Find out about the different ways that you can live and get support.
Page contents
Tori's supported independent living story
Watch this video to see how Tori has benefitted from independent living.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing and use British Sign Language (BSL) you can watch Tori's story with BSL on YouTube.
Home based care
Home Based Care is support provided for regular fixed time periods, usually on a daily basis, to help people with specified tasks for daily living including personal care (for example assist someone to get up in the morning, wash and dress, prepare meals and so on).
Services need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission as a domiciliary care provider.
Employment and finding a job
Having a job gives you control over your life and helps your community. People with learning disabilities can use their skills and experiences to do work they enjoy.
Naturally Talented Me
Naturally Talented Me is a free to use website to help people to find jobs, work, and career opportunities by matching their talents and skills to jobs in Surrey.
You'll put in some things about you, what interests you and your hobbies and a SeeMe portfolio will be made. It is different to what you usually have to do as it is not based on qualifications and education.
You may have health issues, or a disability or caring responsibilities. This will be thought about when matching you to the right job opportunity that would be good for you. It's about finding what you are good at to help you get a job.
Work Wise: Supporting people to get work
Work Wise is a free employment service available to any person with a mental or physical health condition, disability, or neurodivergence, who wants to work.
Work Wise supports people to find, maintain and sustain meaningful, long-term paid employment or to support people already in-work to continue their employment.
You can find out more about Work Wise on the Surrey County Council website, including an easy read guide (PDF).
EmployAbility
EmployAbility offers support to find a job and stay in employment. What can be offered depends on whether people are eligible for social care support.
EmployAbility helps people to find work placements, volunteer opportunities and paid work. Their 'Place, Train, Maintain' approach to Supported Employment helps develop skills at every stage of the process. This also work with employers to create a positive outcome for a business and their employee.
EmployAbility also works with some schools and colleges to support young autistic people to find work experience opportunities and supported internships. and to access employment schemes like Future Choices.
It can help people not eligible for a funded Social Care service to access specific employment schemes, and support people who can get Access to Work funding, or who self fund.
- Email: EmployAbility@surreychoices.com
- Telephone: 01483 806 806
- Text 07860 020130
Job centre plus
A Disability Employment Advisor (DEA) at your Jobcentre Plus office can help you find a job, gain new skills, and tell you about local disability friendly employers.
You can also get advice on Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions from the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Access to work grants
Access To Work grants help pay for practical support with your work, support managing your mental health at work and money to pay for communication support at job interviews.
If you get Access to Work funding, there are autism specialist providers you could use, such as Employability
Claiming benefits
You can find information about Personal Independence Payment on the Government's website.
There are easy read guides available(GOV.UK) explaining how you can get help from Personal Independence Payment and how to claim it.
You may receive a letter (GOV.UK) inviting you to claim Personal Independence Payment. If you do, make sure to show it to your supporter.
The Department for Work and Pensions have easy read guides (GOV.UK) that explain what Universal Credit is and how you can apply for it.
You can get advice in Surrey by contacting Surrey Welfare Rights Unit.
Support to live your life independently and find out about claiming benefits. Including Universal credit, personal independence payments and easy ready guides.
Technology
Here are some useful free apps you can download on your smart phone, to help you get out and about in your community. These can be found on the Apple App store, Google Play and equivalents.
- Passenger Assistance App This app is designed for both people with Disabilities and cares, to request assistance for rail travel, nationally.
- Blue Badge Style This app will map out the best places and trendy in London for accessibility, including bars, cafes, restaurants hotels and more! No more worry about unexpected steps, and inaccessible areas.
- Blue Badge Parking This uses the What 3 Word system and helps you find car parks with blue badge bays nearby.
Please watch this Surrey Coalition video about technology and loneliness.
Files available to download
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Guide for independent living - Easy Read (PDF)
Easy read guide to independent living, social care, housing and support services. -
Direct payments - Easy Read (PDF)
Managing your own personal budget, direct payments and prepaid accounts. Find out what is a direct payment, what is a prepaid account, who can get a prepaid account and other ways you can choose to have your direct payment.
