Shared Lives
Shared Lives is a scheme where Individuals with assessed eligible social care needs share the home of a specially recruited, trained and approved Shared Lives carer and their family.
The Shared Lives carer and their family, support the Individual to reach their potential and live healthy, safe, independent and fulfilling lives in their own communities. The aim is to enable Individuals to have as “ordinary” a life as possible.
These schemes can offer long term placements where you live with your carer or short breaks and opportunities in the day and evening.
Shared Lives schemes are available across the country and are an alternative to traditional types of care, such as supported living or care homes. People using the scheme are central to the Shared Lives carer’s family life and will be encouraged to develop friendships with a range of people who are part of the personal and social life of the Shared Lives carer.
The Shared Lives scheme supports a range of Individuals with varying levels of need.
Benefits
Shared Lives schemes support adults with care and support needs who are unable to live on their own.
The schemes match someone who needs care and support with a trained approved carer.
Before starting the scheme, you have the chance to get to know the Shared Lives carer and decide whether you want to spend time together.
The Shared Lives carer shares their home, family, and community life, and gives care and support to the person with care needs.
Sharing their home, family and community life lets you get to know and form relationships with the Carer.
People sometimes use a Shared Lives scheme as a way of learning the skills they need to live independently and to help them put down roots in the area or community before moving into a place of their own.
How do I become a shared lives carer?
Shared Lives schemes rely on carers. Schemes have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission and carers are required to be trained and vetted by the scheme.
If you're interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer, contact the Shared Lives Service.
For more information on what PSS, the local Shares Lives scheme provider who delivers services across Staffordshire, please visit their website.