Housing Options Scotland launches practical guide in support of Coming Home Action Plan

The charity has developed a practical housing options guide to support the work of Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) across Scotland in making this commitment a reality.

The guide was produced to accompany the launch of the Coming Home Action Plan, which outlines the actions needed to respond to and resolve cases where people with complex care needs are placed in out-of-area institutional settings, often far from family, community ties, and the opportunity for a fulfilling life.

Yesterday, minister for social care and mental wellbeing Tom Arthur announced £20 million in funding to implement the Plan, which he said will benefit almost 400 people with learning disabilities and complex support needs.

He said: “Every day spent unnecessarily in hospital is time away from someone’s community, family and friends. We cannot allow people to spend longer in hospital than they need to or to stay far from home just because they have more intensive support needs.

“We are beginning to see progress. The latest data shows that fewer people are delayed in hospital or placed in care settings far from home – but there is more to do. 

“I am pleased to see this £20m funding bringing total investment in delivering the Coming Home agenda to £40m since 2021. I thank Dr Anne MacDonald and partners for their commitment. Real change is delivered locally and this Action Plan, alongside additional investment, provides a strong framework for that.”

The Coming Home Guide for Local Authorities and Coming Home Leads is a practical and person-centred resource that supports professionals to:

• Explore a full range of housing possibilities - from social housing to private rentals, and ownership schemes - ensuring that no option is overlooked
• Provide informed, compassionate support that centres the individual’s preferences, needs, and aspirations, rather than fitting them into pre-existing service models
• Build capacity within local authorities by offering guidance, case studies, and tools that promote collaborative working across housing, health, and social care sectors.

More than a toolkit, the guide is a catalyst for change. It equips local authorities to uphold the principles of the Coming Home agenda by ensuring that every client and their families are well-informed, actively involved in decision-making, and supported to make the housing choice that’s right for them. In doing so, it helps turn policy into it practice, and aspiration into reality.

Moira Bayne, CEO of Housing Options Scotland, was chair of the Housing sub-group formed as part of the Coming Home Action Plan, a group convened by COSLA and Scottish Government, including representatives from professional bodies and housing associations.

On the launch of the Action Plan and Housing Options Scotland’s guide, Moira said: “We are proud to be part of a national commitment to the individual’s right to live independently, in a place you call home.”