Become a Shared Lives carer

Becoming a Shared Lives carer is an opportunity to give something back to the community. You will also get paid once you have been matched with someone using our services. You will be paid for the care and support you provide as well as rent and household costs. We will do our absolute best to support carers and the people who use our services.

If you have any questions before applying, please contact us on:

• Phone: 0207 527 7661
• Email: SharedLives@islington.gov.uk

How to apply

1. Complete the Islington Shared Lives application via the Shared Lives Plus portal.
2. Our Islington Shared Lives team will assess your application and suitability.
3. If successful, you will be contacted for assessment including DBS, reference, and home checks - this process can take up to three months.
4. An independent approval panel will assess your full application, and you will be supported through this process by our friendly team.
5. Once you are approved, the matching process will begin.
6. You will meet the people you may support, get to know each other, and try things out before any support is confirmed.

Comprehensive matching is key to a successful Shared Lives arrangement as it is important to ensure that, not only can any support needs be met but that people all get on.

Apply now

Shared Lives carer requirements

Shared Lives carers come from all backgrounds and bring a wide range of life and work experiences. We are not just looking for caring experience, what matters is people having the right personal skills and qualities to welcome and support a person into their home.

There are, however, some common criteria that most schemes need from you.

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a full-time resident in the UK or have leave to remain.
• Have the time to support a resident with care and support needs either full-time or part-time.
• Have a spare bedroom, if you are willing to support residents to live or stay with you overnight.
• Have the support of your household members.

Types of care

The support you give to people is as individual as they are but could include:

• supporting someone with practical things like washing, cooking, shopping, and helping them develop those independent living skills
• more personal care including washing or dressing or reminding them to take their medication
• helping people make connections – staying connected with families, making new friends, and getting involved in their community
• supporting people to get education, volunteering, training, and employment including how to manage their money and safely use it.

Support for Shared Lives carers 

All Shared Lives carers are supported by a named Shared Lives coordinator. The coordinator will ensure the arrangement is going well, provide support and guidance to the carer, and help with arranging any training, social events or carers meetings. They also work with the person supported to ensure they are getting what they want and need.

Joining the Islington Shared Lives carers group is also a great way to meet and support other carers near you. In addition to this, the Shared Lives Plus portal has a network of more than 16,000 carers with formal and informal ways to get information, advice and guidance. Find out more about membership benefits.

Common concerns about becoming a Shared Lives carer

Before you can be a Shared Lives carer, you will be thoroughly assessed. However, these examples below should not prevent you from applying and being successful:

• relationship status and / or having children - as long as you have the time and support of your whole household
• age - but all carers must be 18 or over
• lack of specific qualifications - we provide training
• pets - we will match you taking this into consideration
• health conditions - as long as you are deemed fit enough to perform the role.