“Our carers are at the heart of Shared Lives” Scheme worker praises Shared Lives carers after win at Wales Care Awards

Emma’s registered manager, Rose Brown, nominated her for her work with the Shared Lives scheme. This partnership model, funded by the Aneurin Bevan Health Board and local social care services, supports people experiencing mental health crises across seven counties, providing stability within carer households.

“It’s an honour to receive this recognition,” Emma said, “but it’s really about the whole team and our incredible carers, who are at the heart of Shared Lives. This award helps raise awareness about the scheme and all the hard work that goes into it.” She added, “It also highlights the role of carers who, even during the pandemic, opened their homes to people needing urgent support when hospital wards couldn’t admit patients.”

The Wales Care Awards, held at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, celebrated outstanding contributions across the care sector, including residential and home care, training, innovation, and volunteer work.

Emma’s leadership has driven the scheme’s growth since its 2019 launch. The only service of its kind in Wales, it was recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2021 as a Best Practice model in Community Support for Mental Health. It has since become an example for integrating health and social care, winning awards from We Care Wales and the Ajuda Foundation.

“This service proves real collaboration between health and social care is possible,” Emma said. “We share information, responsibilities and work as part of mental health teams. This partnership model works and, importantly, it’s making a difference.”

Emma believes community-based care empowers people in ways that a mental health ward can’t. “Shared Lives lets people recover in a personal, supportive setting that restores their dignity,” she said. She recalls a discharged person who found pride in simple acts, like ironing in her carer’s home: “That small step gave her back her self-esteem.”

Another example was a young woman who, after an assault, was struggling in an overcrowded, mixed-gender ward. “We matched her with a caring, compassionate female carer, providing the space and support she needed to start healing. It’s these small, personal touches that make all the difference in someone’s recovery journey,” Emma said.

With over 300 care families across seven counties, the scheme – the largest in Wales – serves around 550 people with diverse needs, including mental health, physical disabilities and substance misuse. “We make sure people get the right support at the right time, for as long as they need,” Emma said.

Emma hopes to expand the scheme. “There’s so much more we could do to support early intervention in dementia care, for instance, working with memory clinics to establish those relationships early on,” she said.

She is also passionate about advocating for legislative changes that would allow Shared Lives in Wales to work with younger individuals, particularly those transitioning out of foster care between the ages of 16 and 18. “There’s a real gap there, and we could be transformative for those young people,” she adds. “We’re working to help other Welsh schemes grow and encouraging Welsh Government to explore legislative changes to allow Shared Lives to work with individuals from age 16 to help fill critical gaps in care for young people,” she said.

Looking back on the scheme’s journey, Emma said: “Shared Lives opens doors for people to live with dignity and independence in their community. It’s a model of care that respects individuals and builds a real partnership between health and social care.”

Emma’s award is one of three that the South East Wales Shared Lives Scheme received at this year’s Wales Care Awards. You can read about Kiki and Matthew’s, as well as Michelle and Gary’s, awards at [LINK].  The scheme also won Home Care Team Award at the Wales Regional Great British Care Awards 2024 which you can read about here [LINK]. To learn more about Shared Lives South East Wales, visit Caerphilly County Borough.