Could you care for a vulnerable adult in your home?
Could you be a Shared Lives carer in Lewisham?
Shared Lives similar to foster care but for adults who need extra support to live well. The scheme matches people who need support with people who can provide accommodation and support in their own home. Together they can enjoy being part of a home and a community.
Shared Lives carers receive payment for the care they provide, are self-employed, and work from home.
Who can be a Shared Lives carer?
If you want to make an amazing difference to someone’s life, you could be an approved Shared Lives carer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re part of a couple or single, or how old you are as long you’re over 21, whether you have children, or a homeowner or a tenant.
What matters is that you’re enthusiastic about supporting people with additional needs to live as independently as possible in a home environment. You will also need to live in the Borough of Lewisham and have a spare bedroom.
Carers are self-employed and are paid a weekly fee.
What does Shared Lives Lewisham do?
Shared Lives Lewisham is run by Lewisham Council. We assess, train and support carers to work flexibly in their own home. Our team will carefully match people with carers and provide support, advice and monitoring to ensure that placements are successful. We can also arrange access to other services and professionals in Lewisham and regular support meetings with other carers. We are regulated by CQC (Care Quality Commission) who ensure that care is provided to a high standard.
CQC has rated Shared Lives Lewisham as ‘Good’ and confirmed that we provide a safe, effective and responsive service.
Who can get support from Shared Lives?
Shared Lives placements are suitable for adults who need extra support – whether this is over a short period of weeks or months, or longer. This could be for someone leaving hospital, or living with long term health conditions, a learning disability or who has another condition that means they need extra support.
Stories from our Shared Lives carers
Marie is a Shared Lives carer who shares her home with Colin and Pino
Marie became a Shared lives carer for Lewisham in 2022 having had previous experience in another scheme. Colin moved in shortly after and Pino a month later.
Pino says that Shared Lives “has given me the freedom to explore new things and gain independence. I get to take part in activities where it doesn’t matter if I’m disabled or not”. Colin adds that thanks to Shared Lives he’s “living [my] best life”.
Marie enjoys being a Shared Lives carer, saying: “it’s great having Colin and Pino for company, going out together is always full of laughs.”
Karen is a Shared Lives carer who shares her home with Jamie
"I have been a Shared Lives Carer for six years. Being a carer for vulnerable adults can be very rewarding and can also be challenging, depending on people’s needs. We have a choice as to who we chose to care for. Some have more needs than others, while some can be quite independent. I must say the managerial team can be very supportive in times of needs and support, which helps the experience to be a positive one. It is rewarding to see the people we support make so much progress that they can live independently.”
“Jamie loves to go on the train to the seaside when the weather is warm, but when we get there he says he's not keen on the beach, but then looks forward to going on another trip to the seaside."
Start your Shared Lives journey today
Get in touch if you’re interested in becoming a carer for Shared Lives Lewisham. Email our friendly team or fill in the online form to register your interest.