Things can only get better? Shared Lives in Care Management Matters magazine.

“…we have an opportunity to think afresh about social care. However, this doesn’t mean we tear up everything that went before. There is much to celebrate in social care – examples of good social care exist in many places. However, they exist in pockets, often starved of the resources they need to grow.

In almost every part of the country, there will also be Shared Lives, a pioneering and proven approach to supporting people who need support in their local communities.”

In the article, Ewan highlights the impact Shared Lives can have on the people who draw on it.

“For many, [Shared Lives] is a life transformed. Lee had a complicated and turbulent childhood, moving often between foster carers and getting into trouble at school. After many false starts, Lee eventually moved in with Shared Lives carer Maz and her family, who he had been carefully matched with. It was his first real chance at a stable home. Lee said, ‘I was scared. I was frightened of being rejected. But it’s been amazing.’

As well sharing home life with Maz’s family, Lee was also given the chance to travel the world with them. Lee continued, ‘I’ve been to Orlando, Spain, Turkey and Egypt. We went to Canada; we visited New Brunswick, Halifax, Toronto and Niagara Falls. It’s very special if you go at night because it lights up.’

Maz said the biggest change she has seen in Lee is his confidence and his ability to believe in himself. Maz said, ‘He can have discussions about things now and know he’s supported whether he’s wrong or right. If he makes a mistake, we talk it through and start again. He’s less vulnerable and not acting on impulse as frequently. He’s starting to think things through more and take more pride in himself.’“

He also talks about how Shared Lives can make a significant difference to social care, where there are leaders willing to champion the model.

“The catch, if there is one, is that Shared Lives can be difficult to grow. Whether it is to do with the problems which are faced in recruiting carers, or in finding money to invest in the service or whether its due to the challenge of getting busy social workers to buy into the model; it is never easy to grow the service. But these barriers are not insurmountable.

At the top, you need committed leaders who regularly promote Shared Lives and make the case to colleagues for investing in the service. Heads of services and social care team leaders are equally vital to promoting the benefits of the service on a day-to-day basis to colleagues.

Leadership is an essential part of the story about the growth of Shared Lives in Devon. It started with the County Council’s leadership team building a case for investment; producing analysis which showed that … it would save the council approximately £900,000 per annum.”

Read the full article online: Things can only get better? A new opportunity for Shared Lives – Care Management Matters

If you are interested in growing Shared Lives in your area, get in touch with our Strategic Advice team.