Shared Lives is the little known alternative to home care and care homes for disabled adults and older people. It is used by around 12,000 people in the UK and is available in nearly every area. The UK is only just grasping the potential of families and communities contributing to the well-being of people with support needs, and of those people being active, valued citizens. Shared Lives aims to enable people with a disability to experience ordinary life, with real relationships, rather than "receive a service".
People who use Shared Lives may choose to do so for different reasons. Some people may have previously lived independently but found it wasn’t right for them; others may have always lived with their own family, making a family setting ideal.
After a period of getting to know each other, the person supported and their Shared Lives carer start to spend an agreed amount of time together. This can mean that the individual becomes a regular daytime or overnight visitor to the Shared Lives carer’s household, or that they live with the Shared Lives carer and their family. Shared Lives carers often say that the people they care for are just “one of the family”.
Shared Lives carers are recruited, vetted, trained and supported by an experienced MacIntyre manager. MacIntyre is registered with the government’s care regulator, the Care Quality Commission.
Our Shared Lives carers go through an induction and initial training to ensure they have the skills needed to support people with their individual needs. Carers have access to the same training and resources as Support Workers employed by MacIntyre, including specialist areas such as dementia, safeguarding and positive behaviour support.
The Shared Lives Manager also provides support on a regular and as-needed basis to make sure the arrangement is safe and enjoyable for both the carer and the person supported.
Shared Lives carers are paid in a similar way to foster carers in that they are self-employed and are not taxed on their earnings. They are not paid by the hour and there is no “clocking on and clocking off”. In Shared Lives, everyone gets to contribute to real relationships and the goal is ordinary family life.
MacIntyre currently supports Shared Lives carers in Warrington with specific focus on people with learning disabilities. Please use contact details listed below to ask any specific questions about Shared Lives in Warrington.
Mark Gallagher
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Carers come from all family types and all walks of life – single people, couples, families with children. We match people who suit each other’s circumstances. We are looking for positive people who want to share their home and family with someone else.
We provide you with full training and a support network, so you don’t need any experience.
Click here to see the individual testimonials
Mark Gallagher, our new Shared Lives Manager in Warrington, explains what Shared Lives is and what Shared Lives Carers do
Bethan's story of her opportunity to make a difference by becoming a paid Oliver McGowan co-trainer
We are delighted to announce that MacIntyre has gained a new contract to expand the outstanding Shared Lives scheme across Warrington.
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