Shared Lives

Overview

Shared Lives is a unique form of social care based on the simple but transformative power of human relationships. In Shared Lives, a young person or adult who is assessed as needing care and support is matched with a Shared Lives carer by the Shared Lives service. Together, they share home, family, and community life.

The service enables people to access community facilities, maximise their independence and quality of life and live an ordinary life in a place which feels like home. In many cases the individual requiring support will become a permanent part of the Shared Lives family and in other cases the individual can use the support for short breaks.

The service can support people aged 16+ and enables people who have a permanent placement to remain in placement after the age of 65 if it can continue to meet their needs. It can be accessed by a range of individuals including older people, people with mental health needs, people living with dementia, those with a physical and/or sensory impairment, learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions, care leavers and individuals with complex needs.

Shared Lives is highly personalised and relies on achieving a match between the individual requiring support and the Shared Lives carer. Shared Lives carers are carefully selected, trained, and supported by the Provider as part of a regulated (CQC) Shared Lives scheme.

City of Wolverhampton commission Camphill Village Trust to deliver the Shared Lives service in Wolverhampton. We are seeking your views to help shape future service delivery.