Shared Lives Stoke

What is Shared Lives?

Shared Lives is a unique, person-centred service that supports adults with a learning disability to live within our communities, sharing their life with a regular family.
Approved Shared Lives carers will welcome an adult with learning disabilities into their home, perhaps for a few nights or something more long-term and they will support the person to be independent and achieve their potential.
Our team will match the person wishing to access the service with a Shared Lives carer to ensure they have common interests and lifestyles. This ensures the arrangement works for everyone, and if people aren't happy can look for an alternative. If possible, we like to offer a choice.

What's the criteria?

The person wishing to access the service needs:

• To be over the age of 18
• Care and support needs that have been asssessed by their social worker

What can Shared Lives carers support with?

• Personal care
• Medication
• Medical appointments
• Daily living skill
• Providing transport to leisure activities, work placements and accessing the community
• Holidays and outings
• Family visits and contact
• Meal preparations

*What qualities does a Shared Lives carer need?

• A spare bedroom in their home
• Compassion
• Patience
• Flexibility
• Dedication
• Good problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Commitment

The safety and wellbeing of the person being looked after is the key factor.

Applicants can expect to undergo a number of checks during and after the assessment process. A prospective carer's home needs to meet our fire, health and safety requirements and be in good repair and decoration. Ongoing safety and quality assurance checks will be carried out once someone is approved as a Shared Lives carer.

What do Shared Lives carers need to provide?

• A comfortable, furnished bedroom for the person to have sole use of during their stay
• Use of the communal areas in the home, such as living room, kitchen, bathroom and gardens
• A healthy, varied diet including meals, snacks and drinks
• Some help with day-to-day-living, such as laundry and personal care
• Care and support referencing the persons Care, Support and Wellbeing Plan

If you would like to be considered as a Shared Lives Carer, you will need to:

• Work positively with the Shared Lives Stoke team
• Go through an assessment, including application form, DBS, references, home visits, training, health and safety checks plus meeting the knowledge and skills statements. Please note the approval process typically takes around three months and your allocated Coordinator supports you through the assessment process.
• Care Certificate, if you don't have any formal qualifications in adult social care such as NVQs or Diplomas. Don't worry, our team can support you to do this.
• Be approved at the independent panel once your assessment is complete.

What happens once I've been approved?

• You'll get regular visits from our team to ensure everything is going okay and that the person staying with you is happy with the service you are providing.
• You will receive an allowance for the care and support you provide which is calculated based on their level of need
• You will have opportunities to meet other Shared Lives Carers and access information sessions.
• The offer of free training
• An allocated Coordinator to support and guide you
• 24hr support from the Shared Lives Stoke team

Find Out More
Call us on  01782 235000
Email us at SharedLives@stoke.gov.uk
Follow us on Facebook at SharedLivesSOT or via our X page at Shared Lives Stoke-on-Trent(@SharedStoke)