Shared Lives offers people an alternative and highly flexible form of live-in, respite accommodation. Shared Lives enables a wide range of people who need support (18+) to live fulfilled lives with as much independence as possible and receive the support required with all aspects of their health and well-being.  

Shared Lives care and support may include: 

• Live-in accommodation and support 
• Respite 
• Day time support 
• Rehabilitative or intermediate support 

Live-in Shared Lives arrangements provide an individual with safe, stable and enjoyable home and family life, including their evenings and weekends. Shared Lives respite varies from an overnight stay to several weeks. Arrangements are set up and supported by Bethphage Shared Lives Scheme with the care and accommodation people receiving being provided by individuals, couples or families in the local community. Individuals and their Shared Lives carers enjoy shared activities and life experiences. 

Shared Lives carers provide support in their own home and share their family, friends, interests, hobbies, pets and community life with the people who live with them. A Shared Lives scheme is a different way of receiving adult social care and appeals to many people.  

The scheme can also offer a transition from foster carer to Shared Lives carer. When a child in foster care reaches the age of 18, they can experience a major change in moving from Children’s to Adults’ services. To help ease the transition for those with additional needs it can be beneficial for them to remain with their foster carers, Shared Lives along with social workers can facilitate this. 

Being Supported By Shared Lives

People with eligible support needs, as identified by a social worker can be referred to Shared Lives. These people may have a learning disability, mental health needs, autism, or be an older person who requires extra support.  

Information sharing is key to our Shared Lives process. We gather information about each individual, with person-centred involvement. This will begin the considered and planned steps of introductions as part of the matching process. 

Respite

We understand respite is a vital resource for both people with support needs and their families. Bethphage Shared Lives aims to meet the needs of the entire household when providing respite, with people having respite from once a week, every week to two week stays twice a year. Respite can be flexible and work around the needs of the person and their family carers.  

You can find out Easy Read leaflet on Bethphage Shared Lives here.

Referrals for Shared Lives may happen through the social work team, or an individual can self-refer if they have eligible care and support needs.

For more information about being supported by Shared Lives email: sharedlives@bethphage.co.uk or fill in the contact form below, we’d love to hear from you!