Shared Lives

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. The carer shares their home, family and community life, and gives care and support to the person with care needs.

These schemes can offer long term placements where you live with your carer or short breaks and day opportunities.

Shared lives schemes are available across the country and are an alternative to traditional kinds of care, such as care homes.

Benefits

Sharing a home, family and community life with a shared lives carer lets you get to know and bond with the 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.

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, and the schemes have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Carers are 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 offer, please visit their website.