Guides
Supported living vs residential care and Shared Lives.
Search results in Essex often mix these three things together. They are different. The right option depends on the person’s needs, the kind of home they want, and how housing and support are arranged.
The practical differences
Supported living
The person has their own tenancy. An approved landlord provides the housing. A separate organisation provides support. Support hours are based on assessed need and can change without the person having to move.
Residential care
The person lives in a care home. Accommodation and care are usually provided together. Moving to a different provider typically means moving home as well.
Shared Lives
The person lives in the home of an approved Shared Lives carer and their household, with support built around that family setting. It is a different model from both supported living and a care home.
Why the distinction matters
If housing and support are tied together, changing one can mean losing the other. Supported living is designed so that a person’s home does not depend on who provides their support.
Lintern Care provides supported living and community support. We do not provide accommodation, run a care home, or operate Shared Lives. That is a scope choice, not a ranking of other models.
How to decide in Essex
Essex County Council Adult Social Care assesses care and support needs and can explain which options may fit. Their supported living page is the starting point for housing and tenancy questions.
If you are looking at supported living in Uttlesford, Epping Forest or Harlow, read how Lintern Care’s model works.
Related pages
What is supported living?
Tenancy, housing versus support, and how people access it in Essex.
Lintern Care’s supported living
Support in a person’s own home across West Essex.
Questions to ask a provider
A checklist that works for any service.
Who we support
Where Lintern Care is — and is not — the right service.
Tell us what good support would look like
If you are looking for support in Uttlesford, Epping Forest or Harlow, we would like to understand what matters to you. Families, advocates and professionals are welcome to contact us too.
This opens the email app on your phone or computer. The message is not sent through this website.
Please do not include medical information, identification documents or other sensitive personal details in an email.