Shared Lives is an innovative scheme that provides care and support for adults with additional needs and allows them to live as part of a home environment within the community.
Shared Lives is run as part of the national charity Camphill Village Trust, and is an experienced charity and a recognised provider of services to those with various disabilities.
The Shared Lives Care Scheme is designed for adults who may have, learning disabilities, physical disabilities or mental ill health as well as supporting older people and need assistance to live a better quality of life. It is an innovative and holistic alternative to residential care homes, and enables them to live independently but with a carefully matched family, couple or single person who tailor their care needs while helping them to develop life skills, such as friendships and roots in their community.
Arrangements can be live-in (living as part of the carers family), or short term such as short-breaks (respite).
Shared Lives is funded by the Council's adult social care and costs vary according to the care needed for each individual. Assessments will need to take place in order to determine this.
When a child reaches the age of 18, foster children will move from children's care services to adult services.
To help ease this transition for children with a disability, if it is better for them to remain with their current foster carer and to remain to live as an adult in that household. They will then be able to continue to receive the care and support they need in a familiar environment, and their foster carers will be able change their status and become a Shared Lives carer.
Shared lives can accept referrals from age 16 to support with the transition process into adulthood.
Shared Lives carers can offer as little as a few hours care a week, to the occasional overnight stay, short breaks, or live-in placements in their home.
Being a Shared Lives carer really is a rewarding career offering a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives. Full training and ongoing support is always available, as well as help, advice and many other benefits.
If someone you know could benefit from the Shared Lives Scheme, or you want like to become a carer, visit Camphill Village Trust for more information.
If someone you know could benefit from the Shared Lives Scheme, or you want like to become a carer, visit Camphill Village Trust for more information.
