Support in the Community

Lot 3 Shared Lives

This service involves providing person centred support to individuals from one or more of the following primary adult user groups:

• Learning Disabilities
• Physical Disabilities
• Autism
• Sensory Impairment
• Brain Injury / Neurological Condition
• Older People and older people with Dementia
• Mental Health
• Dual Diagnosis (any of the above)

Shared Lives is a longstanding form of care that centres on sharing home, family and community life, in supporting people to lead fulfilling and active lives.  Shared Lives schemes are an alternative to home care, supported living and residential care for people in need of care and support. Shared Lives is used by around 15,000 people in the UK.

In Shared Lives schemes, a Shared Lives Carer and someone who needs support get to know each other and, if they both feel that they will be able to form a long-term bond, they share homes, family and community life.  This can mean that the person becomes a regular daytime or overnight visitor to the Shared Lives Carers household, or it means that the person moves in with the Shared Lives Carer.

Shared Lives schemes provide individuals with the opportunity to stay in the homes of individually recruited, trained and approved Shared Lives Carers and their families who live in the community.  This can be for a long or short-term basis depending on the individual's assessed needs and outcomes.

A Shared Lives arrangement provides alternative and highly flexible forms of accommodation, responsive to individual care and support needs, enabling the person to share and be part of the life and activities of the Shared Lives Carer and their family, friends and community.

A long-term Shared Lives arrangement is care provided over a 24hr period but is not equivalent to 24 hr live in care. Where an individual requires 24 hr care, the Shared Lives provision can form part of a wider package of care alongside day opportunities, outreach or support from a Personal Assistant.

Shared Lives Carers are an essential resource for bridging the gap between home life and total independence for those individuals who are unable to live alone and should be valued accordingly.

The Shared Lives offer supports the Council's 2030 Community Vision in which 'no one is left behind'. An element of the Vision is that communities are welcoming and supportive, especially of those most in need, and people feel able to contribute to community life.

Objectives

• To successfully award a Countywide Contract to a single provider who will be responsible for delivering equitable, high-quality services in accordance with the Shared Lives specification.
• The promotion of Shared Lives schemes to all stakeholders
• To recruit new Shared Lives providers and grow the Shared Lives provision, particularly accounting for geographical disparity.
• Manage the scheme including all legislative and administrative requirements.
• Increase the offer to carers by providing Short Breaks within a Shared Lives service.
• The provider will support the individual with skills gain enabling independence.

Outcomes

• An increase in capacity of Shared Lives provision
• Improved equity of service across the county
• A reduction in placements in Residential Homes as Shared Lives becomes a primary consideration.
• Support people to lead more independent lives by developing independent living skills.
• Increased community inclusion therefore supporting the Councils 2030 vision and Organisations Strategy.

The amount excluding VAT : £3,200,000