“Shared Lives creates a real sense of belonging”: Social work student Chloe reflects on placement for World Social Work Day

During her placement, Chloe saw first-hand how Shared Lives works in practice, supporting people through relationships, everyday life and community connection. We asked her to reflect on what she learned and what it means for her future social work career.

My name is Chloe Torrans, and I am a second-year social work student at Queen’s University Belfast. I chose social work because I have a real passion for social justice, advocacy, and working alongside people to make a positive difference in their lives. My own lived experiences played a big part in my decision to pursue social work, giving me a strong understanding of how important the right support and opportunities can be.

I recently completed my first 17-week placement with the Families Matter Shared Lives service at Positive Futures, and it was an experience that I will carry with me throughout my social work journey. During my placement, I learned so much and had the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the staff team, Shared Lives carers, and people we support.

I felt very welcomed as part of the team, and the placement gave me a real insight into the difference that relationship-based support can make in people’s lives. It was a positive and inspiring experience that strengthened my confidence in becoming a future social worker.

Before starting my placement, Shared Lives was something I hadn’t come across during my studies, so it was a completely new area of learning for me.

Once I began my placement, I quickly realised how unique and valuable the Shared Lives model really is. Seeing Shared Lives in practice showed me that it is built around community, inclusion, and a real sense of family and belonging. I saw how people are supported in a way that feels natural and meaningful, where they are truly part of a household and their local community rather than simply receiving a service. That sense of connection and stability really stood out to me.

Now that I have returned to university, I feel passionate about sharing what I have learned. Shared Lives is something I will continue to talk about and promote to other students and future social workers, because I have seen first-hand the difference it can make in people’s lives.

From my placement, I’ve seen that Shared Lives is really special because it’s about so much more than support. It is about being welcomed into a home, a family, and being connected with the local community. People are supported by carers who include them in everyday life, helping them feel valued and enabling them to be part of something. 

Shared Lives is also flexible, with some people living with their carer, while others visit for the day or overnight. This means that every arrangement is built around what works best for the person.  

I’ve seen how this approach helps develop independence and build meaningful relationships in a way that feels natural and supportive. What really stands out to me is how Shared Lives creates a sense of belonging while helping people live fulfilling lives.  

Every week, we would receive photo or activity updates from some of the Shared Lives carers, which showed the range of opportunities and fun activities they were offering to the adults they supported.

I always looked forward to hearing the good news stories, seeing what the adults were getting up to, and noticing the ways the Shared Lives carers were encouraging and supporting them to do the things they loved.

Being part of this showed me how Shared Lives goes beyond practical support. It encourages confidence, independence, and joy through meaningful everyday experiences and relationships.

Absolutely. The twice-yearly group meet-ups organised by the service were a perfect example. One was a summer event, and the other a Christmas show in a theatre.

These events brought carers, supported adults, and the team together, creating a shared space where everyone could connect, celebrate, and enjoy each other’s company.

The sense of togetherness and community was incredible. People genuinely supported each other, laughed together, and felt included in something bigger than themselves. Experiencing these events showed me how Shared Lives actively brings people together and creates a strong sense of belonging for everyone involved.

It is important for social workers to know about Shared Lives because I saw first-hand the real difference it can make. It builds meaningful relationships, promotes independence, and creates a strong sense of community and belonging for both the people supported and the carers.

Knowing about Shared Lives gives social workers another option of support, to help people thrive in a welcoming, flexible, and person-centred way.

I would encourage other social workers and students to consider Shared Lives as an option because it’s a way for people to be supported in a home and family environment. It gives them the chance to be part of everyday life, try new experiences, and build skills while feeling included, valued, and connected to a community.

Seeing it in action showed me how much of a difference it can make, not just for the people supported, but also for the Shared Lives carers and the wider community around them.

Visit our library of resources and information for health and social care professionals, and other allied workers, who want to know more about Shared Lives.