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Frequently Asked Questions.

Helping to build independent lives.

Some answers to our most frequently asked questions.

What services does Independent Lifestyles provide?

Independent Lifestyles provides specialist supported living services and residential care for adults with complex needs, including autism, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, mental health needs and behaviours that may challenge.

We support people across Sussex and Kent, helping each person to live as safely, confidently and independently as possible in their own home and community.

What is supported living?

Supported living enables adults with support needs to live in their own home, with care and support tailored around their individual needs, choices and goals.

Support may include help with personal care, daily routines, household tasks, managing appointments, accessing the community, developing life skills, building confidence and taking part in social, leisure, education or work opportunities.

The aim is to help each person live as safely, confidently and independently as possible, while having choice and control over their day-to-day life.

Who can access your support services?

We support adults with a range of complex needs, including:

autism
learning disabilities
mental health needs
acquired brain injuries
behaviours that may challenge

Each person’s support is tailored around their individual needs, strengths, wishes and goals. We work with the person, their family where appropriate, and involved professionals to develop support that promotes safety, wellbeing, independence and quality of life.

Where do you provide care services?

Independent Lifestyles provides supported living services across Sussex and Kent.

Our services are managed from our office in Lancing, West Sussex, with local teams providing support in people’s homes and communities.

What support is included in supported living?

Support is tailored to each person and may include:

personal care
support with medication and health appointments
shopping and meal preparation
household tasks and daily routines
travel training and community access
support to attend college, work or volunteering
accessing social, leisure and community activities
building confidence and independent living skills

Support packages vary depending on individual need. Some people may need a few hours of support each week, while others may require more intensive support, including 24-hour care.

Do you offer 24-hour care and support?

Yes. Independent Lifestyles can provide flexible support packages, including 24-hour support for people who need care, supervision or reassurance throughout the day and night.

Support is planned around each person’s assessed needs and may include daytime support, waking night support, sleep-in support or a combination of these, depending on what is right for the individual.

Are your services regulated by the CQC?

Yes. Independent Lifestyles is registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.

We are proud to be rated Good by CQC, with our services assessed against key areas including safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.

How do you promote independence?

We promote independence by getting to know each person as an individual — their strengths, wishes, routines, goals and the things that matter most to them.

Support is planned in a person-centred way, helping people to build confidence, develop everyday life skills, make choices and take part in their local community.

This may include support with daily routines, travel, shopping, cooking, managing appointments, accessing education or work, building relationships and enjoying social and leisure activities.

Our aim is to provide the right level of support: enough to keep people safe and well, while encouraging independence, choice and long-term wellbeing.

Can families and carers stay involved?

Yes. We recognise how important family members, friends and support networks can be in a person’s life.

Where the person wants this, and where it is appropriate, we work positively with families, carers and other people who are important to them. This helps ensure support is joined-up, respectful and centred around the individual’s wishes, needs and wellbeing.

We encourage people to maintain meaningful relationships and stay connected with the people who matter to them.

Do you provide residential care as well as supported living?

Yes. Independent Lifestyles provides supported living and residential care services for adults with complex needs.

Support is planned around each person’s assessed needs, outcomes and goals, with the aim of promoting safety, wellbeing, choice and independence in the most appropriate setting.

How are support plans created?

Support plans are developed around each person’s assessed needs, strengths, preferences, routines and personal goals.

We work with the person, their family where appropriate, and involved professionals such as health and social care teams, local authorities and commissioners. This helps ensure support is joined-up, person-centred and focused on meaningful outcomes.

Support plans are reviewed regularly so they continue to reflect the person’s needs, wishes, progress and changing circumstances.

Are staff trained to support complex needs?

Yes. Our staff receive mandatory care training, along with additional training relevant to the needs of the people they support.

This may include training in areas such as autism, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, mental health, safeguarding, medication, positive behaviour support, communication and person-centred support.

Staff are also supported through supervision, team meetings and ongoing development to help ensure they have the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to provide safe, respectful and effective support.

What makes Independent Lifestyles different?

Independent Lifestyles provides compassionate, person-centred support that is built around dignity, choice, independence and trust.

We take time to understand each person as an individual — their needs, strengths, routines, communication style, goals and what matters most to them.

Our teams focus on building positive, consistent relationships, supporting people to feel safe, valued and understood. We also place strong emphasis on community inclusion, helping people develop confidence, build skills and take part in everyday life in a meaningful way.

Our aim is not simply to provide care, but to support people to live well, grow in confidence and achieve the best possible quality of life.

How do I apply for a supported living or residential placement?

You can contact the Independent Lifestyles team directly to discuss current vacancies, supported living placements and residential care availability across Sussex and Kent.

We will be happy to talk through the person’s needs, the type of support required, and whether we may have a suitable service or vacancy available.

Where appropriate, we can also liaise with family members, social workers, commissioners and other professionals involved in the person’s care and support.

Can support help with employment or education?

Yes. Where this forms part of the person’s support plan, we can support people to access education, volunteering, employment opportunities and other meaningful activities.

This may include support with attending college, developing routines, building travel confidence, preparing for appointments or interviews, exploring interests, and developing practical and social skills.

Our aim is to help each person build confidence, independence and a sense of purpose in a way that is right for them.