Exploring the Best Options for Supported Living for Complex Care Needs

When we talk about complex care needs, we’re referring to a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional challenges that can affect someone’s day-to-day life. These needs often arise from long-term health conditions, disabilities, or a combination of different factors that make day-to-day living more difficult without the right support.

Complex care is more than just medical help. It’s about providing personalised support for people who may need assistance with tasks such as washing, dressing, eating, managing medication, or maintaining their mental well-being. This type of care is carefully tailored to each individual, taking into account their specific health needs, preferences, routines, and goals.

Whether someone is living with a neurological condition, a learning disability, brain injury, or another long-term health issue, complex care ensures they can live as independently and safely as possible, with the right level of support in place.

Assessing and Meeting Complex Care Needs

A thoughtful and thorough assessment is the first step towards providing the right level of support for anyone with complex care needs. This process looks beyond just medical conditions—it takes into account the person as a whole. This means understanding their physical health, mental well-being, social situation, and how they respond to different types of care and communication. Factors such as culture, personal goals, past experiences, and family involvement can all play an important part in how support should be delivered.

It’s also essential to consider a person’s ability to make decisions about their care. Some individuals may need extra support to express their views or to understand their options. Taking the time to assess capacity in a respectful and clear way helps ensure care is delivered with dignity and in line with the person’s wishes wherever possible. A social worker plays a crucial role in this assessment process, ensuring that all aspects of the individual's needs are thoroughly evaluated.

Once the assessment is complete, a personalised support plan is put in place. This plan is shaped around the individual’s needs and preferences. It includes key information such as any diagnoses, medication or treatments required, as well as details about family members, next of kin, and the health professionals involved in their care.

Most importantly, these plans are not set in stone. They’re reviewed regularly so that any changes in health, circumstances or preferences can be addressed quickly. Social workers are essential in reviewing and updating these support plans to ensure they remain relevant and effective. This responsive approach helps ensure that people with complex care needs continue to feel safe, respected and supported at every stage.

Meeting Complex Physical Needs

Supporting someone with complex health needs means carefully balancing health management with a strong focus on promoting independence and dignity. It starts with recognising how crucial everyday health routines can be. For many people, taking medication on time can make the difference between managing their day and needing full support. That’s why it’s essential to ensure medication is taken as prescribed and that any initial side effects have eased before moving forward with care tasks.

Healthcare professionals play an important role in this. They not only provide the right treatment and oversight but also help train and guide care staff. This includes the safe use of specialist equipment, moving and handling techniques, and early recognition of health changes. With the right support, complex physical needs can be managed to help people live more comfortably and confidently.

Daily support also includes help with personal care and day-to-day tasks, always delivered in a way that protects a person’s dignity. From getting washed and dressed to preparing meals or keeping mobile, each task is approached with sensitivity and respect. Wherever possible, small interventions that promote independence, such as using adaptive tools or encouraging self-care, should be introduced early. Losing independence can deeply affect a person’s sense of self, mood, and overall wellbeing, so helping someone do as much as they can for themselves remains at the heart of good supported living care.

Meeting Complex Mental Health Needs

Specialist support is essential when someone has a complex mental health condition. Anyone in this situation should receive care and treatment from a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). These teams bring together a range of professionals with experience in mental health, offering tailored interventions that go beyond everyday support. Accessing this level of care usually begins with a referral from a GP, who will work with the individual to identify the most appropriate pathway.

Mental health conditions are considered complex when they are difficult to manage without clinical support or when they significantly affect how someone feels, communicates, or engages with the world around them. In supported living, close collaboration with community services helps ensure that individuals receive the right treatment and are not left trying to cope alone.

Emotional wellbeing also plays a key role. Sometimes, behaviours linked to distress or low mood can improve with fairly simple changes — such as adjusting the environment, building stronger relationships with support staff, or offering more structure and reassurance throughout the day. Addressing emotional difficulties is crucial, as they often accompany various types of dementia and can lead to notable changes in mood and behavior. When needed, referrals to specialists in communication or behaviour should be made, particularly if someone is struggling to express how they feel or make their needs known.

Importantly, we should never assume someone lacks the capacity to make decisions just because they have a mental health diagnosis. Mental capacity can change over time and should be assessed carefully and regularly. A health professional plays a crucial role in assessing mental capacity to ensure appropriate and personalized care. Respecting a person’s right to be involved in their own care is central to supporting both their mental health and overall quality of life.

