income and savings. Supported living costs may be covered by benefits and local authority support. Housing benefit helps pay rent for those on low incomes.

Challenges and Gaps

High Demand

More people need housing support than services can currently provide, especially as populations age.

Waiting Lists

Long waiting times for social housing or suitable supported housing affect many people, so interim measures are common.

Adaptation and Accessibility

Housing must meet a range of needs, calling for more investment in accessible and adaptable homes.

Regional Differences

Access to services, funding levels, and quality may differ by local council or region.

Moving Between Services

Some find it difficult to move from institutional care or hospital to independent living, often needing close support at transition points.

Stigma and Exclusion

Some users experience stigma around supported housing, care homes, or homelessness. Services aim to promote dignity and community understanding.

Quality Assurance and Regulation

Regulators such as the CQC (Care Quality Commission) check residential care, nursing homes, and some supported living. Providers must meet set standards for care, staff training, safeguarding, and complaints handling. Quality is measured by user feedback, outcomes, and safety.

Many housing associations and charities are members of regulatory bodies like the Regulator of Social Housing or the Housing Ombudsman.

Users and their advocates have rights to challenge poor accommodation or support. Complaints can be addressed to providers, councils, or the relevant ombudsman.

Examples and Case Studies

Example 1: Older Person with Care Needs

Anne is 82 and struggles to manage in her family home. She receives support at home but increasing falls and isolation mean she now lives in extra care housing. Here, she has her own flat, daily care visits, and joins the lunch club daily. Her safety and wellbeing have improved, and she feels less lonely.

Example 2: Young Adult Leaving Care

Tariq is leaving care aged 18. He moves into supported lodgings with a family, helping him learn budgeting, cooking, and looking for work. He receives practical advice and emotional support as he adapts to independent life.

Example 3: Homelessness Service User

Linda lost her flat after a relationship breakdown. She stayed in a women’s hostel for six weeks while working with staff to apply for social housing. She then moved into her own council flat and keeps in touch with a floating support worker for advice.

Final Thoughts

The range of housing and accommodation services in health and social care is extensive and growing. Different options suit varied needs, from general housing to specialist placements. Services promote independence, community inclusion, recovery, and personal safety. They depend on partnership between councils, the NHS, housing associations, charities, and private providers.

People must be supported into the right service at the right time. This helps prevent crisis, promotes resilience, and supports long-term wellbeing. Effective, person-centred accommodation makes a major difference to quality of life for people with health and social care needs.