.png)
.png)
Home / Supported Living
Supported Living in Barking & Dagenham
Supported Living That Puts Independence, Dignity and Choice at the Centre
Safe, supportive accommodation and person-centred daily living support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex requirements — in Barking, Dagenham and across East London.
What Is Supported Living and How Does It Work?
Supported living is a form of care and support that enables adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs or other complex requirements to live in their own home — with the right level of professional support built around them. It is not a residential care home or a hospital. It is your own place, your own tenancy, your own life — with the help you need to live it well.
In a supported living arrangement, the person has their own private bedroom and private space. Support is provided by trained staff according to the individual's assessed needs — this might range from a few hours of floating support each week to 24-hour on-site staffing. The accommodation and the support are funded and arranged separately, protecting the person's tenancy rights and ensuring the support is always person-centred and outcomes-focused.
At Oice Support Services, our supported living service is built on the fundamental belief that every person — regardless of diagnosis, disability or level of need — has the right to live a full, meaningful life in their community. We work closely with local authorities, commissioners, families and the individuals we support to create living arrangements that are safe, sustainable and genuinely empowering. We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and rated Good — and we take that responsibility seriously.
Supported Living vs Care Home
| Factor | Supported Living | Care Home |
|---|---|---|
| Your own tenancy | Yes | No |
| Choose your own home | Yes | No |
| Control your own support | Yes | Limited |
| Come and go freely | Yes | Variable |
| Choose your housemates | Often | No |
| Tenancy rights protected | Yes | No |
| Person-centred plan | 100% individual | Group-based |
CQC Good
Quality Assured
Person-Centred
Every Support Plan
Est. 2018
Trusted Provider
Who Our Supported Living Service Supports
We provide supported living for adults whose needs span a wide range of conditions and circumstances. Here is who we work with:
Adults With Learning Disabilities
We support adults with mild, moderate and profound learning disabilities to live independently in the community — developing daily living skills, building confidence and participating fully in local life. Every support plan is designed around the person's individual strengths, goals and aspirations.
Adults With Autism Spectrum Conditions
Our support workers are trained in autism-aware communication and practice — creating structured, predictable and sensitively managed living environments that reduce anxiety and promote confidence. We work with each person to understand what works for them specifically.
Adults With Mental Health Support Needs
We provide supported living for adults with mental health conditions who need a safe, structured and supportive home environment as part of their wider recovery and wellbeing plan — working closely with community mental health teams and care coordinators.
We also support adults with acquired brain injuries, those transitioning from residential care into independent living and individuals with multiple and complex needs. Contact us to discuss a specific referral.
What Support Do We Provide?
Our supported living service wraps around each person — covering daily living, skills development and community connection.
- Support with personal care and daily hygiene routines
- Meal planning, cooking and nutritional support
- Budgeting, bills and financial skills development
- Community access, appointments and outings
- Medication prompting and health monitoring
- Keyworker support and regular care plan reviews
- Support with tenancy, housing and maintaining the home
- Social and leisure activities and community participation
- Employment, education and volunteering support
- Family liaison and contact support as appropriate
Support levels are agreed at the point of referral and reviewed regularly — every person receives the support they need, no more and no less. Our goal is always to build independence, not dependency.
Levels of Support — From Floating to 24-Hour
The level of support in a supported living arrangement is agreed based on a formal assessment of need and is funded separately from the tenancy. We provide three core levels of support — and many individuals move between levels as their needs evolve.
Flexible, non-property-tied support for individuals who are largely independent but need regular structured assistance to maintain their tenancy and build skills.
- Typically 3–15 hours per week
- Not based on-site — support worker visits at agreed times
- Focus on tenancy sustainment, life skills and community links
- Ideal for: people in early independent living or those stepping down from higher support
Staffed support during key times of day — mornings, evenings or at other agreed times — for individuals who need regular but not continuous assistance.
