Innovative care service bucks a social care trend

The figures come from the national membership charity, Shared Lives Plus who analysed data estimating that just 10% of Shared Lives carers leave, due to retirement – often when they are more than 70 years old. This is compared to data from Skills for Care[1] who report nearly 30% turnover in the wider social care sector.

Shared Lives involves someone who is willing to spend time and open their home to someone with an assessed social care need. They typically support someone with a learning disability, mental ill health, experiencing dementia, a young person leaving care, or leaving hospital. By offering their own home, Shared Lives carers offer a flexible way of living which builds confidence, opportunities and social connections. Care inspectors consistently rate the local Shared Lives services that support the carers as the UK’s best quality and safest form of care. They are self-employed, paid and supported by 140 local Shared Lives services, run or commissioned by local authorities up and down the country.

Shared Lives Plus CEO, Ewan King, says, “We are sure that it’s Shared Lives’ celebration of people’s unique strengths and personalities, combined with the support from local Shared Lives scheme workers, which makes being a Shared Lives carer much more satisfying than other care professions.

There are enormous challenges in the social care sector at the moment, including within Shared Lives. We are calling on the new government to listen to carers across the UK, who are crying out for recognition through fair pay, proper respite breaks and support. But the flexibility of being at home, or out doing things that both people enjoy, makes Shared Lives different and attracts people from all walks of life, which is why people find it rewarding.”

Shared Lives Plus are working with local authorities who are under extreme pressure from financial cuts. They are working to arrange pay uplifts for Shared Lives carers, but despite this, the retention figures show that job satisfaction remains three times better than the rest of social care sector. Shared Lives carers mention reasons such as: ‘being able to be myself and be paid for it’, ‘do the job I went into caring/nursing/teaching to do’, ‘seeing someone grow in confidence’, ‘better work life balance’, ‘it’s good for the kids to grow up around different people’, ‘we get so much out of it for ourselves, as well as giving a lot’ as to why they like the role.

24-28 June 2024 is the UK Shared Lives week where 140 schemes and their 9,000 Shared Lives carers are celebrating its successes and unique place in Britain, supporting around 10,000 people during the day, for short breaks, or long-term family-style arrangements.

Shared Lives carer, Mike Twemlow, 62 and his wife Joann, live in Bolton and were matched together with Kiernan Fowler, 21, who they support by Shared Lives scheme, Bolton Cares.

“I was a foster carer for 22 years before I became a Shared Lives carer. We fostered Kiernan who had become part of our family and when he needed to move to adult social care for support with his learning disabilities, we moved with him. Since then he has matured loads with the birth of his daughter Jasmine, who’s now two years old.

“Day to day, I support Kiernan to do everyday life tasks. I usually shout him in the mornings to wake up to get ready for breakfast and college. When he gets in about 4.30pm, we cook tea together for us and his daughter sometimes visits, which is very enjoyable, if hard work! At weekends we all go to our caravan in north Wales, and enjoy going out and about with them visiting new places. And I love motor sport so I like going to Oulton Park. It’s great to support Kiernan, and Jade, his girlfriend as they’ve become parents. I can’t imagine a more rewarding life.”

“It is seeing the small things that people do. It can be as simple as getting dressed in the morning, or helping around the house without being asked. It is also seeing the pride in the eyes of the person when they do something on their own for the first time. It’s the most fulfilling job I have ever done, I wouldn’t change it.”

Bolton Cares, Head of Service, Lica Marchant, says, “We are delighted to be part of Shared Lives week celebrations and welcome anyone who is interested in sharing their time with people by giving care and support in a family environment. With such a life changing and rewarding role, there are several opportunities to get involved, either day support – our service is called Shared Days, short breaks or long-term arrangements. Starting with a coffee and a chat, leading to tea visits and getting to know a person through our matching process, is the best way to start what could be a forever bond.”

Recently, more than half of local areas in England have chosen to invest in Shared Lives as a social care service, thanks to £20m funding from Department of Health and Social care who are looking to relieve pressure on unpaid and family carers.

Shared Lives carers, who come from a range of backgrounds, and enjoy tax breaks in a similar way to foster carers, are carefully matched with people they support. Carers encourage them to help them develop practical skills, build self-esteem and establish new friendships and social networks in their own neighbourhood, which creates a sense of belonging and community. Training and a support network are provided to all Shared Lives carers.

To become a Shared Lives carer, you must be over 18 years of age and don’t need specific qualifications, just the right values, commitment and of course, a spare bedroom.

To find out more about becoming a Shared Lives carer, go to www.startyoursharedlife.today

Editors Notes

For more information or interviews please contact Phoebe Barber-Rowell, Head of Communications or our communications team on press@sharedlivesplus.org.uk

• #WeAreSharedLives #BetterShared #MadeWithCare #CareSector #UKCare #ProudToCare

[1] https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data/Workforce-intelligence/publications/national-information/The-state-of-the-adult-social-care-sector-and-workforce-in-England.aspx),