Finding a new supported living place in Sheffield, England, Planet Earth

SheffieldMan1976

The cause of most of my stress/anger at the moment is this place doing my head in on an almost daily basis, therefore I need somewhere else to live ASAP! Social services won't talk to me, we don't even have a named social worker any more, just some random duty worker who doesn't know my story or history.

We've visited several different places last year, including a place in Crosspool, but it's for people with severe behavioural issues and there would've been someone with me in my room at ALL times, which would become incredibly annoying, incredibly fast.

We also visited a place on the Langsett estate in Hillsborough in 2024 (2 years next month ago), the room was far too small and had almost no storage space for all my PC and Xbox and cosplay stuff etc so I rang up and turned it down as soon as we got back.

There was a place in Longley that could've been ideal as I know the manager, but it's been rated inadequate by the CQC.

The thing is, I'm between a rock and a very hard place because regardless of where I move, ALL care Homes have the same problem, no staff.

Plus at 50, I'm still too young for proper residential care which is designed for the likes of my Parents who are mid to late 70s (Dad will be 78 in October, Mum was 77 last month)

Basically, I am losing the will to live here, as all they ever tell me is no we can't go out because other residents have priority on the House car, and that's another issue, at the moment, most of the time there's 3 staff on to 5 residents including me, that works out 0.6 staff members each, not acceptable is it?

Sorry for the long rant, I'm just majorly pee'd off at the moment.

I can't ring the Samaritans, I did last year when I was going through some stuff, the guy I spoke to was about as much use as a cardboard Teapot and that's being kind.

Ross1975

Hi SheffieldMan1976, I'm sorry that you're going through this, it sounds like it's wearing you down.

Here are some things you can do:

You can request a formal care needs review (Care Act assessment review) and ask for a reassessment of your needs and placement suitability, not just informal chats with duty workers.

You can ask for an independent advocate. If communication with social services is breaking down, an advocacy service can step in and speak on your behalf.

You can make a formal complaint. If you're repeatedly not being assigned a proper worker or you feel ignored, a formal complaint to the council’s adult social care department can escalate things beyond phone calls that go nowhere.

What you're describing sounds like you may need supported living / specialist supported accommodation, not traditional elderly residential care. It’s worth explicitly raising it with social services.

Holly_Scope

Hi @SheffieldMan1976 I'm really sorry to read this. I can see Ross1975 has provided some really useful options for support in his response, and I've also popped you an email so please keep an eye out for it.

Best wishes,

Holly

Rachel_Scope

@SheffieldMan1976 I wondered if you'd seen the post above from @Ross1975? He's given some really good advice to help you with your current situation. I just want to make sure you're getting the support you need. Do you feel the other residents are getting enough support? You mentioned that some have severe disabilities.

Here's a some more information about getting an advocate https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/get-help-from-an-advocate?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23888782028&gbraid=0AAAAADrhH8HdyFJCFxtDNo6MWwXN2dssK&gclid=CjwKCAjwuanRBhBSEiwAY5y6V2-_K8CR2szuBXH3a01mZdWZJoT7-xjiRaunTZP64EcizH0KWdEWvRoCIPkQAvD_BwE and here's some about a care needs assessment https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/getting-a-social-care-assessment

KarthikYogaraj

That sounds exhausting, and it's worse when there's no named worker who actually knows your history, you end up re-explaining everything to a duty stranger each time. Ross has already pointed you at the main routes, so I'll just add a couple of things that helped someone I know in a similar spot.

When you get the needs review, ask for the choice-of-accommodation right to be applied: you're allowed to name a preferred placement and the council should arrange it where it meets your assessed needs and there's a suitable one available. And get the practical stuff written into the assessment itself, room size, storage for your kit, being able to get out, so a too-small room reads as an unmet need rather than you being fussy. Disability Sheffield can sort you an independent advocate locally if social services keep going quiet.

Have you had an actual Care Act assessment review put in writing yet, or has it all been phone calls so far?