Living more independently

It can be a big step to move out of your family home and begin to live more independently either by yourself or with others.

If you are thinking of moving out to your own place, you might need to learn about:

• cookery
• gardening
• managing your money
• healthy living
• staying safe
• discovering your community

These are just some of the free courses from the adult learning service. They have been set up for adults with learning disabilities to help you. They include:

• learn new skills
• make new friends
• be creative
• enjoy a more independent life

The adult learning service also runs a digital skills course for people with learning disabilities. The courses are designed to be fun and all learners have their own learning plan to help track their progress.

There are courses in:

• Angmering
• Burgess Hill
• Littlehampton
• Worthing

You can find more information and apply to join a course.

Wellbeing hubs across West Sussex offer support and advice on healthy living, quitting smoking, cutting down on alcohol and other ways to stay well. They also run wellbeing groups in local communities.

Find your local wellbeing hub.

Family Hubs can answer your questions and give you information, advice and guidance. They can help you find local services, make referrals and talk through your needs.

If staff can’t find the right service or you need extra help, they can offer up to 5 sessions with a team member. That person will work with you directly and tailor the sessions to help you reach your goals.

Find your local Family Hub.

Organisations that could provide you with support are:

• West Sussex Mind - a charity supporting mental wellbeing
• Mencap - a charity supporting people with learning disabilities
• Allsorts Youth Project - a charity which supports people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity (LGBT+) and their families
• Local Offer service directory has a list of organisations, activities and groups which may be of interest
• Your local library may be able to help you find support organisations locally. Find a list of libraries and a map

Assistive technology helps people do everyday tasks that might be hard or impossible without it. You can find and buy many types of assistive technology yourself.

If you want adult social care to pay for assistive technology, you will need a referral. Find out how to make a referral to adult social care.

TEC lets you call for help in an emergency if you feel unwell, or if you’re worried about a situation, for example, when someone you don’t know comes to your door.

There are different alarms, sensors and devices to suit a range of needs. They can give peace of mind to you, your family, or your carers.

West Sussex County Council now works with Livity Life to provide TEC. They are making sure customers and self-funders continue to get support. Right now, they are focusing on repairs and emergency installations while we move smoothly from our previous supplier.

We know how important TEC and community equipment are for people leaving hospital or staying independent at home. We’re committed to keeping services reliable during this change.

If you have any questions or concerns about TEC services, contact the TEC Commissioning Team at tec@westsussex.gov.uk.

Your health and social care professional will also be able to advise you about this. Find out more from Connect to Support.

Equipment is available to help make life at home easier. Find out more about what is available from Connect to Support.

You may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant towards the cost of modifications. Find out more from GOV.UK.

An occupational therapy assessment may be required.

Adult social care can also assess your strengths and needs under the Care Act. This might determine that you require a personal budget to meet those care needs.

This could mean that you continue to live in your own home, but staff come into your home to meet your care needs. This can be a council managed budget, a direct payment or a mixture of the two. A direct payment offers the opportunity to pay for a personal assistant (PA).

A PA can help you live more independently as a young adult.

Find out more about PAs and care services from Connect to Support.

You can find information about how personal budgets work on the Choice and Control - for people with social care needs web pages.

This information is part of the ‘Your life, your choice’ publication from West Sussex County Council.