About the shared lives scheme
Shared Lives is an award winning scheme that offers individuals the opportunity to be supported in carer’s homes and local communities. In a Shared Lives arrangement an adult who has care or support needs is matched with a compatible carer. Carers share their home, family and community life with the person, helping to develop and maintain independent living skills, friendships and connections in their local area.
Shared Lives carers are carefully recruited, assessed, trained and supported by the scheme. Our carers come from all walks of life and choose to care for a wide variety of reasons. They are united through their enthusiasm, commitment, and positive motivation to make a real difference in people’s lives. The flexibility of Shared Lives means that carers can provide support for lots of different people in a wide range of situations.
The Scheme facilitates arrangements across Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynnon Taff and Torfaen.
Shared Lives are proud to be the recipients of many awards, including:
- We Care Wales Awards
- World Health Organisation – Best Practice – Mental Health Recovery (only 27 services worldwide recognised)
- Ajuda Mental Health & Wellbeing Wales Awards – Inspiring Individual (Gold) & Best Mental Health Support Product and Service (Silver)
- Shared Lives Plus – Scheme Innovation Award & Judges highly commended carer of the year
- NHS recognition award for partnership working
The Scheme arranges several types of arrangements:
- Long term – Ongoing accommodation and support in the carer’s home, with the opportunity to be involved in family and household life.
- Respite – Short breaks with a Shared Lives Carer, and the opportunity to return to the same carer for regular respite.
- Short term – An arrangement over a shorter period, for example to prevent admission into hospital or facilitate discharge from hospital into a Shared Lives setting for a period of recovery and assessment before returning home.
- Sessional support – Hourly support from a Shared Lives carer during the day, evening or weekends. The support can take place in the carer’s home or in the local community.
- Emergency – Accommodation and support provided at short notice.
Shared Lives offers a real alternative to more traditional types of support and accommodation and is often chosen because it is family based, highly personalised, and provides people with the opportunity to develop and maintain independence, friendships, relationships and connections in their own community.
To find out more about the Scheme you can call us on 01443 864784 to chat to a duty worker or email us at adultp@caerphilly.gov.uk and someone will call you back.