We would like to hear your views on services for adults who are Autistic or have Mental Health Needs

The survey intended to obtain the views of local residents, families/carers and professionals in relation to accommodation and support services for individuals with Mental Health Needs and those who are Autistic.

Those individuals who responded, who have care and support within an accommodation-based setting confirmed that the service in the main meets their needs.

For some services support was available throughout the week Monday to Sunday, for others this was Monday to Friday. Availability of support during the day was varied, ranging from 24-hour support to support only being available during parts of the day. Of those who responded the majority of people received more than 4 hours of individual support each day.

People felt having your own front door; the willingness of the landlord to make reasonable adjustments; repairs to property being completed quickly were all highly important to being happy in their home. Being able to have a pet or having friends to stay over was equally important as well as having outdoor space, being close to public transportation links and local shops.

When asked what you need from your staff team, the key responses included understanding and supporting me with my needs; helping me to develop my skills and confidence so I can live independently; supporting me with my emotional and mental wellbeing; supporting me at times of crisis; helping me to feel safe.

A small number of family members/unpaid carers responded to the survey. There were varied views across each of the questions with some very strong agreement and for other respondents very strong disagreement. The key highlights from the responses were that staff teams supported individuals to keep healthy, attend GP and other routine appointments and stay connected to their families. Not all individuals had a tenancy or licence agreement in place, landlords did not always respond to repairs as promptly as they should, and the support team in some cases did not support people to have an active day.

For the professionals only 42% who responded felt that they were very confident that providers have the right skills and training to effectively support individuals to live a good life.

The information from this survey provides valuable feedback for recommissioning accommodation-based support services. Information will be incorporated into the specification for individual need and support, housing and accommodation requirements and provider expectations.