Date published: July 3, 2025
The case for investing in Shared Lives: SCIE report on scaling innovation in social care in practice
Yesterday, the case for investing in Shared Lives was backed again, featuring in the Social Care Institute for Excellence’s (SCIE) report on ‘Embracing change: scaling innovation in social care in practice.’ SCIE are calling for urgent action on social care reform, highlighting that projects from the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) Accelerating reform fund (ARF) can be immediate solutions to stabilise the sector. This includes enshrining ‘home first’ principles that enable people to live independently for longer, such as Shared Lives.
Over half of all Integrated Care Systems (ICS) across England chose to prioritise the growth of Shared Lives utilising the ARF fund with Shared Lives Plus supporting 14 ICS areas to deliver these projects.
The report by SCIE outlines key learnings and best practice from ARF projects so far, and features Shared Lives projects from Westmorland and Furness, Rutland, Northwest London and Stoke-on-Trent, covering a range of priorities such as supporting from hospital to community, and local carer recruitment.
Suzi Clark, Head of Strategic Advice at Shared Lives Plus was quoted in the report around the need for senior leader buy-in and active participation in governance meetings:
“We've seen operational managers trying to take forward transformational change - not even senior managers. It's really difficult when you're working with big meaty issues, such as funding distribution and dementia services. Time and opportunity has been wasted on getting the right people around the table.”
It was identified that public awareness of Shared Lives needs increasing. SCIE recommend a national campaign to be considered by Government, with intention to make Shared Lives known in the adult social care sector as strongly as fostering is known in children’s care.
You can read the full report here.
If you are interested in establishing, growing or diversifying Shared Lives in your local area, contact us to find out how we can support you: consultancy@sharedlivesplus.org.uk
