Become a Shared Lives Carer
The Shared Lives Scheme offers an alternative to traditional kinds of care, such as a care home or supported living for people over 18. Shared Lives Carers use their own home to support a wide range of people which may include those with mental ill health, a learning disability, older people and young people in transition. Shared Lives offers the chance to contribute to real friendships and to become active, valued citizens with a sense of belonging to a family and community.
What is a Shared Lives Carer?
- Are you someone who would like to make a difference to a person’s life?
- Do you have a spare room?
- How about working from the comfort of your home?
- Would you like to access excellent training and support?
Shared Lives carers use their own home and family life to share it with someone who needs support in your community. Working at home, you can earn between £500 – £572 a week with tax relief, training, regular breaks and a local support network and you get to see the amazing difference in someone’s life.
Being a Shared Lives Carer is a unique experience and the type of support you offer can be flexible to meet your own personal circumstances. The role can fit around other work commitments and family responsibilities and can be provided right from your own home.
A Shared Lives Carer helps make a real difference in the person’s life, offering their time and support. The care provided by you could include having someone live with you long term or for short periods of time. The support you would provide aims to enhance a person’s independence and wellbeing.
You will help them grow, develop in confidence and enjoy tasks, activities and hobbies, such as walking, crafts, singing, sports, shopping, or going to the cinema, concerts and the pub. The service is both flexible and personalised and can be offered in a variety of ways to suit both the carer and the person.
If you are still unsure, have a look at the FAQ's on the Shared Lives website.
Who are we looking for?
We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds who are married, single, living with a partner, with or without children, who own their own home or rent it with or without experience of caring for people. Anyone over the age of 18 with a spare bedroom can become a Shared Lives Carer.
More than any support need, it’s your empowering personality, caring nature and willingness to open new opportunities up to someone that will make the difference. Don’t worry if you’ve not supported people like this before, there’ll be training for any gaps you might have – for example for medication, safeguarding, first aid, mental capacity.
If you are still unsure, have a look at the FAQ's on the Shared Lives website.
Benefits of being a Shared Lives Carer
As a Shared Lives Carer, you are self-employed, and you can receive tax benefits if you fit the criteria.
You will have the opportunity to become a Shared Lives Plus member , which can support you with advice about the legal and tax arrangements. You’ll also receive many discounts and access to a whole community of Shared Lives Carers for advice if you join. Access to Shared Lives training courses, as well as peer group meetings, can be arranged by your Shared Lives Officer. You will be part of a service regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and have a dedicated Shared Lives Officer to talk through anything you’re not sure about and celebrate your successes.
These are the positive outcomes that people have stated they have achieved/experienced by being part of a scheme:
- people in Shared Lives felt they were part of the family most or all of the time.
- people felt that their Shared Lives carer’s support improved their social life.
- people felt that their Shared Lives carer’s support made it easier for them to have friends.
- people in Shared Lives felt involved with their community.
- people felt their Shared Lives carer’s support helped them have more choice in their daily life.
- people felt their physical and emotional health had improved.
How to become a Shared Lives Carer?
You can apply to become a Shared Lives Carer directly to Enfield Shared Lives Scheme who will send you an application form and support you through the process.
' What is like to be a Shared Lives Carer' video
Become a Shared Lives Service Users
About Shared Lives
In Shared Lives, a young person or adult who needs social care support is matched with a Shared Lives carer, by Enfield Shared Lives scheme. They’re matched on personality, lifestyle and whether they get on and want to be together – as well as supporting the person’s social care needs. Together, they share family and community life. People can either move in to live with the Shared Lives carer and their family, or to visit for day support or respite breaks. Shared Lives is the safest and best quality form of social care, in a place which feels like home. They make friends and become more active.
Is Shared Lives right for me?
Shared Lives suits many people – over 14,000 people already enjoy visiting or living with a Shared Lives carer across the country.
When you choose who supports you, with the help of your Shared Lives officer, you and your Shared Lives carer, and their friends and family, often become friends – as well as getting the professional support you need.
Shared Lives carers support people from all walks of life.
You could visit or move in with a Shared Lives carer and their family, when you are looking for support during a life change:
- so you can leave hospital after treatment
- getting older and need an extra hand for daily tasks
- if you’re a young person leaving care
- rebuild your life after domestic abuse or modern slavery
or for longer term support:
- have a learning or physical disability
- experience dementia
- mental ill health
All Shared Lives carers and families are part of The Shared Lives Scheme. The Shared Lives Scheme is registered with the Care Quality Commission also known as CQC.
A Shared Lives Carer helps make a real difference in the person’s life, offering their time and support. The support your Carer would provide aims to enhance your independence and wellbeing.
The service is both flexible and personalised and can be offered in a variety of ways to suit you.
Stories of people who use Shared Lives and the difference it makes.
How to be referred to Shared Lives Scheme
If you currently receive Adult Social Care services, such as home care, day services, speak to your Social Care Team for more details.
If you are not receiving a service, you will need to contact Adult Social Care.
If you are an Older person or a person with a Physical Disability you can request a formal care and support conversation by contacting The Single Point of Access Team: 0208 379 1001
Integrated Learning Disabilities Service (ILDS) Duty Team: 0208 379 5075
Mental Health Service: 0208 702 3100
The referral process:
- When your social care worker has referred you, we will review your information. If you are suitable for the scheme, we'll look for potential matches from our available Shared Lives Carers/Households.
- If we find a Shared Lives Carer and household that meet your needs, we'll make arrangements for you to be introduced to them, along with your social care worker and the Shared Lives officer.
- You can visit them several times before deciding if you want to live with them. You can meet their families and try an overnight stay, to make sure the match is right for everyone.
- If everyone is happy, we will set a start date for the placement, and create a Shared Lives personalised support plan for you.
More information
Contact us
Whether you’re thinking of becoming a Shared Lives Carer or wanting to refer a client to the Shared Lives Scheme, get in touch with the team to discuss your requirements.
Telephone number – 020 8379 5337
Email address – Enfield.sharedlives@enfield.gov.uk
Shared Lives Scheme
Enfield Highway Carnegie Building
258a Hertford Road
Enfield
EN3 5BN
Our opening hours and Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Shared Lives Scheme is regulated by the Care Quality Commission. View the latest CQC report .
Shared Lives Scheme Case Studies
Shared Lives Carers Stories - AM
Shared Lives Carers Stories - Susan and Ann
Testimonies
"During the matching process, they find somebody who fits in with your family and lifestyle, it’s an equal relationship” - Adam, Shared Lives Carer
“The emotional reward of seeing someone flourish is absolutely massive” - Sharon, Shared Lives Carer