What software do supported housing providers use?
The four broad approaches supported housing providers in England use to keep residents' records, what to check in each, and where software built for support work fits.
Supported housing providers can manage residents' records using documents and spreadsheets, care-recording software, housing management systems or specialist supported housing software. These are broad approaches, and a provider may combine them. When comparing options, check whether each system can record assessed needs, support plans, risk assessments, support sessions and reviews, and export the evidence your service is asked for.
Residoc is specialist supported housing software for providers in England, with guided support-recording, automatic review booking and whole-file downloads for each resident.
The four broad approaches
| Approach | What it is built for | What to check for supported housing |
|---|---|---|
| Documents and spreadsheets | General office work | Who books the reviews, how you see what is overdue, and how long it takes to gather one resident's records |
| Care-recording software | Care services, often those the Care Quality Commission regulates | Whether its forms match the support your service gives, or whether you would be working around care plans, medication charts and rotas |
| Housing management systems | Landlords: tenancies, rent accounts, arrears and repairs | Whether it records individual needs, support plans, sessions and reviews, or whether that needs a separate module or system |
| Specialist supported housing software | Support in supported and exempt accommodation | Whether its workflows match your service, which forms it covers, and how you export your records |
What to look for in supported housing software
Whichever approach you take, the system should let a provider do six things:
- Keep the resident's key documents together. The needs assessment, licence agreement, risk assessment, support plan, reviews, support session records and contact log, in one file.
- Complete records where support happens. Support workers fill in forms on a phone or laptop, in the resident's home.
- Collect signatures. The resident and the worker sign on screen, so each record is finished when the session ends.
- Book reviews. Support plan and risk assessment reviews are booked from the plan itself, and anything overdue is shown to the provider.
- Produce evidence on request. One resident's whole file, or everything from a set period, downloaded when a council or auditor asks.
- Show who did what. Every record names who completed it and when, with a history of every change.
What councils look at on Housing Benefit claims
For exempt accommodation, councils assess the claimant's needs and the care, support or supervision provided. The DWP's guidance for supported housing claims asks councils to look at the support actually given, and lets them ask providers for needs assessments and other information.
Needs assessments, support plans and accurate, signed session records help a provider show this, but what a council asks for depends on the claim. Software helps you keep and produce the evidence. It does not decide Housing Benefit entitlement.
Where Residoc fits
Residoc is supported housing software for providers in England. Support workers complete each of more than 20 forms as a short guided conversation, typed or spoken. Residoc turns the answers into a finished PDF, signed on screen and filed to the right resident.
- More than 20 supported housing forms. From the Initial Needs Assessment and licence agreement at move-in to support sessions, the contact log, incident reports and the exit form.
- Details given once. A resident's National Insurance number, date of birth and contact details are filled into each later form that asks for them.
- Reviews booked for you. Finishing a support plan books its resident reviews at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, on the dates the plan prints. Finishing a risk assessment books its reviews at 3, 6 and 9 months and the next full assessment at 12. Each appears in the calendar.
- Keeps answers when the signal drops. If the connection goes during a form, the worker carries on through its questions. Answers are kept on the device and sent when the connection returns. Photos, and opening a form in the first place, need a connection.
- A resident's whole file in one download. Every record for a resident, or everything dated in a period you choose, comes out as one ZIP file of PDFs.
- A history of every change. An activity log shows who did what and when. A corrected record keeps the version it replaced.
- Paper files brought across. Existing residents' paper records are copied in one part of one form at a time.
A support session recorded in Residoc
This is a Support Session Record being completed in Residoc. The support worker answers one short question at a time, in their own words. The finished record builds on the right as they go.
Asked for a summary of the session, the worker typed:
We went through the bank's list of ID they accept and Daniel found his birth certificate. He doesn't have photo ID yet so we filled in the provisional licence form together. He said he'll post it on Friday.
Residoc recorded it on the form as:
Support was provided to review the bank's list of accepted identification. Daniel located his birth certificate. As he does not yet have photo ID, the provisional driving licence application form was completed together. Daniel will post the form on Friday.
The resident's name and address, the date and the worker's name were filled in before the first question. The goal the session worked on, how the support was given and the follow-up from the last session each came from one answer. The worker can change any answer from the panel on the right before the record is signed and filed.
What Residoc costs
| Plan | Per resident per week, billed annually | Per resident per week, billed monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | £3.25 | £5.00 |
| Platinum | £5.20 | £8.00 |
Platinum includes Guide, Residoc's AI assistant. Both plans include your whole team, and there is a free trial to start. See the pricing page for the details.
Our longer guide covers how to choose supported housing software, with the questions to put to any supplier, including us.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best software for supported housing providers?
It depends on the service. Look for a system that records needs assessments, support plans, risk assessments and support sessions, books reviews, works on a phone and lets you download a resident's whole file. Ask each supplier which forms the product covers and how you export your records, and try it on real work before you decide.
Do supported housing providers need CQC software?
Not automatically. The regulatory question is whether the service carries on an activity the Care Quality Commission regulates, such as personal care. Care-recording software can suit those services, but choosing software and registering with the CQC are separate matters. Choose software that records the support or care your service actually gives.
Can supported housing providers use spreadsheets?
Yes. Documents and spreadsheets can be used to maintain residents' records. The work is in what they do not do for you: booking reviews, showing what is overdue and gathering one resident's records when a council asks.
What software is used for exempt accommodation?
Exempt accommodation providers choose from the same four approaches. Because Housing Benefit for exempt accommodation depends on the care, support or supervision provided, it helps to pick a system that keeps needs assessments, support plans and session records for each resident and can produce them when the council asks.
How much does supported housing software cost?
Suppliers usually charge per resident or per user. Residoc charges per resident, per week. Gold is £3.25 per resident per week when billed annually, or £5 per resident per week when billed monthly. Platinum, which adds Guide, Residoc's AI assistant, is £5.20 per resident per week when billed annually, or £8 per resident per week when billed monthly. Both plans include your whole team, and there is a free trial. See the pricing page.
