Specialist support services
Supported living
We pride ourselves on offering specialist support services to people experiencing a wide range of issues including learning difficulties, physical disabilities, mental health, drug misuse issues, offenders, homelessness and care-leavers.
Each individual helps to shape their personalised support package to ensure that they can achieve the necessary skills to live independently in the future.
Our approach
We work collaboratively with specialist services that provide either care or intensive housing management support to our residents to enable them to sustain their tenancies and develop the necessary skill to live as independent as possible. Some service users may have a support package that aims to build the necessary life skills to move out of supported living and into general needs accommodation.
Following referral, we conduct a thorough needs and risk assessment to enable the development of a personalised support plan which will highlight the individual needs of every applicant and allow us to provide a program of specialist support with intensive housing management.
All applicants are assessed to determine their suitability based on the level of risk and in accordance with our allocations and lettings policy. The assessment includes the individual level of need and risk to self, others and the property.
All applicants assessed as low risk will be part of our service on average for between 3 months to 2 years in preparation for living independently. Working with local specialist services we can ensure the right help is given to facilitate the best outcome for our residents, community, and wider society. Our residents are at the heart of everything we do and the tailor-made support packaged is shaped by the views of the individual to ensure we the intended outcomes are achieved.
Your Dawson housing journey
We offer an end to end housing experience at Dawson and understand that having the right information at the right time can make all the difference.
Before Joining Dawson
Prospective residents are usually put in touch with Dawson by different organisations, this is known as the referral process. Agencies that work with us include the local authority, or voluntary organisations such as Mind or The Salvation Army. Once referred a member of our team will arrange a meeting with you.
Where this is not possible face to face we can arrange this online via Teams or Zoom.
Risk Assessment
Before joining Dawson, you will have an opportunity to talk with staff about your needs and the type of support that we are able to offer you. This will help us to make sure that our services are right for you. This is known as a risk assessment. As part of this assessment will be able to meet staff as well as other people involved in your support such as your support worker, housing officer or social worker. You are welcome to include family members as part of this process.
If you are moving into our services you may have the opportunity to spend time beforehand to enable you to gain a better insight into what life we feel like with Dawson. In some cases this may not be possible as the nature of the referral may under emergency conditions. Our staff will be on hand to support you through this process.
Joining Dawson
When you move in you will be given a welcome pack along with a copy of your tenancy or licence agreement.
This will provide you with information about the support available, the service and practical things like health and safety (e.g. fire drills and room checks) and any other important house rule in your service.
Visitors
Providing a safe environment for our residents at Dawson is paramount and our services often have rules about the visitors, in particular in our shared accommodation. We understand the importance of family and friend support and we will support you to maintain this where we can. If you need to discussion visitation issue we encourage you to discuss this with your support worker directly.
Paying your rent
Staff will guide through the rent process and provide advice about your responsibility to pay rent and service charges.
There are number of different payment options available to help you with keeping up to date with your payments. Paying your rent and services charges on time is an important part of living at Dawson as we will be unable to delivers the services you need without it. If you fail to pay your rents and service charges your tenancy or licence agreement will be at risk. This also may mean that you find it much more difficult to move on when you are ready.
You can find out more about your obligations in paying your rent and service charges here:
Contact us
0151 640 0398
Dawson Housing Limited
124 City Road
EC1V 2NX