Shared Lives South West

If you need care or support to live independently shared lives could be right for you. You get support living with a carer in their family home, rather than going into a care home or having a carer. It can also be a step towards living more independently.

You can join shared lives for somewhere to:

• live long term
• stay for a short break
• go for one or more days a week
• go for day time support

Who can join shared lives

Shared lives is suitable for you if you have a learning or physical disability, a mental health problem, you're older or you're a young person leaving care.

If you'd like to join shared lives we need carry out a needs assessment to check you're eligible. Our shared lives scheme is through Shared Lives South West and you can find out more about the scheme and how to join on their website.

Support available with shared lives

The type and level of support you get will depend on your needs and who you live with but can include:

• support to make choices and decisions and be in control of your own life
• having company but staying independent
• sharing a clean home
• help to do things you choose to do
• meeting new people and making new friends
• being part of your local community

We support more than 400 people throughout Devon and Cornwall by matching them with a Shared Lives family. Our carers open their open family home and the person in need of the support moves in or can enjoy a short break. It's like adult fostering.

At Shared Lives South West we help people with a learning disability, are on the autism spectrum, have mental health issues or needs related to older age (including dementia), are vulnerable parents, or have other support needs.

Shared Lives can support people from the age of 16 to 116 - there is no upper limit!

We work closely with our carers, the people who use the service and supporting agencies.

Our carers are assessed, trained and supported by specialist staff who do the initial assessment and provide ongoing training, as well as setting up arrangements with people looking for services.

We offer a wide range of Shared Lives services across Devon, Cornwall. Torbay and Plymouth and can support a diverse range of support needs through our network of over 250 Shared Lives carers.

As well as long term and short break placements, we can also provide a home from hospital services and re-ablement support.

Find out more

• Easy Read
• What is Shared Lives?
• Become a carer
• Our Services