September 2014
My name is Janet Baker and I have been a Shared Lives Provider with Adults Supporting Adults since 1998. Back then the scheme was known as Adult Placement and was part of Lincolnshire County Council. I heard about it when I was working at Shaw Trust a training centre for people with learning difficulties in Spalding. A colleague said I would be good at being a carer as all the clients use to talk and confide in me with their problems she told me how to get in touch with Trixie Bennett.
From there I met with Trixie and the assessment process to become a provider started. The assessment was very good, I found it interesting and very thorough. It was good to hear about all the support available to me as a provider and knowing that I would never be alone as a carer. Having been with ASA for 16 years, I have experienced this support first hand, I know someone is always there and as an organisation they have helped and supported me a lot.
During my time with ASA I have supported one client and have seen a lot of changes, she is treated as one of the family and achieved so much whilst living with me. I’ve also supported people to have short respite breaks, I have enjoyed meeting and supporting new people and many have returned to me for more breaks away from their family.
I cannot praise ASA enough for the support they have given me, they are only a telephone call away, even out of office hours someone is on the end of the telephone. On one occasion a member of staff came and stayed the night because I was taken into hospital and my client was having seizures and my husband needed help, this support is so valuable.
Being a Shared Lives Provider is so rewarding. I would encourage anyone who has a caring nature and who is willing to give vulnerable people a chance to live with a family and join in with community life to find out more about the scheme. I’ve met a lot of people and done a lot of training that I would not have had the opportunity to do if I had not joined Adults Supporting Adults. For me being a provider has brought a lot of happiness watching someone achieve new things in their life makes it all worth it.
Janet Baker
