What is Shared Lives?

Shared Lives offers an alternative and flexible type of accommodation, care and support for adults. Our Carers are individuals or couples living in the local community and are fully trained by us. People who live in a Shared Lives setting actively share in the lives and activities of host families.

We offer day support, short breaks or longer-term care arrangements in the homes of approved carers in the community. We have a successful track record in building our service over many years, pioneering the drive for more person-centred and community-based care models. We offer people the chance to stay in the community whilst being supported in a more normal and ‘real-life’ environment.

Shared Lives care is all about relationships, helping someone grow or maintain their confidence, make new friends and learn new skills.

Current Roles 

To be added

How We Support You

The Shared Lives team will be responsible for supporting you and the people who are living with you long term or having a short break with you.

They will provide:

• Regular support through routine visits where they’ll have a chat about how it is going and check that everything is ok.
• Regular newsletters to let you know what’s going on such as local events.
• A carers handbook full of advice, hints and tips.
• Advice via telephone and email.
• Ongoing training.
• The opportunity to meet with other Shared Lives carers for a friendly get together where you can share information and best practice.
• Optional membership of Shared Lives Plus, a national organisation that offers guidance and advice.
• An entitlement to 42 nights annual leave (break from supporting the person) per year. All annual leave is planned in agreement with the Shared Lives Service team.

Training

Mandatory training is an essential requirement for all Shared Lives carers within the first 12 months of approval, with an expectation to attend refresher training thereafter.

No formal qualifications are required, but you will need to take the following training sessions provided by us:

• Shared Lives Induction
• Safeguarding adults training
• First Aid
• Positive behavioural support (PBS)
• Medication management

There are many additional non-mandatory courses available for all Shared Lives Carers. These are commissioned in mind, to support and guide carers and also for personal development.

Payment

You will receive a generous allowance on a monthly basis for caring for the people you support. The financial allowance ranges from £15,600-£23,800 a year (£300-£450 a week), based on the needs of the person you are caring for.

However, it is important to understand that this should not be seen as an income. The amount varies according to how much care is required and the individual’s level of need. The allowance includes a contribution towards covering food and utility bills.

There are special tax rules for some Shared Lives carers and an amount of what they receive is exempt from tax. More details will be provided to you once you become an approved Shared Lives carer.

Recognition

County Councillor Janice Hanson, chairman of Lancashire County Council, recognised the commitment of our Shared Lives carers by inviting them to a special event. The celebration, held at County Hall, Preston, was to thank staff and carers for their hard work and commitment. You can view some photos from the event below. 

Congratulations to all the carers and staff who work tirelessly to make Lancashire’s Shared Lives service a success.

Who can use Shared Lives?

The scheme is open to adults who have a social care assessment that indicates they are eligible for and would benefit from the shared Lives service.

Shared Lives carers support people who are 18 and over.

You can use the service if:

· You no longer want to live with your family but want to live as part of a family.

· You want to stay in your own home but would like to receive support to help you build friendships within your local and wider community.

· You want to take a short break.

· Your family or carer want to take a break or holiday.

Become a Shared Lives carer

All kinds of people can be Shared Lives carers. You could be a couple or single, with or without children, a homeowner or tenant.

Shared Lives is a unique model of support, which is often rewarding for both the carer and the person using the service. There will be specific requirements and expectations about how a person’s support is provided, and these will be fully explored with you before any placement is made. When you become a Shared Lives carer you will complete Pre and Post approval training and the nationally recognised Care Certificate. Our Shared Lives team will provide you with full training and support to ensure everyone has the help they need.

You will be paid a fee to provide a family environment and support to individuals for short breaks, long-term placement or for a few hours a day.

To become an approved Shared Lives carer, you need to:

· Offer a safe, supported, and welcoming home with at least one spare bedroom if it is a long-term placement or short breaks.

· Offer a stable and supportive environment and have the motivation and commitment to developing a long-term caring relationship.

· Your time, patience, and enthusiasm to support people to learn essential skills, develop friendships, and try new experiences

· Undergo an approval process, pass a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check and have reference checks.

You might need to assist with:

· supporting people to appointments, for doctors and dentists and other health services

· support to access leisure facilities, work, college, or community venues such as the library, shops, and swimming pool

· supporting people to learn and maintain daily living skills.

· helping to manage finances and safekeeping of medication

· reviews and attending meetings for or with the person

What are the housing requirements?

You can have any style of home, as long as it meets our fire, health and safety requirements and is in good repair and decoration.

Are there any other requirements?

You will need to have Home and contents and Public Liability Insurance (specifically for Shared Lives).