- Typically 15–40 hours per week on-site
- Support workers present during key daily periods
- Focus on daily living skills, personal care, community access and social wellbeing
- Ideal for: adults with moderate learning disabilities, autism or mental health needs
Continuous staffed support throughout the day and night for individuals with higher or more complex needs — with waking or sleeping night staff as appropriate.
- On-site staffing 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
- Includes night support — sleeping or waking depending on assessed need
- Focus on personal care, risk management, health coordination and community participation
- Ideal for: adults with complex needs, significant risks or those in early transition from residential care
“Every person we support has the right to a life that is their own — with their own home, their own choices and their own goals. Our role is to support that, not to define it.”
Our Core Principles
- Dignity and respect in everything we do
- Involvement in all decisions that affect the individual
- Outcomes-focused, not task-focused support
- Community inclusion and participation as a right
A Person-Centred Approach to Every Placement
Named Key Worker
Every individual has a named key worker responsible for their support plan, reviews and advocacy.
DBS-Checked and Trained
All support workers are DBS-checked and trained in safeguarding, positive behaviour support and person-centred practice.
Regular Reviews
Support plans are reviewed at minimum every six months — or more frequently as needs change.
Local Authority Partnership
We work closely with Barking and Dagenham council and commissioning teams to ensure placements are appropriate and funded.
Family Involvement
We actively involve families and advocates in the support planning and review process — with the individual's consent.
How to Make a Referral for Supported Living
Initial Contact
Contact us by phone on 02045528642, by email or by completing our online referral form. You can refer as a professional (social worker, care coordinator, discharge team), as a family member or as an individual seeking support. We will respond within one working day.
Referral Information Gathering
We request key information about the individual — their support needs, current living situation, any relevant assessments, diagnosis, risk considerations and the commissioning authority responsible for their care. This can be shared using our online referral form or by speaking with our team directly.
Assessment and Matching
We carry out a full assessment of the individual's needs, preferences and goals. We then identify whether we have a suitable placement available and whether the match is appropriate. We present our findings to the commissioning team and the individual — with full transparency throughout.
Placement Confirmed and Transition Begins
Once the placement is agreed and funding is confirmed, we plan the transition carefully — particularly for individuals moving from residential care, hospital or a family home. Named key workers are introduced before move-in day, and ongoing review is built in from the outset.
Initial Contact
Contact us by phone on 02045528642, by email or by completing our online referral form. You can refer as a professional (social worker, care coordinator, discharge team), as a family member or as an individual seeking support. We will respond within one working day.
Referral Information Gathering
We request key information about the individual — their support needs, current living situation, any relevant assessments, diagnosis, risk considerations and the commissioning authority responsible for their care. This can be shared using our online referral form or by speaking with our team directly.
Assessment and Matching
We carry out a full assessment of the individual's needs, preferences and goals. We then identify whether we have a suitable placement available and whether the match is appropriate. We present our findings to the commissioning team and the individual — with full transparency throughout.
Placement Confirmed and Transition Begins
Once the placement is agreed and funding is confirmed, we plan the transition carefully — particularly for individuals moving from residential care, hospital or a family home. Named key workers are introduced before move-in day, and ongoing review is built in from the outset.
Supported Living Across Barking, Dagenham and East London
Our supported living service is based in and primarily covers the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and surrounding East London boroughs. Our care coordinators and support managers work closely with local authority commissioning teams, community mental health services and NHS providers across this area. We currently have or are developing supported living placements across:
To discuss availability or make a referral for a specific area, call 02045528642 or email info@oicesupportservices.co.uk.
Supported Living — Frequently Asked Questions
Make a Supported Living Referral or Enquiry
Whether you are a social worker, commissioner, family member or the individual seeking support, we welcome your enquiry. We aim to respond to all supported living referrals within one working day — and we are happy to have a preliminary conversation before formal referral documentation is prepared.
- 02045528642
- 07437409404
- info@oicesupportservices.co.uk
- Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm | Urgent enquiries welcome