Shared Lives Carer

Overview

What is Shared Lives? Shared Lives is a UK-wide care service where adults or young people who need support live with, or regularly visit, an approved carer in the carer’s home. It is often described as ‘fostering for adults,’ but with a focus on independence and inclusion. Shared Lives offers:

• Day support (visits during the day)
• Short breaks (overnight stays or respite care)
• Long-term placements (living as part of the carer’s household)

Who it helps: people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical disabilities, dementia, or young people leaving care who want a family-style environment instead of traditional care homes. Benefits include improved social life, community involvement, and independence. St Anne's are registered to provide Shared Lives in Darlington, Middlesbrough, and Leeds.

What Shared Lives Means For The Person Benefiting

• A family-style environment
• Opportunities for independence, learning life skills like cooking, budgeting, and socialising
• Community inclusion: joining family activities, holidays, and local events
• Emotional well-being; reducing isolation and building friendships
• Flexibility: support can be tailored for day visits, short breaks, or long-term living arrangements

• A paid, flexible, self-employed role you do from home
• Free training and ongoing support so you feel confident from day one
• Thoughtful, personal matching to ensure the person you support fits well with your lifestyle, interests and home dynamic
• Purpose and connection through everyday moments that genuinely help someone locally
• Shared Lives is flexible: you choose what works for you (a few hours a week, occasional short breaks, or welcoming someone to live with you full-time)
• You can earn between £350-£650 per week, per person supported, plus tax relief and contributions for household costs

Qualities Needed for Shared Lives Carers

• Empathy, patience, and a caring nature
• Non-judgmental attitude and respect for individuality
• Good communication and organisational skills
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Flexibility and problem-solving skills

You don’t need formal qualifications; personal qualities matter most. You'll need a safe, clean home, with a spare room for live-in support and short breaks, but you can still offer day support if you don’t have one.

• Initial Contact:
  Reach out to St Anne’s Shared Lives scheme or visit
• Application Form:
  Provide details about your experience, home, and motivation
• Home Visit & Assessment:
  Your home will be checked for safety and suitability
• Background Checks:
  Enhanced DBS check and references
• Training:
  Mandatory training on safeguarding, personal care, medication, and record-keeping
• Approval Panel:
  Interview with professionals, carers, and people who use Shared Lives

The full process usually takes 4-12 weeks. Carers are self-employed and supported by the St Anne’s Community Services Shared Lives team. Being a Shared Lives carer includes tax-free income; what you get paid depends on what you can offer. All support, training, DBS checks, and referencing are free of charge and undertaken by St Anne’s Community Services.

St. Anne’s is working to actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion. We want people from underrepresented groups such as disabled, Black and ethnic minority, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and non-binary (LGBTQ+) communities to apply for all our roles. St. Anne's is a Disability Confident employer. If you are an applicant who has a disability, you will be offered an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the job.

Please contact recruitment on  opt 5 if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name Jonathan Hainsworth
Job title Shared Lives Manager
Email address
Telephone number