Articles

Autism adult services: preparing for CQC inspection on housing and supported living environments

CQC scrutiny of supported living environments focuses on suitability, safety, rights and whether providers use restriction to compensate for poor design. This article explains how to prepare operationally for inspection,...

Autism adult services: auditing housing suitability and environment outcomes

Providers and commissioners need more than anecdotal claims that a property is “suitable”. This article sets out how adult autism services audit housing suitability and environment outcomes using structured checks,...

Autism adult services: balancing independence and safety in supported living design

Providers are often pressured to promote independence while managing significant risk. This article explains how adult autism services balance independence and safety through housing and environment design, using practical examples,...

Autism adult services: safeguarding risks linked to housing and environment

Housing and environment design can unintentionally create safeguarding risks for autistic adults, including isolation, exploitation and harm. This article explains how providers identify and manage safeguarding risks linked to supported...

Autism adult services: commissioning and funding realities in housing and supported living

Housing and supported living decisions in adult autism services are shaped by commissioning pressures, funding routes and market constraints. This article explains how providers operate credibly within these realities, evidence...

Autism adult services: working with housing providers and landlords in supported living

Supported living outcomes often depend on how well providers work with housing partners, landlords and managing agents. This article sets out practical ways to build strong housing partnerships, resolve property...

Autism adult services: preventing placement breakdown through environment design

Placement breakdown in adult autism services is often driven by environmental mismatch rather than support failure. This article explains how providers use housing and environment design to prevent breakdown, reduce...

Autism adult services: environmental risk assessment in supported living

Environmental risks in supported living are often hidden in plain sight and mislabelled as behavioural issues. This article explains how adult autism providers carry out meaningful environmental risk assessments, integrate...

Autism adult services: matching housing models to individual support needs

Placement breakdown often occurs when housing models are selected for availability rather than suitability. This article explains how providers and commissioners match housing and supported living models to individual autism...

Autism adult services: designing supported living environments that reduce distress

Poorly designed housing environments frequently drive distress, restrictive practice and placement breakdown in adult autism services. This article explains how providers design supported living environments that actively reduce sensory overload,...