Who you'd support

Someone who visits or lives with a shared lives carer in Barnsley may:

• have a learning or physical disability
• be an older resident in need of support
• have a mental health problem
• be transitioning from children’s services to adult social care at age 16
• need support to manage their health needs

The support you provide could be:

• long-term - where someone moves in and lives with you
• short breaks and respite care - including overnight stays and weekend visits
• day support - where you support someone for a few hours at a time

One of the best things about being a shared lives carer is you get to choose who you support. As part of our matching process, we carefully pair up carers and the people we support, making sure everyone has their say and is comfortable with each other.

We'll advise and guide you through the process and support you to access the training you need to feel confident and comfortable in your role.

A shared lives household can support up to three people at any one time.

Benefits of being a shared lives carer

Being a shared lives carer is extremely rewarding for both you and the person you support. You'll help them learn new skills and grow in confidence in a safe, supportive environment. 

Once you’re an established shared lives carer you can expect a stable income. You'll be self-employed and receive a fee for the support you provide instead of being paid a wage or a salary. We pay your fee based on the type of support you provide.

We know that being self-employed may be a new challenge for our carers, but it brings many benefits. This includes the flexibility of providing support from your own home and creating a way of life that suits you and the person you support.

We can support you to register as self-employed with HM Revenue and Customs. This can be done online after you’ve been approved as a shared lives carer.

Shared lives tax break

Qualifying care relief is a form of tax relief that’s available to shared lives carers. With qualifying care relief, you don’t have to make any Class 4 National Insurance contributions or pay any Income Tax on your shared lives income if you earn less in a year than the qualifying amount.

Do I need any specific qualifications to be a shared lives carer?

You don’t need any specific qualifications to become a shared lives carer. Being one of our carers is more about your passion to support others and include someone in your home and community life.

When you’re preparing to become a shared lives carer, you'll get training to help you and your family identify and build upon the skills you already have. We'll also help you build any new skills you might need to feel confident and comfortable in your new role.

Can I be a shared lives carer if I have pets?

Yes. We believe pets are a key part of the family, helping the people we support to grow in confidence, and many of our shared lives carers have pets of their own.

What kind of support would I provide as a shared lives carer?

The support you provide will be different for each person but could include:

• supporting someone with practical tasks like washing, cooking or shopping. You can also help them develop skills that could help them live independently in the future.
• personal care, such as washing and dressing, or reminding them to take their medication
• helping people make connections, whether that’s staying in touch with loved ones, making new friends or getting involved in their community
• supporting people to get the most out of education, training, volunteering or employment. This may involve teaching them about how to manage their money and use it safely.

What support is available for shared lives carers?

Your allocated officer is your first line of support. They'll provide you with advice, guidance, and can also help you arrange ongoing training to help you in your role.

Through our shared lives team you’ll be able to access a wide range of services and activities that can help you or the person you support. We'll also connect you with professionals working across health and care, helping you see the network of support we have in action.

If you’re looking to meet other carers in Barnsley, we have our shared lives carer support group, which is a great way to celebrate your successes and get support when you need it.

You could also become a member of Shared Lives Plus, a national network which has been supporting shared lives carers for over 40 years.

Will I have a say in who I care for?

Being able to choose who you care for is one of the best things about shared lives and is unlike any other caring role. Our matching process helps us make sure everyone involved with shared lives is confident and comfortable with who they are going to support, visit or live with.

As part of our assessment process, you’ll talk to your allocated officer about the kind of people you’d like to support. This includes their age range and needs, the number of people you will care for and any other considerations.