For foster carers

Shared Lives is a CQC regulated community-based accommodation and care and support model that provides an anchor in a carers home.

As a carer you will have been assessed and received training to be a Shared Lives Carer and will ‘share your life’ with the supported person, as you do as a Foster Carer.

This is likely to include taking part in family life and community activities as well as helping them developing independent living skills and making decisions about their own lives. It may include personal care if needed.

Shared Lives is regulated by CQC and there is a thorough process for assessing all Shared Lives Carers, which is like becoming a Foster Carer.

The process is important to get to know each other and make sure Shared Lives is the right option for you.

You will need to have a new DBS and complete core training that hasn’t been covered in your fostering mandatory training.

It usually takes at least 3 months. We would however usually aim to start 12 months before the young person is turning 18, so we can make sure there is a smooth transition for everyone.

Like fostering, you will have an allocated Scheme Worker (like the Supervising Social Work role) who will be in regular contact with you and provide you with support. They will also complete your annual reviews.

Alongside this you will have the support of other carers in the service, as well as access to training and development opportunities.

The payment for Shared Lives is different from Fostering, in that it is made up of three elements. This includes:

• The support payment
• Housing Benefit or the equivalent amount from the young person, paid to you
• Contribution to bills – also from the young person, also paid to you

Like fostering, there are different payment levels depending on the needs of the young person and how you claim tax relief etc is also a bit different, so it is best to run through this in person with one of the Shared Lives team. Most carers receive a similar amount to fostering but it does vary.

Yes, within the Shared Lives model all carers can access an agreed number of nights per year. This would usually take place away from your home and we will discuss with you how this is delivered.

You may also know people within your own network who could provide paid respite.

Shared Lives has traditionally been a service for adults with a learning disability. However, it has proved itself to be a successful option for young people transitioning from children to adult services who have a Care Act Need for accommodation and support, as described in the Care Act below:

1. The adult’s needs arise from, or are related to, a physical or mental impairment or illness.
2. As a result of the adult’s needs, the adult is unable to achieve two or more of the specified outcomes (managing and maintaining nutrition, managing personal hygiene, managing toileting needs, being appropriately clothed, being able to make use of the home safely, maintaining a habitable home environment, developing and maintaining personal relationships, accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering, making use of the local community inc. public transport and recreation activities and carrying out caring responsibilities for a child ).
3.  As a consequence of being unable to achieve these outcomes there is, or there is likely to be, a significant impact on the adult’s wellbeing
   It is worth considering Shared Lives where a young person has an EHCP, Autism, is neurodiverse or has complex trauma which is impacting on the areas listed above so that the relevant adult social care team and Shared Lives can advise on eligibility.

Fostering:

It is like fostering in that it is individualised care and support in the carers home. It is regulated, although by CQC rather than Ofsted.

The biggest difference is that the supported person is an adult and has choice and control over their life. This means they will be supported to manage their finances, make decisions about how they spend their time and who they spend it with.

For example, a Shared Lives carer wouldn’t be able to instruct someone to be home at a particular time or take their phone away from them.

Staying Put:

It is like Staying Put, in that the supported person is now an adult and living in the carers home.

However, if you agree to a Staying Put arrangement and you don’t have anyone under 18 you cease to be a Foster Carer. This means that you are no longer regulated by Ofsted and the arrangement will be for an agreed weekly fee and will be time limited.

It is often seen as a bridging option for a short period until the young person can live independently or finishes their further education.

Where possible, if a young person is eligible for Shared Lives, and you as a carer are willing to be assessed as a Shared Lives Carer, then it should be used rather than Staying Put.

Planning can start from 14 but usually the arrangement starts around their 18th birthday, which is when they become the responsibility of adult services, although they will continue to access support from the Care Experienced and Young Adult Team.

If it is working for you as carers and the young adult, then for as long as they need to. Obviously, we know carers retire, or your situation can change, but if Shared Lives is the right option we would do all we could to find another match for the supported person so they can remain part of Shared Lives.

Usually supported people will move on to independent living when they are ready, but we aim to ensure that they take the network of relationships that they built in Shared Lives with them.

The Children’s Social Worker’s role is to make sure everyone is communicating well with each other and that the view of the young person is at the heart of the planning.

This means they will be checking that the right people are involved in the planning (Personal Advisor, current carer, Independent Review Officer, Adult Social Worker, family member and anyone else such as their education placement, health professionals and maybe an advocate or mentor) and that a referral has been made to the adult social care team for an assessment.

The Personal Advisor’s role, is to bring the leaving care expertise and help the care experienced person and the team around them, think about the young person’s needs resulting from them being care experienced.

This is likely to include sharing the pathway plan, making sure this forms part of any assessments, that they are claiming any finances they are eligible for and making sure they are aware of the local offer and what is available to them.

The Independent Review Officer’s role is to make sure things are happening in a timely way and will start to raise awareness of Shared Lives as an option from 14. It is important that they are driving the plan and connecting everyone together at the review meetings.

The Adult Social Worker’s role will be to do the Care Act Assessment to ascertain eligibility, secure funding and ensure that the Shared Lives Scheme have the information they need about the young person.

The Supervising Social Worker role is to provide you with information about Shared Lives, particularly about being registered as a Shared Lives Carer and a Foster Carer, and link you in with the Shared Lives scheme early so you can make an informed decision about Shared Lives.

They can read the FAQ’s for young people or the easy read version, both available from the Shared Lives scheme, or look at the information in the leaflet below

They can also speak to the scheme who may be able to put them in touch with a young adult who is already living in a Shared Lives arrangement. They could also meet with one of the Shared Lives Team who will be able to answer their questions.

You can speak to your Supervising Social Worker or your local Shared Lives team – You can find their contact details here

They will be happy to answer your questions and share more information about Shared Lives. They also may be able to put you in touch with another foster carer who has transitioned to Shared Lives.