Extra Care Housing Schemes

Providing modern accommodation, on-site care and support facilities for people with a social care need

On this page:

What Is Extra Care Housing?

Extra care housing is similar to sheltered housing in that the accommodation usually consists of individual, self-contained properties, each with its own front door.

The difference is that the level of personal care available is much higher and can be arranged according to individual needs. Care can include things like domestic support, help with meals, as well as opportunities for a range of social and leisure activities.

Extra care can be a good option if you need the security having care staff on-site 24 hours a day but do not want to lose the independence of living in your own home.

The Extra Care schemes are designed to enable independent living, and have a range of features to help achieve this for residents, including:

on-site care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, available based on individual need
an emergency call system in each apartment
level-access shower rooms in each apartment
lift access to all floors
assisted transport 'Buggy' storage
assisted bathing suite
laundry
gardens

Extra Care Scheme Locations

Redwood House, Hungerford

Redwood House is a purpose-built Extra Care scheme with views over Hungerford Common. Redwood House consists of 25 one bedroom and 21 two bedroom apartments for rent, with on-site facilities including a restaurant, shop, hair salon and communal lounge.

Icon for pdf Read more about Redwood House. [3MB]

Alice Bye Court, Thatcham

Alice Bye Court is situated in the heart of Thatcham with easy access to local shops and facilities. Alice Bye Court has 39 one and two bedroom apartments for rent and 12 shared ownership apartments. On-site facilities include a shared lounge area, restaurant, hair and beauty salon, bookable guest room and a range of day time activities.

Icon for pdf Read more about Alice Bye Court. [8MB]

Audrey Needham House, Newbury

Audrey Needham House provides 41 flats, 39 one bedroom apartments and 2 two bedroom apartments. On-site facilities include guest facilities and a hairdressing salon. Regular social activities include bingo, coffee morning and 'Singing for the Brain' organised by scheme staff and tenants.

Icon for pdf Read more about Audrey Needham House. [907KB]

Who Can Apply?

To apply, you'll need to have:

a social care need
a social housing need
and a local connection to the West Berkshire Council area

How Much Does It Cost?

There are three parts to the cost of living in an extra care scheme:

cost of housing, payable to the housing provider - the cost of buying, renting or shared ownership of your home
service charge, payable to the housing provider - for home maintenance and communal facilities
care and support costs, payable to West Berkshire Council

The care and support costs include a core care element which covers the cost of providing the on-site 24/7 response service, plus the cost of any individual support. The amount of the core care element depends on the scheme and is payable regardless of whether you access the service or not.

Further information is available in our Icon for pdf Extra care housing and associated costs leaflet [1MB] which is also available in large print [1MB] .

Financial Assessment

You may also need to pay the cost of any individual support identified in a care needs assessment, which is completed using the national eligibility criteria. Find out more on our Care Needs Assessment and Eligibility webpage.

Most people have to contribute something towards the cost of their care. The amount that you are required to contribute to the cost of care and support will depend on your individual financial circumstances. You will be offered a financial assessment to work out exactly how much you can afford to pay and we will advise you of benefits you may be entitled to that could help you.

If you move into extra care housing while still owning your previous home the value of that property could be taken into account when calculating how much you will be asked to pay towards care and support in your new home.

How To Apply

If you would like to find out more about Extra Care Housing, please contact Adult Social Care.