Enter and view: Ashley House Supported Living Scheme

Healthwatch Wandsworth visited Ashley House, a supported living scheme for adults with learning disabilities and other support needs, to understand tenants' experiences and assess the quality of care and support provided. The scheme, operated by Lifeways and located in Battersea, accommodates 13 tenants living in self-contained flats and aims to support independent living. 

Healthwatch found Ashley House to be a clean, well-maintained and welcoming environment. Communal areas were in good condition, tenants appeared comfortable coming and going independently, and the flats viewed during the visit were spacious and appropriately adapted where necessary, including facilities for wheelchair users. The overall atmosphere was described as calm and friendly. 

Staff were seen as committed to balancing support with the promotion of independence. Most tenants reported positive relationships with staff and found the key worker system effective, enabling them to discuss concerns and receive personalised support. The continuity of staffing was viewed positively, with low turnover and no current vacancies at the time of the visit. 

The scheme catered for people with a wide range of support needs, from highly independent tenants to those requiring full personal care. Most tenants said they could manage personal care tasks themselves, although a small number who needed more assistance felt that staff occasionally appeared rushed. Some tenants reported past disagreements or personality clashes with individual staff members, but these had generally been addressed through meetings and discussions. 

Healthwatch found that support with finances, medication and daily living was tailored to individual needs. Tenants who required help with money management valued this support, while more independent tenants managed these aspects themselves. 

Healthcare support was generally regarded as effective. Staff assisted tenants with medication, arranging appointments and accessing healthcare services when required. More independent residents were able to manage their own appointments and attend GP surgeries independently.

Most tenants had control over their food choices and meal arrangements. Some received support with shopping and cooking, while others managed independently. Healthwatch highlighted a particularly positive example of a tenant who had learned to cook while living at Ashley House, demonstrating how the scheme could promote greater independence and life skills. 

However, the report noted that many tenants relied heavily on ready meals rather than preparing fresh food, suggesting there was scope for staff to encourage cooking skills more widely.

Views on activities varied. Most tenants valued their independence and preferred to pursue their own interests rather than participate in organised group activities. Activities included shopping, volunteering, attending church, gardening, visiting family, day centre attendance and watching television. Several tenants reported feeling more independent at Ashley House than in previous accommodation. 

Some tenants expressed a desire for more organised communal activities, such as bingo or social events, while others showed little interest in group activities. Staff organised birthday and Christmas celebrations, which many tenants enjoyed. 

Tenants generally appeared aware of how to raise concerns and were confident that they could approach staff, social workers or advocates if problems arose. Healthwatch found evidence that reported issues were acted upon appropriately. For example, concerns regarding staff relationships and a previous rat infestation had been addressed. 

While the overall assessment was positive, Healthwatch identified several areas for improvement. Some tenants appeared to have limited trust in certain staff members, highlighting the importance of maintaining positive relationships and ensuring concerns can be raised confidently. 

The report also raised questions about the long-term purpose of the scheme. Although Ashley House was originally intended to provide relatively short-term accommodation that would help people move towards greater independence, many tenants appeared to want to remain longer-term or move on but faced a lack of suitable alternative accommodation. Healthwatch suggested that the pathway for moving tenants into more independent housing should be clarified. 

In addition, Healthwatch felt greater involvement of relatives could be beneficial and suggested informal engagement opportunities such as coffee mornings. The report also recommended that staff consider whether some tenants would benefit from access to counselling or additional mental health support services.