A social care scheme is revolutionising how care is offered for vulnerable adults.
The Shared Lives scheme matches vulnerable adults with approved carers for support.
“This is my family”: (left to right) Wayne, Josh, David and Phil, who were brought together through the Shared Lives scheme
Under the scheme, carers can look after people in their own homes.
‘Natural environment’
With husband Wayne, Phil Gregory-May cares for David Nichols, 22, who has severe autism, and Josh Dickens, 18, who has learning disabilities.
Phil, 45, from Llanelli in south-west Wales, believes the arrangements offer more to vulnerable adults than set-ups such as supported living or residential care.
He said: “It’s more of a natural environment. It’s more family living. This is my family. This is how we live.”
Shared Lives is ‘like fostering for adults’
Phil describes Shared Lives as being like fostering for vulnerable adults.
In an interview with ITV news, Josh described living with Phil and Wayne as the “best place on earth”.
Shared Lives says it designed its UK network of schemes to reunite people in their local communities and do activities they love.
The scheme aims to tackle loneliness and help people recover after hospital treatment or mental health problems.
Around half of those looked after through the scheme move in with their carer. The rest visit in the day or for overnight breaks.
Grown by 30 per cent
Shared Lives has been operating since the 1970s, but has grown 30 per cent over the past five years.
Phil has worked in care for much of his life, but always felt the system could do more to help.
He said: “I was always looking at the people and thinking, with a bit of continuity we could get so much more out of this together.”
Carers are paid between £400 and £500 per week for taking part in the scheme.
Related:
- Plea to give carers the breaks they need
- NHS watchdog calls for care near home
- Carers’ plight on World Autism Day
- Social care cash won’t end crisis
Published: 1 May 2019
