Wiltshire Council seeks more Shared Lives Carers to provide a welcome home

“We do lots of things together, and they are part of the family.”

That’s the words of Kathy West, one of Wiltshire Council’s Shared Lives Carers, who currently supports people in her home as part of the Shared Lives scheme.

Kathy has shared her experiences to help the council recruit more carers who can support adults with care and support needs such as learning difficulties, mental or physical health needs or who are elderly and need support and care to live as independently as possible in the community.

Shared Lives and Shared Days Carers work from home, providing support and care for people while they live with them in their own homes as part of the family. Placements can be either long-term or for a shorter period. Alternatively, Shared Days Carers support someone for a few hours during the day.  

Shared Lives supports a wide range of individuals with varying abilities and support needs. Some are fairly independent and only need guidance, reminders or explanation; others need assistance with most day-to-day needs. 

Kathy explained: “I love being a Shared Lives Carer. I love sharing my life with the young people that live here. We do lots of things together, and they are part of the family. I’m passionate about helping them reach their goals, and I love to see their progression and their growth.

“Carers get lots of ongoing training and support. Support is available 24/7 and the training is very flexible, it’s a mixture of face to face and online so you can do it when you’ve got time.”

Emma Legg, Corporate Director of Care and Wellbeing, said, “We currently need more Shared Lives and Shared Days Carers to support vulnerable adults in Wiltshire.  Being a Shared Lives Carer is really flexible. Carers can choose the level of care they would like to provide.  If that includes personal care, full training will be given, but if they did not want to provide personal care that would be absolutely fine, as carers and the people they support are matched carefully to ensure it is an enjoyable, fulfilling and valuable experience for all.

“Carers do not need specific qualifications but simply need a wide range of skills and life experience. They can be single or couples, with or without children living at home so long as they are over 18 years of age and have a spare bedroom for Shared Lives. A carer can support up to three people, with working hours that fit around their family life and other work that they do.” 

To find out more and arrange a chat with one of the team with no obligation, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/shared-lives