Supported living is a model of care where individuals live in their own home (or a shared home) with tailored support to help them live as independently as possible. Unlike residential care, people in supported living have their own tenancy agreement and are supported to make their own choices about how they live, what they eat, and how they spend their time.

We support adults aged 18 and over with learning disabilities, autism spectrum conditions, and mental health needs. Our services are designed for people who want to live in a community setting with the right level of support rather than in a residential care home.

Referrals can be made by local authorities, NHS commissioners, social workers, community learning disability teams, families, or individuals themselves. You can complete our online referral form, call our team directly, or email us. We aim to respond to all referrals within 48 hours.

Supported living is typically funded through a combination of local authority social care funding, NHS Continuing Healthcare, personal budgets, or direct payments. Housing costs are usually covered separately through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element. Our team can help guide you through the funding options.

There is no typical day because every person is different. Each individual has a personalised support plan that reflects their preferences and goals. Some people attend day services, college, or voluntary work. Others enjoy community activities, hobbies, or simply spending time at home. Our staff support each person to structure their day in a way that is meaningful to them.

Absolutely. This is the person's own home, and they are free to have visitors whenever they choose. We encourage family involvement and community connections as part of our person-centred approach.

All our support workers complete comprehensive induction training including safeguarding, medication management, positive behaviour support, first aid, moving and handling, food hygiene, and fire safety. Staff also receive specialist training in autism awareness, epilepsy management, and mental health first aid. Training is ongoing with regular refresher courses.

Hearthstone Supported Living is preparing for CQC registration and operates to CQC-standard policies and procedures across all five inspection domains: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-Led. We have over 200 policies and procedures in place.

Our current supported living property is located in Chelmsford, Essex. It is a 4-bedroom shared house in a residential area with good transport links and easy access to local amenities, shops, and community services.

Yes, we warmly encourage prospective residents and their families to visit our home before making any decisions. We arrange informal visits where you can meet the team, see the property, and ask any questions. There is no pressure and no obligation.

We have robust emergency procedures including 24/7 on-call management support. All staff are trained in first aid and emergency response. We work closely with local emergency services and have individual emergency protocols for each person we support.

Quality is embedded in everything we do. We conduct regular audits, gather feedback from the people we support and their families, hold team meetings and supervisions, and review all incidents and near-misses. Our quality assurance framework is aligned with CQC standards and is overseen by our registered manager.