What Is Floating Support — and Who Is It For?
Floating support is one of the most misunderstood services in the social care sector. This guide explains what it is, who benefits, and how it differs from other forms of support.
What Is Floating Support — and Who Is It For?
"Floating support" is a term used widely in the housing and social care sectors, but it is often misunderstood — both by the people who might benefit from it and by the professionals who refer to it.
This article explains what floating support actually is, who it is designed for, and how it differs from other types of care and support.
The Basic Definition
Floating support is time-limited, practical support provided to people in their own homes to help them live independently. Unlike residential care or supported housing, the support "floats" — it is attached to the person, not the property. If someone moves, the support moves with them.
The goal is not to provide ongoing dependency, but to build the skills, confidence, and connections that allow someone to manage independently in the long term.
What Floating Support Involves
The specific activities within a floating support package vary depending on the individual's needs, but commonly include:
- Tenancy sustainment: Helping someone understand and meet their tenancy obligations, manage rent payments, and maintain their home to an acceptable standard
- Benefits and finances: Supporting someone to claim the benefits they are entitled to, set up direct debits, and manage a basic budget
- Daily living skills: Building routines around cooking, cleaning, shopping, and personal care
- Health and wellbeing: Encouraging engagement with GP services, mental health support, or substance misuse services
- Community connections: Helping someone access local activities, education, or employment
- Crisis prevention: Identifying early warning signs of deterioration and taking action before a crisis develops
Who Benefits from Floating Support?
Floating support is most commonly provided to people who are at risk of losing their tenancy or who have recently moved into independent accommodation after a period of supported housing. This includes:
- People with learning disabilities transitioning to independent living
- Individuals with mental health conditions who need support to maintain a tenancy
- People leaving care, prison, or a period of homelessness
- Adults recovering from substance misuse
- People with physical health conditions that affect their ability to manage daily life
- Older adults who need support to remain in their own home
The common thread is not a specific diagnosis or circumstance — it is the need for practical, consistent support to bridge the gap between where someone is and where they want to be.
How It Differs from Other Support
Floating Support vs. Residential Care
Residential care involves moving into a care home or supported housing setting where support is provided on-site. Floating support is provided in someone's own home — they retain full control of their living situation.
Floating Support vs. Personal Care
Personal care involves hands-on assistance with washing, dressing, toileting, and other intimate tasks. It is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Floating support does not involve personal care — it focuses on practical, daily living skills and tenancy sustainment.
Floating Support vs. Domiciliary Care
Domiciliary care (also called home care) typically involves regular visits to assist with personal care and medication. Floating support is broader in scope — it focuses on building independence rather than providing ongoing assistance with daily tasks.
The Role of Non-Clinical Floating Support
At Karken Healthcare, our Floating Support & Independence Coaching service sits within the non-clinical, non-CQC regulated space. We work with individuals who need practical support to build and maintain independence — but who do not require personal care or clinical intervention.
Our support workers help clients with:
- Establishing daily routines
- Managing household tasks and bills
- Accessing community resources and services
- Building confidence and self-advocacy skills
- Maintaining their tenancy
We work alongside — not instead of — statutory services. Where a client needs clinical support, mental health input, or personal care, we will always signpost to the appropriate regulated provider.
For Professional Referrers
If you are a housing officer, social worker, GP, or discharge coordinator, you can refer clients to our floating support service directly. We respond to all professional referrals within one working day and will be transparent if a referral falls outside our non-clinical scope.
To make a referral or discuss a client's needs, visit our How It Works page or contact us directly.
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Karken Healthcare Team
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