Shared Lives, which is also known as Adult Placement or Extended Stay in some areas, is a UK form of support which works with approved individuals or families who open their lives to aid a person who requires support, whether that be due to old age, mental, physical or learning disability.
Due to social care cuts, Councils are having to look to local initiatives like Shared Lives service providers (private or charity-based) to help deliver services previously undertaken by the public sector.
What is key for Councils is that they have a high caliber and choice of services to offer local communities.
One local example is Adults Supporting Adults, a charity who match Shared Lives providers with individuals across Lincolnshire.
“There are set systems and processes for vetting care providers and accurately matching them with individuals. We pride ourselves on the great relationships which subsequently ensures a safe environment in which to develop skills and independence. ”
Trixie Bennett, CEO of Adults Supporting Adults
In fact the service goes beyond simply vetting and matching, ASA offer bespoke training opportunities for providers to ‘add value’ to their clients lives i.e. cater for specific personal outcomes.
For individuals and their families, Shared Lives (SL) provides a platform for families and other care providers to get long-term respite and also for the individual to ‘develop’ further – with an experienced individual or family.
The benefits however don’t end at the individual and their families/ carers. The providers themselves are very evangelistic about how they also benefit.
Viv, one of the SL providers at Adults Supporting Adults discusses why others should consider becoming a provider.
Viv has provided some form of respite to over 20 individuals so far(!) and speaks for many when she relays the frustration she felt working within a social care institution. She believes that past care workers often make great SL/ respite providers because they have passion surrounding how they feel care should and shouldn’t be delivered. This passion can only benefit the individual.
Vivs account highlights that whilst care homes often do a fabulous job, clients are ‘brought along’ much more effectively in a one-to-one situation, where the environment and approach have been specifically tailored to that individual. Viv reflects on a client (who has since died) who had dual sensory loss (as well as learning disabilities) – Viv made additions to her home to incorporate rings and nobbles on the handrails, textured to the wallpaper and different incense to help the client feel independent around the home. This way he would know which room he was in and the direction to walk to enter another room.
“It’s the small things that make a difference” Says Viv, “Changing laces to velcro, ensuring good habits are encouraged such as the daily walk for the paper and of course, continuity!”.
To recharge, Viv uses other ASA respite providers. Viv says, ” There’s a great support system, regular providers forums and also specialist training at hand…
I feel fully in control, you can make it your own and dedicate as much time (i.e. Shared Lives arrangement) or as little time (i.e. day respite) as you choose.”.
