A Shared Lives service is a system of social care support where the carer and the person needing care and support agree for the person to go and live with or regularly visit the carer as part of their household. Its primary goal is to create a family environment for people with disabilities, mental health issues, disabling age and disabling illness who need additional help in their lives.
Unlike traditional residential care homes, Shared Lives creates relationships and social connections at a family and community level. The individual placed with the Shared Lives carer lives with them, sharing time and space in the family home and providing long-term accommodation and support.
What is Shared Lives Service, and How Was It Originated?
Shared Lives (or adult placement service) is a unique community-based model of support and care for vulnerable adults with differing levels of need. It came out of the 80s as an alternative to residential care or hospitalisation for people with learning disabilities and, to a lesser extent, mental health conditions.
The main premise of a Shared Lives service is that an individual goes to live, often on a long-term basis, with a registered and approved Shared Lives carer and their family. The carer welcomes them into their home, where the individual becomes a part of the household and is supported to live an ordinary life as an active member of the local community.
Unlike in residential homes or hospitals, Shared Lives placements aim to facilitate meaningful relationships between the individual, Shared Lives carer and their wider social networks. The carer provides accommodation, meals, personal care, medication prompts or administration if required, emotional support and assistance to access community activities.
How Does a Shared Lives Service Work?
A Shared Lives service is facilitated by a local authority, health trust, or independent agency that is responsible for recruiting, training, approving, matching, and monitoring Shared Lives carers. They carefully match an individual with specific needs to an approved Shared Lives household.
There are three main types of Shared Lives placements – long-term accommodation, where the individual goes to live with the carer on a permanent basis; short breaks, which provide temporary respite for an individual and their existing carers; and day support, where they visit a carer during the day but return home at night.
While living as part of the Shared Lives carer’s family, the individual receives support based on their needs, which could range from personal care, administering medication, emotional support or assistance to access community activities. The aim is to facilitate independence wherever possible.
Structure and Organization by NHS
A Shared Lives service is generally organised by a local authority, NHS organisation or independent agency. The organising body is responsible for funding the service, recruiting suitable individuals and families to become approved Shared Lives carers, matching carers to individuals needing support, and monitoring placements to ensure the quality of care.
Shared Lives carers are self-employed providers who must undergo extensive training, clearance checks and home assessments before being approved to support individuals through a Shared Lives arrangement. Carers receive payment for their time but are motivated primarily by a desire to make a positive difference in someone’s life.
The Shared Lives service aims to provide family-based support rather than institutionalised care. It promotes social inclusion, independence, choice and good relationships. By welcoming someone into their home and family, Shared Lives carers can facilitate community and social connections in a way that other models of support cannot.
The Process of Matching
Making an appropriate match between an individual and a Shared Lives carer is fundamental to the success of a placement. The matching process involves careful consideration of each party’s needs, preferences, interests and compatibility to find the best fit.
Prior to a match being made, individuals are consulted about what they are looking for in a Shared Lives arrangement. Meanwhile, approved carers outline details about their household, experience, availability and who they feel able to support.
The Shared Lives coordinator then identifies potential matches, arranges introductions, and supports both parties through the matching process, which may take several weeks. Overnight stays often occur to see if the match works well. A range of factors are considered, including individual needs and abilities, interests, location, family dynamics, space in the home, pets and more.
Successful matching is critical for positive outcomes from Shared Lives placements over the short and long term. Great care is taken to make the best match possible whilst allowing both parties choice and control over the process.
Types of Placements
There are three main types of placements offered through a Shared Lives service:
Long Term Placements
This involves an individual moving in with a Shared Lives carer on a long-term basis, with the arrangement often lasting for a number of years. It is most common for younger adults with learning disabilities, autism or mental health conditions who require stable accommodation and support. The individual becomes a genuine part of the carer’s family.
Short Breaks
Short break placements with Shared Lives carers provide temporary respite and a break from a caregiver’s usual responsibilities. Short breaks may occur over a weekend or for a week or two at a time. This offers a valuable opportunity for both the individual and their regular caregiver to receive a break.
