As part of a family (Shared Lives)

Shared Lives

Could you do with some support each day to help you get the most from life? Would you like somewhere safe and happy to live, too? Our Shared Lives service might be a great fit for you.

What is PSS Shared Lives?

Shared Lives is a service where you can get support from a Shared Lives carer, to help you live your life to the fullest.

If you want to, you can go to live with your Shared Lives carer in their house, becoming a part of their family. Or, you can spend the day with your Shared Lives carer instead.

How would you like to be supported?

Your Shared Lives carer will support you with the things you want support with, in the way you want to be supported.

Shared Days

You can get support from a Shared Lives carer just for the day. This is called Shared Days. With Shared Days, you can go out and about with your carer, or go round to their house instead.

Support where I stay with a carer for a short time

You can move in with a carer for as short an amount of time as you need.

Support where I live with my carer as part of their family

You can live with a Shared Lives carer for as long as you want to. We know people who have been living with a Shared Lives carer for two years, and we know people who have been living with a Shared Lives carer for twenty years.

Support for after I’ve had an operation

Our Shared Lives: Home from Hospital service can help you get back on your feet again.

Can I use Shared Lives?

Lots of different people use Shared Lives, from all different walks of life. Shared Lives could work really well for you if:

you’ve got a learning or physical disability;
you’re a new mum or dad who would like some help to learn parenting skills;
you’re experiencing poor mental health;
you’re recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction;
you’re moving from a different type of care, like foster care;
you’ve just come out of hospital and need a hand while you get back on your feet; or
you already get care but want to have a bit more choice about how it works.

What sort of things can a Shared Lives carer help me with?

Shared Lives is all about having choice. Everyone is totally different and we all need different things from life, so it’s up to you how much or how little your carer supports you.

Your carer will be there to help you with things like:

cooking;
cleaning;
ironing;
bathing;
listening and talking when you’re not feeling yourself;
looking for a job to suit you, if you’d like to work;
getting out and about to the park, the cinema, the shops, the café or wherever you fancy;
keeping in touch with your family; and
whatever else you might need.

The main thing is, you’ll get support to do the things you enjoy most in life.

Can I choose my Shared Lives carer?

We’ve got a team of matchmakers who would give Cilla Black a run for her money.

We’ll look at what you like, what you don’t like, what you enjoy doing, what you need from our Shared Lives service and, if you’re going to be staying with your Shared Lives carer, what type of house you’d like to live in. For example, if you’re in a wheelchair, you might prefer to live in a bungalow, or if you’re a new mum or dad, maybe you’ll want to live somewhere that can fit a baby, too.

We’ll match you up with a carer who’s a good fit for you and who lives somewhere that suits your needs.

What’s it like living with a Shared Lives carer?

Lots of people tell us that living with a Shared Lives carer is just like living with a family member or friend. They’re there to support you as much or as little as you want or need – it’s your choice. They’ll help you be as independent as possible, and you can live your life however you want to.

How do I pay to use Shared Lives?

This will depend on where you live but there’s a number of different ways you can pay for your Shared Lives care. It can come from the funding you get for your care already from your local authority or the NHS.

You can also pay for Shared Lives from your own personal budget.

We can explain all of this when you or the person who cares for you gets in touch to find out more about Shared Lives.