Supported Living Feedback Report
Download (PDF 1.05 MB)Summary of report content
In June 2023, Healthwatch Bedford Borough began working in partnership with Bedford Borough Council’s Strategic Commissioning and Procurement Team and Voiceability, Bedford Borough’s chosen advocacy and involvement service. The focus of the work was to capture service user and carer voices within the local Supported Living provision and co-produce the new Supported Living Framework specification with people accessing these services.
The project team designed two bespoke surveys, one standard and one Easy Read. These were put on Healthwatch Bedford Borough’s SNAP survey portal and sent out via email to each Supported Living service provider, as well as a hard copy version for those service users who wished to take part on paper. Healthwatch Bedford Borough also understood three focus groups in different Supported Living locations. In total, 107 people completed the survey.
- Just under a third of respondents reported they did not know what information was in their records and that they could view their records should they wish to. Focus group participants shared similar feelings.
- Just under a third reported not having been in paid employment or accessing volunteering opportunities. Again, this was reflected in the focus group sessions.
- Almost a quarter alluded to having very limited knowledge of local health and care provision. A far larger proportion of focus group participants reported having almost no knowledge of local community health service provision or other services.
- Continuity of care generally was not an issue, but some comments were received around the poor retention of staff and the lack of continuity that having a transient workforce creates. This is particularly the case for those with complex needs, who find stability, continuity and the ability to form bonds with their support staff important.
- A common theme in both survey and focus groups was the lack of access to local ‘What’s on’ listings. This sentiment was echoed by support staff and managers at the focus groups.
- In survey respondents and even more so in focus group participants, there appeared to be very little understanding of preventive health education, healthy living initiatives, oral health and the role of local pharmacies.