Choosing your Shared Lives carer

All our Shared Lives carers are trained to make sure they have the correct skills needed to support you.

We do lots of background checks on potential carers (including DBS - disclosure and barring service and checks with their doctors) to make sure they are safe, honest and reliable.

All Shared Lives carers are supported by a shared lives worker or manager. These are the people who give information and advice to your carers and make sure your arrangement is going to work for all involved.

What Shared Lives carers can help you with

Your Shared Lives carer can help you with things such as:

• Making sure you have choice and control
• Help deveolp you daily living skill, for example, to make a cup of tea, or cook a meal etc.
• Help with personal care needs or taking your medication
• Help with managing your money
• Support and encourage 'get togethers' with family and friends
• General advice or support
• Help you to access the community and develop friendships

Anything you need help and support with will be written in your individual plan. This is where we write down the information about your arrangement including the ways in which your carers, and others, will be supporting you in your Shared Lives arrangement.

Your individual plan will then be shared with your carer, so they are aware.