Date published: October 13, 2022
Awards 2022: South East Wales Shared Lives scheme win award for scheme innovation
The Shared Lives South East Wales scheme win this year’s award for innovation! They are the only Shared Lives scheme in full equal partnership with a Health Board within the UK and in 2021 were recognised by the World Health Organisation as a transformational service promoting a person-centred and human rights-based approach in mental health, a fantastic recognition as only two others in the UK, and twenty eight in the world!
They are passionate about sharing their experience with other Shared Lives schemes and services about their Shared Lives for mental health crisis that provides an alternative to, or facilitates early discharge from, an inpatient hospital setting.
The individual can stay with the Shared Lives carer for up to four weeks. The length of the stay is agreed on a case by case basis and depends on the amount of support each individual requires, so they benefit from day to day community based living.
South East Wales Shared Lives hope that by showing that people who are experiencing mental health crisis can be supported to recover in a home and community setting, the stigma associated with mental health are being overcome.
They are not required to provide professional support for the individual’s mental health needs. Professional staff from the crisis team and the Shared Lives team visit regularly, and the carers have 24 hour telephone support.
By being part of a Shared Lives arrangement, people are able to carry out the daily mundane task we often take for granted, such as being able to make a cup of tea, do their own ironing, charge their own mobile phone, have a cigarette whenever they wish, and use the bathroom with a door and toilet with a toilet seat.
To date they have provided 144 arrangements to people experiencing Mental Health Crisis, and supported ABUHB to alleviate not only covid but general winter bed pressures. 2021 was the first time the Local Health board did not have to purchase outside bed support for their Mental Health Crisis services and that was down to their Shared Lives Carers stepping in during the Christmas period and opening their homes to those in need without any hesitation.
The scheme has also involved carers and people they support in reviewing and changing the service, so they are person centred – something that is not possible in other settings, particularly during a psychiatric ward admission.
This Award is for every single person who has been involved in the development of this team, a true partnership and result of hard graft, commitment, and passion.
