Shared Lives is an innovative care model running throughout the UK.  Carers spend their day-to-day supporting adults with care and support needs to lead lives full of meaning and connection. But, what does it really mean to be part of Shared Lives? 

In this article, we’ll delve into how Shared Lives works and try to explain this small but mighty social care system.

What do Shared Lives do?

Shared Lives connects adults with support needs with carers within the scheme. Through a careful matching process, the person looking for support meets the carer alongside a coordinator to see if there is a good compatibility. If everything is a match, a date is made for the person seeking care to move in.

There are two types of service in Shared Lives schemes: a long-term arrangement or a short-term respite stay. Both happen within the carer’s household. The only difference between the two is in the length of time they stay.

• Short-term is usually a weekend or a few days. These breaks are an opportunity to have a short stay away from a permanent residence to enjoy respite.
• Long-term are anywhere from a few months to years. The supported adult becomes part of the carer’s home, and the focus is on longevity with plenty of encouragement for them to be as independent as possible.

Shared Lives Carers are DBS checked, trained, and insured. They need to have a health and safety qualification and to demonstrate that they have a safe, accessible home that would be welcoming for an adult with support needs. It is the responsibility of the Shared Lives scheme to check that their carers are able to give good, quality care.

See our eight-step guide to becoming a carer and learn what it takes in our article: ‘Become a Shared Lives Carer’.

What happens in Shared Lives?

Being part of a Shared Lives household is like being part of a family home. A Shared Lives Carer invites the matched adult to join in with their day-to-day life. They could take part in cooking meals, looking after pets, or just spending relaxed time together. Just like no two people are the same, each household will spend its time differently.

If you’d like to see a day in the life of a Shared Lives Carer then check out the Shared Lives South West YouTube channel to experience real-life stories and interviews. 

A key part of Shared Lives is that the person using the scheme is provided a spare room within the carer’s house and is invited to join in with family life. There are Shared Lives schemes all over the country providing this rewarding form of social care. 

What is Shared Lives South West?

Shared Lives South West is a charity that provides Shared Lives services in Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. The charity’s focus is community-based care and support services for adults with additional needs. They do this via a network of qualified Shared Lives Carers within the three counties. It’s sometimes compared to adult fostering. 

The charity employs people who manage the day-to-day running of the organisation, supporting both people who use the services and the carers. Each carer runs their own household and supports up to three adults at a time.  To keep our carers up to scratch, the office teams run regular training, compliance checks, and visits.

Shared Lives South West holds an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission. We’ve been helping people lead more fulfilling lives in the Southwest for more than 20 years. 

How to get involved with Shared Lives South West

Get involved in Shared Lives by visiting our website. There’s lots of useful information on there too, including financial support and FAQ’s about the organisation and what we do.

If you’re interested in Shared Lives services for yourself or a loved one, then fill out the referral form or give the office a ring to chat with a member of the team. Follow this link to our handy interactive map to find vacancy information and get an idea of the households that are looking for a match.

We’re always looking for big-hearted people to join us as Shared Lives Carers. Start an exciting new career. Fill out our ‘contact us’ form or give your closest office a ring. All you need to get started are transferable skills, a spare room, and a caring nature. 

We hope you’ve found this article helpful. If you’d like to stay up to date with our Shared Lives households and everything we do as a charity, then follow us on Facebook and our Instagram. We love sharing our work!