Shared Lives is a support system for adults that cannot live independently. The system involves a carer who provides accommodation, as well as support and care from their own home, almost like fostering.
The Shared Lives scheme provides these carers with training, support and payment for the job they do. The scheme covers both full time care or short breaks. Even something as small as the day activities Shared Lives provide for vulnerable adults can give full-time carers a much needed break to take a breath.
If you are interested in using the Shared Lives scheme for support you can reach them through your social worker, care manager or support officer.
Those without social workers, care managers or support officers can contact Access Point, the contact centre for Adult Social Care. Once they are reached someone will help you with an assessment to see if you are eligible for care.
If you are appropriate for the Shared Lives scheme you will be matched with a carer. Both carer and participant will have a chance to see if they are right for each other before any commitment is made.
Specialisms/services that Shared Lives cover include:
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health conditions
- Personal care
- Physical disabilities
- Dementia
- Sensory impairments
- Caring for young people 16 -18yrs
- Caring for adults under 65 yrs
- Caring for adults over 65 yrs
- Service quality
- Brighton & Hove Shared Lives are registered with the Care Quality Commission so the quality of the service is regularly monitored and is currently rated as ‘good’.
If you’re interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer:
The role of carer is open to everyone, couples or singles, those with or without children, home owners or tenants. An approved carer can support up to three adults at a time. Carers are paid, trained and give constant support by the Shared Lives providers.
To become an approved Shared Lives carer you will need to:
- take part in a selection process
- pass a Disclosure Barring Service check (formerly known as a CRB check)
- have reference checks
- receive training
- be willing to welcome someone with support needs into your own home
- have a spare room that meets required standards
If you are interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer please contact our service provider:
Brighton & Hove Shared Lives
Call: 01273 295550
Email: [email protected]
Find out more about Shared Lives from Shared Lives Plus, the national organisation for Shared Lives.
Read about Brian’s experience of Shared Lives here and get a first hand account from someone involved in the scheme.
- Carers are not paid by the hour and they do not work to a fixed schedule but are paid in line with the expectations set out in a Shared Lives arrangement agreement.
- Shared Lives carers are under no obligation to agree to any care and support arrangement offered.
- Shared Lives carers do not employ staff to help them provide care.
- Because Shared Lives carers are self employed, they are responsible for making their own tax and national insurance payments. They are eligible for the Shared Lives tax break.
- Gov.UK provides Guidance for HS236 Qualifying care relief: foster carers, adult placement carers, kinship carers and staying put carers (2015)
- Carers are fully supported and are also monitored during placements.
- The registered manager of each Shared Lives provider is responsible for the quality and safety of care and support in every Shared Lives arrangement.
