Shared lives
What is Shared Lives?
Shared Lives is a scheme run by West Sussex County Council. Shared Lives carers are hired, trained and supported by our Provider services.
Shared Lives carers provide a range of different accommodation and different types of care and support. Shared Lives is for people with dementia or learning disabilities.
The Shared Lives scheme ‘approves’ Shared Lives carers and does this by:
• Recruiting new carers
• Assessing and checking that carers are suitably skilled and experienced
• Training new and current carers
• Regularly monitoring people placed with carers
• Supporting carers
The Shared Lives scheme is registered, regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission.
What do Shared Lives carers offer?
Shared Lives carers offer a range of care and support including:
• Respite or short-term accommodation
• Long-term accommodation
• Day time support known as ‘Day Share’ which is using the Shared Lives Carers own home as a base and spending time in the community.
If a person lives in a Shared Lives carers own home they will have the privacy of their own room. They will share the day-to-day lives of the Shared Lives carer and their families and join in community life. They will also be supported and encouraged to make their own choices and live as independently and safely as possible.
Who are Shared Lives carers?
Shared Lives carers are from all walks of life. Their job is to balance the needs and lifestyles of everyone living in their home. They must understand and respect confidentiality and the right to privacy of the people they support.
Shared Lives carers build positive relationships with the people who are matched with them and their families and friends. Shared Lives carers will support people to be as independent as possible.