Providing supported accommodation is not just good for the people who need the housing it is an excellent opportunity to improve value for money in council spending. The pressures on care services are real and growing. Since 2010 spending on social care has fallen by 12 per cent at a time when the number of those looking for support has increased by 14 per cent.

The development of 10 self-contained apartments in Barnsley allowed people to be more independent in their own homes, requiring less support from care workers.

The apartments were adapted and refurbished to accommodate the needs of adults with a learning disability. Each apartment has a kitchen, lounge, bedroom and bathroom and is fitted with a call system that links to a care office that has been developed on-site. To reduce the risk of slipping in bathrooms and kitchens non-slip flooring has been used and the hot water temperature is controlled to prevent people scalding themselves.

The accommodation was thoughtfully designed and adapted to meet the needs of a person with a learning disability so that if the person’s disability changes, major changes to their apartment will not be necessary or they will not need to move home.

The apartments provide good quality accommodation for those looking for an alternative to residential care, leaving college or a care setting and for those living with parents who would like to live independently.