Camphill Village Trust (CVT) - Shared Lives West Midlands Scheme

As a starting point, Shared Lives is sometimes described as a bit like ‘foster care for adults’ but it’s so much more than that, as we encourage people to take control and make their own choices in life!

Shared Lives Carers provide support, within their own homes, to adults with care and support needs. The service operates in a similar way to a foster care placement, but is specifically designed for adults, who stay as part of the carer household on either a long term, short term or day session basis.

People are carefully matched to live/stay with specially trained Shared Lives Carers who provide individual support to develop practical skills, encourage new social networks, build self-esteem and lead the same ordinary life at the heart of the community like you and I. 

In Shared Lives, the goal is for everyone to feel a sense of belonging, be valued a part of family life and have opportunity to be actively involved with the wider community.

Shared Lives can provide a real alternative to hospital and residential care and people are known to lead longer, healthier, and happier lives when living in the community.

We support anybody from the age of 18 years old, though we will start preparatory work with young adults who are making the transition to Adult Services. Whilst Shared Lives is traditionally a service for people with learning disabilities, the team have experience of setting up Arrangements for people with mental ill health, early-on-set dementia, hospital discharges, older people, physical disabilities, people on the Autistic Spectrum and those with other complex support needs.

To make an enquiry or referral to the scheme, contact one of the team on 01384 441505 and we will talk you through the process. 

How do you become a Shared Lives Carer?

You don’t need any qualifications or experience, just the right values, commitment and of course a spare bedroom. We will provide you with the relevant training and once approved, on going supervision to ensure that the highest quality of care is maintained throughout each Shared Lives arrangement. An Enhanced DBS Check and references are also required.

Shared Lives Carers have self employed status and qualify for tax relief through HMRC. You can be paid up to £650 per week, depending on the funding authority and on the level of support you provide, which sometimes may include personal care. Shared Lives Carers are not paid by the hour, there is no clocking on or off when you support someone from within your own home, but it's a hugely rewarding role.

Shared Lives Carers are very passionate about the work that they do and they are extremely creative in how they support the person to achieve independence, but above all else, they do not make assumptions about people, just because of the labels they have been given.

How do I get involved?

If you are interested in finding out more about the Scheme or becoming a Carer with Camphill Village Trust Shared Lives, then visit our website, call us or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.