Independent living and housing options

Regarding the potential vulnerabilities associated with living in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO): part of the journey to adulthood involves learning how to keep oneself safe, recognising healthy relationships, and knowing how to respond when something doesn’t feel right. These are skills that require time and practice—and even with experience, mistakes can happen. That why it is important to practice these skills while family and friends are available to support and advice if things go wrong.

In my experience, instances where vulnerable individuals have been targeted—whether through county lines activity, cuckooing, or other forms of exploitation—have almost always occurred in single-occupancy settings, where there was no one present to notice or intervene. In contrast, shared living arrangements can serve as a protective factor. Having others in the home increases the likelihood that concerning behaviour will be observed and addressed early.

Criteria for supported living – Whether someone qualifies for supported living is determined through an assessment conducted by Adult Social Care. For more information, one of our earlier webinars included a Q&A session on eligibility for adult social care, which may be helpful to review.

Ideally, leaving home or moving out is a planned and gradual process. One of the best opportunities to begin discussing the available housing options—and to weigh the pros and cons of each—is during the annual review. This allows sufficient time to explore choices thoroughly and make well-informed decisions.

Starting these conversations early also ensures that the following year’s care and support plan can be tailored to help the young person develop the skills they’ll need for more independent living when the time comes to move on from their current accommodation.

Devon County Council provides some services that are considered universal, meaning they are available to anyone living in the area. You would be able to access these services regardless of which local authority you originally came from. Depending on the service you are looking for they may have their own eligibility criteria.

Other services—such as those provided through Adult Social Care—require you to be what’s known as an ordinary resident of Devon. At present, your ordinary residence is still with the local authority that arranged your placement in Devon. That authority remains responsible for supporting you, including conducting assessments through their Adult Social Care team and meeting with you regularly.

You may choose to become an ordinary resident of Devon, depending on your circumstances. To explore this further, I recommend speaking with the worker from your current local authority who supports you. They can guide you through the process and help determine what options are available.

The Reaching for Independence (RFI) team at Devon County Council collaborates with various organizations to support individuals with disabilities including the Autism and ADHD team. RFI have worked previously with individuals with PDA and work hard at tailoring our short-term enabling to suit an individual’s needs and level of ability.

Occupational therapists trained in sensory integration are employed by Devon Partnership Trust and a referral through your GP is the best way to access their support.

While there isn’t currently a formal ‘matching’ service for young people looking to live together, discussing your daughter’s preferences with her social worker or transitions coordinator could help. They may be aware of others with similar needs and aspirations and can explore safe and appropriate ways to facilitate introductions or shared housing options.

You can watch all of our webinars here. We are providing a recording of them, so you should be able to view them at your convenience.

Unfortunately, the national housing crisis is affecting Devon and this is making finding suitable accommodation difficult for large numbers of people.

Register with Devon Home Choice

To explore housing options, your daughter can register with Devon Home Choice, which is the system used to apply for social housing in Devon.

Visit the Devon Home Choice website and complete the online application.

The form takes about 30 minutes and must be completed within 28 days.

You’ll need personal details, current housing information, and any relevant support or medical needs.

Requesting reasonable adjustments (Devon Home Choice)

If the young person has additional needs—such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, or sensory sensitivities—she can request reasonable adjustments to the housing process. These might include:

• help completing the application
• consideration of specific housing needs (for example, quiet location, ground floor, proximity to support networks)
• communication preferences (for example, written communication instead of phone calls)

To request adjustments, contact your local housing team after registering to explain the specific needs and adjustments required.

Please see response to question one.