This week, we bid farewell to Shared Lives Coordinator, Sally Smith, after an incredible 20 years of service.

When Sally first started, Shared Lives was a small organisation operating in Devon.
“At the time, Devon County Council was transferring small residential homes with three or fewer people to Shared Lives, and that’s how the organisation was born. Back then, we were called SWAPS,” she recalled.

Over the years, Sally’s caseload has been based in Mid and North Devon, with some households remaining as part of her caseload since the very beginning.
“I’ve loved the stability of my role and witnessing the ups and downs of everyday life,” she said.

“In previous social work roles, I often felt like I was just fire-fighting, but here, I’ve been able to build long-term relationships,” she said.

Sally will greatly miss her chats with households, the banter in the office, and the social meals with colleagues.
“Shared Lives is an effective organisation that does social care work well—most importantly, people are at the heart of it all,” she added.

Now, as she embarks on retirement—her ‘holiday life’—Sally is embracing new adventures.
“I started writing stories last year and now attend monthly writing sessions. After years of report writing in my role, I’ve found joy in creative writing. I also hope to travel and go backpacking,” she shared.

Over the last couple of months, she’s ensured she saw all the households on her caseload and made a real effort to say goodbye to the whole team.

The staff team held a shared lunch for Sally in the Devon office and presented her with gifts and flowers.

A huge thank you to Sally for her commitment over the years. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you all the best for the future!