Many vulnerable adults, such as those with a learning disability, can live happy, valuable and fulfilling lives as part of a family setting. 

Shared lives is a scheme which makes this possible. By providing people (couples or individuals) with the right training, on-going support and financial allowances, we enable you to open up your home to a vulnerable adult (or more than one) so that they can live the life that they choose.

Offering people the opportunity to live in a family environment; enabling them to become part of a community; maintaining existing friendships and developing new ones; helps them to gain the confidence and skills to become as independent as possible. 

People living in Shared Lives will continue to see their own family and friends as much as they want.

Shared lives can actually change lives. People living in shared lives arrangements report feeling settled, valued and as if they ‘belong’, often for the first time in their lives.

It takes a very special kind of person to open up their heart and their home to a vulnerable adult. These people receive outstanding support from our team to ensure they become successful shared lives carers.

Perhaps you are one of those very special people?

Who lives in a shared lives arrangement?

Shared lives arrangements vary quite a lot. Sometimes they provide a home for life for a person, other times they may provide a short term placement.

Our Shared Lives carers support people who are over 16, eligible for social care services and need support to live in the community if:

• they cannot live with their own family but want to live as part of a family;
• they want to take a short break;
• their own family or carers want to take a break or holiday;
• their carer is ill or needs a rest.

Allowances for carers

You will receive a generous financial allowance on a monthly basis for caring for the people you support. The amount is agreed beforehand according to how much care is required and the individual’s level of need. 

You can find more details on the page about support for our carers, here.