Becoming a Shared Lives carer

Shared Lives is a unique way to provide support within your home to an adult with social care needs, helping them develop independent living skills in a family setting.

It’s an alternative to traditional residential care, offering a nurturing environment. The program matches individuals needing support with carers who can provide a home and assistance. Together, they enjoy the benefits of being part of a home and community.

Shared Lives carers receive payment for the care they provide, are self-employed, and work from home.

Do you want to make a meaningful difference to someone’s life? If so you could become an approved Shared Lives carer. Whether you’re single or part of a couple , young or old, have children or not, own your own home or rent, you can apply.

What matters is that your enthusiasm for supporting people with additional needs to live as independently as possible as part of your family.

No qualifications are necessary - we provide all the training you’ll need. You just need a spare bedroom, and a desire to make a positive difference to someone’s life.

Carers are self-employed and receive a weekly fee, plus tax benefits.

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.

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.

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.”

Leah and Bruce are Shared Lives carers, who Share their home with Blessing

Leah and Bruce had been foster carers for over 20 years when a friend told them about Shared Lives. After making further enquiries and a visit from a Shared Lives officer they applied and were accepted by both Bromley and Lewisham Shared Lives schemes. While they found the Shared Lives assessment process to be similar to that of foster care, they have found supporting adults to be a more relaxing experience. Bruce says he “feels like we born to do this role”.

They currently support 3 people in Shared Lives placements and their adult son also lives in the home. Friends often comment on how peaceful and calm the house is despite having 6 adults in the household. Everyone likes having their personal space but are equally comfortable coming together as a family. They enjoy day trips out to the countryside, fish and chips at the seaside and are planning a holiday later in the year. As Leah says: “We are doing life together”.

Blessing was living at home with his mum and 3 siblings but was keen to gain his independence as an adult and most importantly to “have my own room”. Mum supported him in the referral to Shared Lives and throughout the matching process. When they met Leah and Bruce, they hit it off straight away. Blessing went for a night’s trial stay and didn’t leave, although he still enjoys regular visits with his family.

Get in touch if you’re interested in becoming a carer for Shared Lives Lewisham. Email our friendly team and register your interest.