Shared Lives placements and matching

Shared Lives is a flexible scheme, which is great for both the carers and people using the service.

There are different types of placements depending on the needs of the people you support.

You'll support someone whose needs fit in with the type of placement you can offer if you become a carer.

Types of placements

Long term or permanent placements – which may continue for several months or years. You'll provide a spare bedroom, so the person you support has their own space.

Short term breaks – anything from one night to a few weeks at a time. These may be a 'one-off' or planned on a regular basis.

Kinship support – where you act as an extended family to someone living in their own home. Often people accessing this support have previously lived with the Shared Lives carer. They are ready to live on their own but may still need support with things like cooking and budgeting.

Emergency care – immediate support when a person needs it because of a family or personal crisis.

Daytime support – carers provide support for a few hours a day.

The matching process

If you're approved as a shared Lives Carer, you'll go through a matching process. This is essential so we can match you with someone you're able to support.

You and the person you support will decide on whether you're the right match.

The time it takes to complete the matching process varies. We ensure it is thorough and completed as quickly as possible.

How we match people needing support with their carer

To help us to match people with the right Shared Lives Carer who can meet their needs, we will:

• talk to the person and their family about what is important to them and what support they need
• prioritise people living in the same area and who share similar interests
• arrange for the person to spend some time with the carer – known as the introductory period

Introductory period

There will be a short visit, gradually increasing to overnight or weekend stays.

There is no fixed pattern for the introductory period. It depends on all parties being happy with the arrangement.

A Shared Lives worker will make regular visits the person being supported.