What is Shared Lives?
Who can use this service?
How long can you stay with a Shared Lives Carer?
How often can you use the scheme?
What does it cost?
How you can be sure it's a good service
Contact us
Shared Lives provides care, support and accommodation for people who need help due to a learning, physical and/or sensory disability or mental health problems. Specially recruited carers provide this service in their own homes.
Shared Lives can:
- Provide family carers with a regular break from caring;
- Help people to maintain and develop their independence and life skills away from family carers and in different surroundings;
- Provide support to a family during an emergency and offer reassurance that the person they care for is looked;
- Offer people the chance to move from their family carers to live with a Shared Lives carer who will provide the support they need;
- Prepare the person for more independent living.
Some people stay a short time with a Shared Lives carer, while others, who may not be able to live independently, live with a Shared Lives carer at their long-term home. It can be an alternative to living in a hostel or residential care.
The Shared Lives scheme helps many different people, who would benefit from the individual care and attention that the scheme provides.
- Older people
- People with a learning disability
- People with a physical disability
- Adults with mental health needs
You have to be assessed to use the scheme.
Some people live with a Shared Lives carer. Others stay for a short visit, perhaps to give their usual carer a break. Some Shared Lives carers also provide daytime care.
Your assessment will identify your Shared Lives needs. We try to match your needs with the amount of care and support the Shared Lives carer can offer. It is a flexible and unique arrangement that take into account both the life of the Shared Lives carer and your needs.
The cost will depend upon the length of time you stay and your individual financial situation. Someone from your social work team will assess this.
If you are thinking about using a long-term placement with a Shared Lives carer your Benefits will be paid to them for your care. You will still receive your personal allowance. Leicester City Council will pay the Shared Lives carer any difference.
Shared Lives carers are different ages and come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are single, whilst some live with a large family. We carefully match people using the service with Shared Lives carers and aim to provide places that meet specific, including cultural, needs. You have the chance to meet a Shared Lives carer before deciding whether you would feel comfortable spending time with them or living with them.
All Shared Lives carers are CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked and references are sought from their doctor and friends/employer/colleagues. They also receive training to help them care for you. Shared Lives carers are supported and monitored by Leicester City Council.
If you have any comments, compliments or complaints about the Shared Lives scheme we would like to hear them.
If you already have a social worker you can ask them for more details.
If you don’t have a social worker contact the Access Team:
- 1 Grey Friars, Leicester, LE1 5PH
- Telephone 0116 252 7004
- Minicom/TexBox 0116 252 7011
