About shared lives
Shared Lives is a unique type of care for adults aged 18 or over. It supports people with physical or learning disabilities. Unlike other schemes, people move into a family home with their carer, sharing their family life.
Carers receive between £500 and £650 per week. There are many other benefits to being a carer for our Shared Lives team – the largest of its kind in the country.
We carefully match the people we support with their carer. They are then integrated into the family household. Here, carers help them grow their confidence and learn new skills.
Research shows Shared Lives is beneficial for our carers and the people they support.
The role of a Shared Lives carer
The main duties of a shared lives carer are:
- providing a safe and caring environment, including a spare bedroom
- supporting someone on a long or short-term basis
- accompanying people to appointments
- supporting someone to take a holiday or get involved with leisure activities
- helping with transport
- providing healthy, balanced meals
- advocating, which means speaking up on the person's behalf if they struggle to do so themselves
- helping people to gain voluntary work or employment
- encouraging independence and self-growth
- helping with finances
- supporting safe handling of medication
People supported through Shared Lives
Adults aged 18 or over can use Shared Lives. They must have had a social care assessment that indicates they are eligible. The scheme is particularly helpful for people who:
- cannot live with their own family but want to live as part of a family
- want to stay in their own home but would like to receive support as they struggle to manage on their own
- want to take a short break
- have a family or carers who want to take a break or holiday
- have a carer who is ill or needs a rest.
How Shared Lives helps the people it supports
Shared Lives gives people the chance to live in a family environment and become part of a community.
The scheme helps people gain confidence and skills to live independently. They maintain existing friendships and develop new ones. They often get involved in clubs, activities and volunteering.
People using the scheme continue to see their own family and friends as much as they want.
Many people who use Shared Lives say they feel settled and valued for the first time in their lives.
For more information, email sharedlives@lancashire.gov.uk or call 01772 531326.
Hear from our team
In 2019 our Shared Lives Service was rated as 'Outstanding' – the highest level awarded by the Care Quality Commission.
This video shows why our service is Outstanding. You'll hear from our staff, carers and people supported through Shared Lives.
You can read the full inspection report on the Care Quality Commission website.