What Is Independent Living?
Independent living refers to a lifestyle where individuals with disabilities or older adults can live on their own terms with minimal or no reliance on others. Our Independent Living Services emphasise personal autonomy, allowing people to make choices about their daily routines, living arrangements, and activities while ensuring they have access to support services when needed.
Independent living empowers individuals by providing them with the freedom to decide where and how they want to live, often through housing options like accessible apartments, independent living communities, or specially designed homes that support easy mobility.
Ultimately, Care Support Scotland’s independent living services help to create an inclusive society where everyone has the choice and ability to live as independently as possible while feeling secure and supported.
Care Support Scotland’s Independent Living Services
We provide independent living services across three core service areas – homeless support, learning disability support, and support for the elderly. Our support staff are all registered with the Scottish Social Services Council and are members of Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) schemes.
Our services for independent living are based in four local authority areas in Scotland: Edinburgh City, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian.
Homeless Support
At Care Support Scotland, we work to prevent homelessness through tenancy support services. For those experiencing homelessness, we also offer a range of emergency, temporary accommodation services.
We provide Housing Support, Tenancy Support, Housing First and Temporary and Emergency Accommodation services, including self-contained flats for young people and families, as well as emergency accommodation hostels. We work with partners to make sure homelessness is as rare, brief and non-recurring as possible.
Our holistic approach to independent living services ensures that each person receives tailored support, fostering resilience and stability. Through our efforts, people can gain the confidence and capabilities needed to rebuild their lives independently.
Learning Disability Support
Our core and cluster housing and community outreach services give people with learning disabilities and neurodiversity the chance to live their best lives.
Our independent living service users include people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries and mobility issues.
Elderly Support
Our outreach services help people aged 55 and older to live happily in their communities. We also have core and cluster homes and a day centre in Edinburgh, ensuring we can meet a range of support needs. Older people can get round-the-clock care at our supported accommodation in St Leonards, enjoy socialising at the Pleasance Day Service or have outreach workers pop in to provide support at home.
Looking for support?
If you, or someone you care for, could benefit from Care Support Scotland’s services, please get in touch. We get most of our referrals from local authorities and social work, but also accept referrals from people with self directed support budgets.