Innovative Shared Lives scheme of 2019!

Winner – South East Wales Shared Lives scheme for Wales’ first ever regional mental health initiative

South East Shared Lives scheme, nominated by Becky Bloor-Steen from PSS Shared Lives scheme in Wales, worked in partnership with seven local authorities to pioneer the first regional health initiative and three years later it’s now launching Wales’ first-ever mental health initiative fully-funded by the regional health board.

Their initiative helps people regain independence after hospital treatment; manage the impact of dementia in the community and get support to overcome all kinds of health & social care crisis close to home.

Any scheme that has ever tried to set-up a new service will appreciate their effort to recruit 20+ Shared Lives carers, develop a robust referral base. In the last year, they provided 69 arrangements, including over two thousand nights of long term support, nine hundred nights and over one thousand hours of sessional support. Wow!

The panel were blown away by their impact for completely new people who can benefit from Shared Lives personal, supportive and flexible way of life.

Congratulations! You are exemplary among our members!

Pictured below is Emma Jenkins, Shared Lives For Mental Health Crisis Manager, Caerphilly County Borough Council

Highly commended – Shared Lives Barnsley scheme – for their new project tackling homelessness

“Rob was at risk of becoming homeless after a domestic incident and a hostel wasn’t suitable due to his previous experience with substance misuse. The housing options team referred Rob to Shared Lives. His first match broke down, but Rob and the Shared Lives team matched him with another Shared Lives family, who were understandably anxious about his substance misuse. Rob made a commitment to follow the house rules, and now he’s moved in. He’s being supported to move on to the next phase of his journey, with the Shared Lives family who are helping him to build his independence and resilience. The community detox team have supported Rob to tackle his substance misuse and the Shared Lives team are helping him to apply for more suitable housing and apply to the employment team to get paid work. It’s a great example of how Shared Lives gives people the opportunity to transform their lives. Every person who is referred to us is uniquely different and supported through their arrangement by the Shared Lives team and they liaise internally and externally with agencies to make sure each person gets a bespoke level of support.

It’s a fantastic alternative to a hostel or bed and breakfast provision. We are heavily assessed and manage risks to protect everyone involved, but it wouldn’t work without the dedicated team of Shared Lives carers.”