Meeting Complex Behavioural Needs

Supporting someone with complex behavioural needs means looking beyond the behaviour itself and understanding what might be causing it. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a proven, person-centred approach that does just that. Rather than focusing on what’s going wrong, PBS looks at how to improve someone’s quality of life through meaningful engagement, choice, and skill-building. It helps identify patterns, triggers, and unmet needs while also encouraging a sense of control and purpose in daily life.

PBS works best when it’s part of a wider, consistent approach. That’s why Specialist Support Teams are often involved as a wrap-around service — not only offering advice and interventions for individuals, but also guiding and supporting the staff teams who care for them. Having a dedicated support team ensures that tailored assistance is provided, maintaining quality of life and engaging interactions for individuals receiving care. With the right understanding and tools in place, people are more likely to feel safe, respected, and in control.

When it comes to responding to behavioural needs in the moment, the most important step is to stay calm. Staff reactions can have a huge influence on how a situation unfolds. Panic or raised voices can escalate behaviour, and also affect those around the person in distress. If there’s a behaviour support plan in place, staff should follow the agreed strategies to keep everyone safe and supported.

Where possible, non-physical interventions — such as giving space, redirecting focus, or using calming techniques — should always be used first. Physical intervention should only ever be considered as a last resort, and only when there’s an immediate risk of harm to the person or to others. Even then, it must be done safely, respectfully, and in line with agreed guidance. At the heart of all behavioural support is the belief that people do well when they are understood, empowered and given the right support.

Meeting Complex Communication Needs

Good communication is at the heart of all quality care. When someone has complex communication needs, it’s essential to find ways to ensure they feel heard, understood, and included. Not all communication barriers are about language—sometimes, they are about how information is shared or the pace at which conversations happen.

There are several simple but effective ways to adapt communication. Presenting information differently—for example, using pictures, gestures, or objects of reference—can help someone process what’s being said more easily. Allowing extra time for responses and checking understanding in a calm, patient way can also make a big difference. These small adjustments can help make communication more accessible and ensure the person’s needs are recognised and respected.

In some cases, people may have highly specific communication challenges that affect their daily lives and relationships. In these situations, a referral to a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) is recommended. A SALT can assess the person’s communication needs fully and create a communication passport—a simple guide that explains how the person best receives and shares information. This helps everyone involved in their care communicate more effectively and consistently. Additionally, identifying any unmet needs that may require input from specialist services, such as mental health support, ensures comprehensive care.

Speech and Language Therapists also work closely with staff teams, offering training and guidance tailored to each individual’s needs. This can include helping teams use specialist tools, such as visual aids or electronic devices, and developing day-to-day strategies that build trust and improve interaction. With the right support, people with complex communication needs can engage more fully in their lives and feel more confident in expressing themselves.

Supporting Individuals with Specific Conditions

People with specific conditions, such as profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), often require carefully tailored support to meet their health and everyday living needs. A person is considered to have a profound learning disability when their IQ is below 20 and they experience significant difficulties with communication, mobility, and managing daily tasks. Other conditions, including physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and complex health needs, are also common.

Even when someone has been assessed as lacking the capacity to make decisions, it remains vital to maximise their involvement in care and support. This might mean using alternative methods of communication, engaging in activities they enjoy, or simply recognising the small ways they express preference or discomfort. Respecting each individual’s voice, in whatever form it takes, is a core part of delivering truly person-centred care.

When it comes to planning support, complex care requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach. Each care plan should be built around the individual’s needs, preferences, and health requirements. This includes ensuring that staff are trained to deliver the right level of support safely and confidently. Providers like Lifeways offer bespoke training modules to help staff manage specific healthcare tasks—from supporting people with diabetes to providing catheter care—in a way that aligns with the person’s daily routine. Additionally, social workers should facilitate contact with local groups and ensure people are informed about their right to access services, including eligibility criteria and referral processes.

Supporting Complex Needs at Alderbrook Care Home

Supporting people with complex care needs goes far beyond meeting clinical requirements. It calls for strong, trusting relationships between individuals, their families, and the care teams involved. When these relationships are consistent and built on genuine understanding, they form the foundation for truly person-centred care.

If you'd like to understand more about the Complex Nursing Care we offer at Alderbrook Care Home please get in touch, we'd be happy to offer a personalised tour.

Resources:

Care Act 2014
The Department of Health and Social Care's Framework