Driving Shared Lives growth in Herefordshire

The project focused on four key areas to support growth:

• Scheme audit and review: Shared Lives Plus conducted a thorough assessment of the scheme, reviewing documentation and processes to ensure alignment with the Care Quality Commission’s Single Assessment Framework.
• Vision and strategy development: Through engagement with local stakeholders, the team gathered insights into perceptions of Shared Lives and identified opportunities for growth.
• Business case for growth: Shared Lives Plus developed a business case, benchmarking against successful Shared Lives schemes, performing a cost-benefit analysis, and recommending ways to diversify support to meet local needs.
• Implementation roadmap: Working alongside local colleagues, Shared Lives Plus co-produced a clear, actionable plan for expanding the scheme, supported by workshops and one-to-one meetings.

One of the biggest challenges was shifting practitioners’ mindset away from familiar care options toward exploring Shared Lives. To tackle this, Shared Lives Plus focused on raising awareness and strategic engagement. Workshops and stakeholder interviews highlighted the benefits of Shared Lives, building broader support across all levels.

Since the project began, Shared Lives Herefordshire has made notable progress, including increased strategic buy-in from the council, greater visibility among social work teams, and improved stakeholder collaboration.

Hilary Hall, Corporate Director for Community Wellbeing (DASS), praised the project’s positive impact: “People should be living in a family basis where they can – there is lots of untapped potential. Shared Lives Plus coming in was timely and gave a kick start to transformation, showing the art of the possible and providing an evidence base for us to build on.”

Ginnie Jaques, Herefordshire Shared Lives Scheme Manager, highlighted the project’s collaborative approach: “The work felt like a co-production. They really wanted to understand where we were going. Shared Lives Plus has really, really helped us. At a higher level, we are now much more visible with strategic colleagues. Shared Lives is part of the transformation agenda and is much better known across social work teams.”

Read more about the project and its outcomes.

For more information about Shared Lives in Herefordshire, call 01432 2607978, email sharedlives@herefordshire.gov.uk or visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/shared-lives-herefordshire.

Shared Lives Plus continues to support local authorities and organisations like Shared Lives Herefordshire in growing and diversifying Shared Lives schemes. Recently, we’ve developed good practice guidance, commissioned by Partners in Care and Health (ADASS and LGA), to help more people with a learning disability to benefit from Shared Lives. Contact us at consultancy@sharedlivesplus.org.uk or find out more about the guidance.