About Shared Lives carers
You can make a real difference to people’s lives as a Shared Lives carer.
Shared Lives is a flexible paid way of life and is not just a regular job in care.
As a Shared Lives carer, you'll support someone who you have got to know and chosen to care for, who has also chosen you.
Many Shared Lives carers say it’s like having a bigger family, and that seeing a person grow and build their independence is hugely rewarding.
Who can be a Shared Lives carer
Shared Lives carers can be from all walks of life, they can be:
- single
- couples
- larger families.
You do not need to have qualifications or experience, as long as you want to welcome someone in need of support into your home and family.
If you do have knowledge and experience of social care or health through work or personal experience, this can be helpful. For example, an NVQ 2, 3, 4 or similar can be helpful.
If you’re new to care work, you’ll need to meet the requirements of the Care Certificate. We'll support you to complete this through your approval and training.
What Shared Lives carers do
As a Shared Lives carer, you'll welcome someone into your home and family. You'll share your life with them as you give them the support and care they need.
This involves sharing your experience and skills to help someone learn new skills and build their independence.
You’ll share your best moments and interests as well as the routines of day-to-day life.
Who you'll support
You could support someone who:
- has a learning disability
- has autism
- is an older adult with dementia
- has a mental health condition
- is leaving hospital or in need of short term care
- is a young person transitioning from children's services.
You'll be matched carefully to someone based on your strengths, experiences and interests which will help the person you're caring for.
Types of care you can offer
There are different types of support that you can choose to offer as a Shared Lives carer.
You could choose to offer:
- long-term care – where someone comes to live with you. There is no working day, the person will become part of your home and family
- respite or short term care – where someone stays for a night, a weekend or a week or more at a time, this could be once a month or once a year
- day support – one session is 6 hours a day, including pick up and drop offs.
The support you give will be arranged with you to fit in with your family life.
Standards for Shared Lives carers
Shared Lives is rated as the highest quality type of social care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
To achieve this level of quality there are standards that Shared Lives carers need to meet.
CQC has 5 standards, Shared Lives care must be:
- effective
- safe
- caring
- responsive to people’s needs
- well led.
We'll support you to meet these standards.
What Shared Lives carers get paid
As a Shared Lives carer, you'll get paid for the support you provide.