Strategic Spotlight – Birmingham & Solihull
The Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) has positioned Shared Lives at the forefront of adult social care.
Over half (27 out of 42) of all Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in England have prioritised the growth of Shared Lives through this fund.
Shared Lives Plus has worked with 14 ICS areas to support ARF funded projects.
Local project aims
One of these 14 projects involves collaboration with Birmingham City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, focusing on:
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- Development and implementation of a new carer recruitment strategy
- Delivery of training to social workers and Shared Lives carers
- Development of an options appraisal, to create a new digital system for Shared Lives carer management and monitoring
Achievements
As of March 2025, the project is ongoing. Key achievements to date include:
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- 23 Shared Lives carers have been recruited since June 2024, with three currently going through the approval process
- There has been an increase in awareness of Shared Lives with social workers
Support provided by Shared Lives Plus
As part of our consultancy offer and to help achieve the key outcomes highlighted, Shared Lives Plus provided, and continue to provide a wide range of support.
For carer recruitment this included:
- A robust carer recruitment audit and Acorn analysis (our demographic profiling tool) to understand the current carer cohort in Birmingham and Solihull, and to inform future recruitment activities
- Developed the local carer recruitment strategy and campaign with recruitment marketing materials, alongside supporting on the implementation of the strategy and campaign
Social worker training:
- Delivered two sessions on ‘Shared Lives champions training’ to social workers in these areas
- Developed and hosted five different ‘bitesize’ sessions on Shared Lives, for social care practitioners
“The support we have had from Shared Lives Plus has been second to none.
It has enabled us to work at pace and to implement good practice from other areas which Shared Lives Plus have gleaned for us from their extensive network.
The passion that these colleagues have for Shared Lives is evident through all interactions with them. ”
Find out more about Shared Lives in Birmingham:
0121 464 3164
Shared Lives Plus continue to provide support on this project, therefore further outcomes and achievements are expected to develop. If you are interested in our consultancy support to help establish, grow, or diversify Shared Lives in your area, please contact our strategic advice team on consultancy@sharedlivesplus.org.uk or you can read more about our support offers here.