Day Support
Some individuals attend a Shared Lives carer’s home during the daytime only. The carer provides support and supervision as needed during the day, but the individual returns to their own home in the evenings. Day support placements meet social and support needs whilst allowing the person to retain their independence.
Roles and Responsibilities
Shared Lives arrangements involve clear roles and responsibilities for the individual, Shared Lives carer and the coordinating agency to ensure everyone understands their role and that needs are appropriately met.
The Individual
- Has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in a safe environment
- Contributes to household tasks like a member of the family
- Makes choices about their care and support
- Responsible for any rent contributions as agreed
- Adheres to household rules and expectations
The Shared Lives Carer
- Provides accommodation, meals and day-to-day support
- Administers medication or prompts the individual to take it
- Supports the individual to access community services and activities
- Maintains records and updates on the individual’s health, well-being and development
- Liaises with the coordinating agency
The Coordinating Agency
- Recruits, trains and approves suitable Shared Lives carers
- Carefully matches individuals to carers
- Provides ongoing advice, support and monitoring of arrangements
- Handles payments to carers on behalf of individuals
Benefits of Shared Lives Services
Shared Lives arrangements offer a range of benefits for the individual receiving support, their family, the Shared Lives carer and the wider community.
For Individuals Receiving Support
- Homely environment within a family setting
- Develops independence, social skills and community connections
- Support is tailored to suit individual needs and preferences
- More affordable than traditional residential care
- Promotes choice, inclusion and positive risk-taking
For Carers
- Provides breaks from caring responsibilities
- Maintains relationships whilst offering regular respite
- Peace of mind that loved one’s needs are met
- Chance to recharge batteries
Challenges of Shared Lives Services
Whilst a Shared Lives arrangement offers many benefits, there are also some challenges that must be considered and managed for successful placements.
Challenges for Individuals
- Adapting to the new home environment
- Separation from family / previous support networks
- Forming new relationships and building trust
- Learning household routines and expectations
Challenges for Carers
- Balancing the needs of all family members
- Allowing private space within the family home
- Managing difficult behaviours if they arise
- Accessing emergency support if required
Comparison with Other Care Models
Shared Lives vs Residential Care Homes
Both options provide full-time accommodation, meals, and care support outside an individual’s family home. However, there are some significant differences:
- Shared Lives arrangements are 1-2 individuals supported in a family setting rather than larger institutional, residential homes
- Shared Lives focuses on relationships, whilst residential care tends to have set staff rosters
- Life revolves around the household family in Shared Lives, structured routine in residential homes
- Individualised support in Shared Lives compared to group-based approach in residential care
- Shared Lives promotes community inclusion; residential care can lead to isolation
Shared Lives vs Foster Care
Both provide family-based care, but there are some key differences:
- Foster care tends to focus on shorter-term placements for children, whilst Shared Lives provides longer-term adult placements
- Shared Lives carers are specifically recruited and trained – foster carers often have less specialised training
- Regular social workers support foster placements; Shared Lives has coordinators specifically trained in this model
- Foster care involves less choice for the child, whilst Shared Lives emphasise individual preference and agency
Shared Lives vs Supported Living
Both facilitate individuals living independently with support, but important distinctions exist:
- Supported living involves living alone or in shared houses, while Shared Lives means living with a family
- More flexible levels of support can be provided through Shared Lives arrangements
- There is no live-in caregiver for round-the-clock support in supported living
- Supported living isolates the individual from family environments
- Shared Lives emphasises family and community integration
Conclusion
Each individual referred enters Shared Lives in a unique situation where the model of care and support is tailored to that individual. They make long-term personalised placements possible in deliberately matched Shared Lives families, so the individual becomes a real part of the family and the community.
Shared Lives services give people who need support out of their own families a caring option that promotes choice, inclusion, independence, and meaningful relationships. This innovative approach brings with it a number of positive outcomes for those supported, Shared Lives carers, families, local agencies and the wider community.
