To open a respite / residential home

[NEbotherpet]

Hi all,

Hope I've posted in the correct section looking to get some advice please.

My best friend and I have worked in SEN for 15+ years, we specialise in autism and have qualifications in pmld, autism, counselling, we are medication trained. We currently both work in a secondary SEN school, and some secondment with the local council with our work focused on the older students up to 25.

My friend has recently inherited a house after her MIL passed away. We have seen first hand the lack of respite/care homes available in the local area, and would like to turn this into a home/ supported living, respite residential.
Has anybody done something similar?

Have tried to approach the local council but they aren't very forthcoming with any information, only asking if we will be setting up as a charity. This is just in the idea stage but obviously the property is sat empty, there are vulnerable young people desperate for help and we are eager to get the ball rolling.

Thanks for reading hope I get some useful advice on where to start 😊

I could send you a client!!! Social services is woeful in our area for post 18 - literally nothing for a HFA individual who is extremely reluctant to leave the house so there is a definite need in this category. In an ideal world ds2 would need not only accommodation but support to enable him to leave the house & daily living tasks and, in an even more ideal world, support in a workplace.

The problem is who would pay for the services you would offer. The client probably has little income other than benefits. The local authority is strapped for cash and cutting their social care budget round here right, left and centre so I don't think they are going to rush to pay you. The other possibility is donations but this is going to mean a lot of work in fundraising. You might have the building but the staffing costs will be high.

Sorry, this is a bit negative. I wish you a lot of luck with your project and as I said their is a big need for good supported living accommodation.

Providing respite might be easier. Still high staffing costs but less need to provide support out of the accommodation. You could also consider providing respite for NT siblings - depending on the severity of issues they can miss out on a lot of things because the parents are too busy caring for the child with autism.

We got support from an organisation called resources for autism (based in London and the West Midlands) for ds2 and they might be worth a chat to.

@OneInEight

I could send you a client!!! Social services is woeful in our area for post 18 - literally nothing for a HFA individual who is extremely reluctant to leave the house so there is a definite need in this category. In an ideal world ds2 would need not only accommodation but support to enable him to leave the house & daily living tasks and, in an even more ideal world, support in a workplace.

The problem is who would pay for the services you would offer. The client probably has little income other than benefits. The local authority is strapped for cash and cutting their social care budget round here right, left and centre so I don't think they are going to rush to pay you. The other possibility is donations but this is going to mean a lot of work in fundraising. You might have the building but the staffing costs will be high.

Sorry, this is a bit negative. I wish you a lot of luck with your project and as I said their is a big need for good supported living accommodation.

Providing respite might be easier. Still high staffing costs but less need to provide support out of the accommodation. You could also consider providing respite for NT siblings - depending on the severity of issues they can miss out on a lot of things because the parents are too busy caring for the child with autism.

We got support from an organisation called resources for autism (based in London and the West Midlands) for ds2 and they might be worth a chat to.

Thanks I will certainly look into this. Yes there is a lot to think about it, I'm wondering if there's grants available but as you said the LA is strapped for cash too.

And I agree with you the lack of support post 18 is absolutely shocking. Hope you get the support you need for ds2

@NEbotherpet Hello, I know this is a long shot but I came across your thread whilst googling and wondering if anything came of your wonderful idea?