How to become a Shared Lives carer

Who can become a Shared Lives Carer Becoming a Shared Lives Carer is more than a job. Providing someone with the support they need, while embracing them into your family and home is incredibly rewarding. We are looking for friendly, caring, and compassionate people, who enjoy meeting and helping others and have a desire to provide support in an innovative way that truly reflects the needs of the individuals they are supporting. 

Previous experience in health and social care can be helpful but is not required. We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds. All you will need is some time in your week that you would like to share with someone who shares similar interests and hobbies. Speak to one of our team to learn more.

To find out more about the role and the assessment process, watch a video from one of our Shared Lives team

How to apply to become a Shared Lives Carer

To become a Shared Lives Carer you will need to have a Shared Lives Carer assessment.

You will need to contact us for an application pack.

Telephone: 0330 0565697
Email: shared.lives@cumberland.gov.uk

There is no formal interview, we arrange regular visits to you at your home or through video calls to complete the assessment process. These are nothing to worry about and you will be supported throughout. 

There is also some mandatory online training to complete and again our team can support this to ensure you are confident. 

What happens during the assessment

During the assessment we must carry out some checks such as: 

• employment reference
• personal reference
• landlord or mortgage provider reference
• a health check
• DBS check
• health and safety check of your property

These checks are done to ensure the safety of the individual(s) being supported. 

Once all the relevant checks have been completed, we will progress your assessment to our panel of professionals who will discuss and hopefully approve your application. You are always invited to come along to the panel and those who have been through the process have said it was a really positive experience. It's a great way to meet some of our team and to ask any further questions.

After you have been assessed

Once you are approved then we can begin matching.

We will share a profile of you with those who are looking for support. You are fully involved in the matching process and will meet people looking for support and their families. From there the process is quite individual, as discussions and decisions are made together to meet the needs of the person looking for support as well as you as the carer. 

There is no fixed pattern for the introductory period, and it is very much dependent on all parties being happy with the arrangement, but we do give a rough guide of six to eight weeks from the point of initial meeting to making a final decision about a placement starting. Matching is based on you and the other person sharing similar interests and hobbies; learning from one another and enjoying the time you spend together.

Meeting Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards

Once you have been approved for your role under the Shared Lives Scheme, we have a responsibility to make sure you meet the Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards for Shared Lives placements. 

Shared Lives Carers are professional paid carers, as such training is an important part of the role. Courses can be completed in the classroom environment or using the council online learning portal, which allows you the flexibility to fit them in around your existing commitments. It is essential you have access to a computer. Completion of the following courses is a requirement of being a Shared Lives Carer: 

• Care Certificate   
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards  
• Diet and Nutrition  
• Emergency Aid  
• Infection Prevention and Control  
• Information Security and Data Protection  
• Introduction to Health and Safety  
• Manual Handling Basic Awareness  
• Medication  
• Mental Capacity Act  
• Principles of Care  
• Safeguarding Adults 

How much support you can provide

All Shared Lives Carers are provided with detailed information outlining their role in ensuring they are aware of their responsibilities. The level of support people require depends upon their strengths and abilities.

As a Shared Lives Carer you can provide support during the day (this can include evenings and weekends); for respite placements (overnight short term stays) and long term placements (the individual lives with you in your family home).  

The time you have available is determined by you, your lifestyle, and other commitments and this will be considered when matching. 

Support and allowances

You will be paid an allowance to provide a family environment and to support the individual(s). The amount is determined by the level of support each person is assessed as required by Adult Social Care. 

Shared Lives carers providing respite or long-term support can receive an allowance from £333 to £457 a week. Providing 6 hours of day support you will receive a set allowance of £51.90.

Shared Lives Carers are officially recognised by HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) and income from being a Shared Lives carer is treated in a similar way to that of foster carers with a beneficial tax arrangement. Read more about qualifying care relief for carers (GOV.UK)

We have very clear guidance on 'who should pay for what' to ensure carers are not left out of pocket whether you are required to travel with the person you support, or you are out doing activities or going out for meals etc. 

Paid breaks and respite

Being a Shared Lives carer will be rewarding but may also be challenging at times, it is therefore important that our Shared Lives carers have the opportunity to take breaks from their caring role from time to time.  We will support you by:

• giving you up to 28 days of paid break from your role each year 
• helping you to organise breaks, using our short break service or other alternatives as arranged by the social worker
• assessing Support Carers who could offer support in your place when you take a holiday
• supporting you in an emergency and working closely with adult social care services

Get support from a scheme worker

The scheme worker is your point of contact and is able to offer information and support throughout your time as a Shared Lives Carer. They will arrange to come and visit you every three months to have a chat about how it's going and check that everything is ok. You will also be able to ring or email them if you ever need to. 

In addition to individual support, your scheme supervisor will facilitate regular carer group meetings, which allow for peer support, in a friendly warm environment where you can share information and best practice.  

We recommend becoming members of  Shared Lives Plus; a UK based charity which is the national membership body for Shared Lives carers and schemes. The membership provides support to members with everyday issues around legislation, national good practice, online resources, and Public Liability Insurance.

Become a member of Shared Lives Plus