The future commissioning of independent living services

There is great and growing interest in assisting people with learning disabilities to live in their own homes with support to promote and enhance their independence. In order to make this happen on a wider scale, access to housing has to be expanded, for example through increased use of shared ownership options for people with support needs. On the support side, there is tension between the funding criteria for Supporting People, with its focus on housing‐related support, and the need to provide a holistic and person‐centred service, as envisaged by the Valuing People White Paper. Despite this difficulty, creative solutions are being found by local authorities and their partners and could be replicated elsewhere. They include the development of local KeyRing networks in the South West of England.