Shared Lives Week - How Shared Lives can support increased independence

Officers from Dorset Council’s Shared Lives team are this week running engagement and activity sessions across six different day centres to show how the scheme can support increased independence.

The team are visiting day services at Dorchester, Weymouth, Sturminster Newton and Purbeck as well as 2 Learning Disability providers Muntsy’s on Portland and the Dorset Abilities Group in Weymouth as part of their sessions to celebrate Shared Lives Week.

The scheme is a community-based model of care involving approved Shared Lives Carers supporting residents who are over 16 and have identified care and support needs. It is designed to enable them to live gloriously ordinary lives in their communities and family homes of the carers.

Shared Lives Carers provide a vital role supporting residents with a variety of care and support needs, including learning disabilities, autism, mental health and dementia.

The carers are self-employed, can work flexibly to suit their lifestyles and family/work commitments. They receive full training and ongoing support. This support can either be a long-term live-in arrangement, short-term respite care or day support.

With Shared Lives Week coinciding with Learning Disability Week, the team have been exploring “What does Home mean to you”, “Healthy Choices”, and “How Shared Lives can support increased independence.”

Residents said they viewed home as a place of safety and security, a chance for family members to enjoy crafts and games, the opportunity to cook, and a base to go out and shop.

Councillor Steve Robinson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Our Shared Lives programme continues to stand out as one of the most compassionate and effective forms of adult social care in the county, offering adults who need support the chance to live as part of a welcoming household rather than in traditional residential settings. 

"Shared Lives Carers - normal everyday people - open their homes to provide long-term placements, short breaks and day support for people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and older residents. The model is built on trust, stability and genuine human connection. I am immensely proud of this programme, which represents the very best of Dorset's values: community-based support, dignity, prevention and a belief that people thrive when they are included, not isolated."

To find out more about becoming a Shared Lives Carer please contact the Team via email [email protected], by phone 01305 221393 or by visiting www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/shared-lives