Tag Archives: carers

Could you share your home and family life?

This week Sutton Council are launching their Shared Lives marketing campaign as part of a recruitment drive to raise awareness of the scheme and attract potential carers.

Shared Lives carers share their home and family life with an adult with care or support needs on a long or short term basis. The scheme offers an ordinary family life for people in need of accommodation and support and maximises their choice and independence, enabling them to grow and develop networks in their community.

There are currently around 10,000 people in the UK receiving accommodation and/or support through the scheme. This has been running successfully in Sutton since 1982 and currently supports 29 people living with a Shared Lives carer. The scheme also provides daytime support and respite care in carers’ homes for 14 people in the borough.

With more and more people in need of care and greater pressure on budgets, the Council need to expand the service with the help of residents.

They are looking for people who are able to offer adults with needs a place in their home with their family on a short or long term basis. You need to live in the borough and have some experience or knowledge of caring for or supporting people and ideally have a spare bedroom.

The Council will support carers with training, ongoing support and regular visits; a careful matching process and a minimum allowance of £355 per week.

If any of you or your friends are interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer then please visit www.sutton.gov.uk/sharedlives or meet the Shared Lives Team in Sutton High Street on Saturday (7 June) from 11am – 4pm to find out more.