Information for young people (Easy Read)

Most young people live at home when they finish school.

When they are ready, they can live in their own home.  

People with all kinds of disabilities live in their own home.  

There are lots of ways you can live independently. For example, you could:  

• get support in your own home  
• buy your own home  
• share a home with friends  

Whatever you choose, you will need to plan and think about funding. 

You can have help in your home.  

You may need to have a social worker.  

A social worker can help you decide where you would like to live.  

Think about:

• where you would like to live  
• who you would like to live with  
• how much help and support you need  
• what your family and carers (circle of support) think  
• what is the right home for you

You can get help to buy your own home.

Advance Housing and Support can help you buy your own home. 

Mencap is a charity that supports people with learning disabilities. 

Mencap can help people to live on their own. 

They offer advice and support. 

If you want to live in a residential home, you can have respite care sometimes.  

Ask for help from your social worker. 

Find a house that meets your needs.

You could also adapt your current home. 

Get a care assessment to help you.

Your parents can have a carers assessment.  

You can rent from a private landlord, a housing association or your local council.  

Ask the council housing team to help find a property.  

You may be able to get a housing grant to adapt it  

The Local Offer webpage for Housing has useful links. 

The Accessible Property Register has houses for wheelchair users.  

They also have wheelchair-access holiday accommodation. 

Short breaks are for young people and their families.  

Short breaks are also available for adults.  

Ask your social worker for help.

Short breaks are sometimes called respite care. 

The Shared Lives scheme helps to find a carer that is right for you.

The carer will provide a comfortable place to stay for young people or adults.

The carer might also share their home for a short amount of time.

Sometimes this is called a permanent supported living arrangement.

You might keep living in your parent’s home.

If you do, they can have a ‘carers assessment’.

They can ask for this by calling our Customer Services team.

Northamptonshire Carers can help your family too.

They have social events and activities.

A personal care budget is an amount of money that can help meet someone’s needs.

This is to meet the needs in the Care Plan.

You might need a health budget as well.

You can choose to have care in your home or employ your personal assistant.

Talk to your social worker and family before making a decision.

Lots of companies help people to live in their own home.

They can help with personal care, shopping and other activities.

Ask your social worker.

See the Local Offer Quick Guide to Personal Assistants.

Supported Living is the way that accommodation and support are organised.

This means you can change your support without having to move home.

Or you can move home and take the same support staff with you.

You will be the ‘tenant’.

You can claim benefits to help pay the rent.

You can have supported living in your flat or house.

You can share accommodation and have extra care.

It can be your home, or you can be renting it.

The NHS can offer advice about supported living. They may provide a personal health care budget service if you need health support.

There are lots of ideas for gadgets and aids in the home to make independent living easier.

Find out more about Living Made Easy.

You can apply for rail and bus passes.

For more information, read the Local Offer's Transport page.

Volunteers can help with travel.

Some day care providers teach travel training.

You may be able to have a new car or scooter.

You can do this if you get Higher Rate Mobility allowance as part of your PIP.

Your carers or family can drive your car if you don’t drive.

Mental capacity can change with time.

You should always get help to make your own decisions.

You are able to make what the law calls ‘unwise decisions’.

Staying up late or smoking are examples of unwise decisions.

These are not good for you but you can choose to do them.

You can ask for information in a way you understand to help you make choices.

For example, Easy Read guides like this one, PECS, and discussions with adults you trust can help you make decisions.

Read an Easy Read Guide to The Mental Capacity Act.

Find more information about The Mental Capacity Act.

You can have an independent advocate.

They can help with decision making if there is no one else to help you.

Ask your social worker.