Shared lives

Do you fancy kicking off the New Year with a rewarding role, helping people with support needs live life to the full?

If you’re a kind and caring person, you could be part of East Sussex County Council’s Shared Lives service, a service that offers accommodation, support and the opportunity to make a real difference.

What does it involve?

By becoming a Shared Lives provider, you would offer someone with support needs a room in your own home, and welcome them into your family life.

You would be helping people to live a full and enjoyable life, involving them in shared activities and experiences, and helping them reconnect with their local community.

This means the person you would be helping (the client) has their own room in your home, and has the choice of sharing mealtimes and communal facilities with the other people in the house.

Being a Shared Lives provider is different to having lodgers or simply renting a room out. All providers are self-employed, but benefit from ongoing training, monitoring and support from East Sussex County Council. The Shared Lives scheme is currently rated “outstanding” by CQC.

Who will I be helping?

The clients’ situations would vary greatly, but may include learning or physical disabilities, mental health problems, or being elderly or frail.

The types of support you may offer include: administering medication, personal care involving them in your community, and supporting them to increase their independence.

We know that each situation is different, and for each client placement East Sussex County Council design a support plan which takes into account the client’s and provider’s needs and wishes, as well as matching personalities and establishing ‘house rules’. It is only after several visits, and if both parties feel totally comfortable with proceeding, that a match will go ahead.

Interested, but not sure where to start?

Don’t worry! Give the friendly team a call and find out whether being a Shared Lives provider is right for you. There are several options and support could even include short breaks and day time respite, as well as long-term accommodation.

So if you fancy starting a new paid opportunity at home that is hugely rewarding and will change your world, and theirs, please call Matt Holmes on 01323 747415 or email him at matt.holmes@eastsussex.gov.uk for more information.