Accessing Shared Lives as a Service User

Shared Lives aims to offer support to a variety of people from aged 16 or over with a differing range of needs and skills. These can be people with learning disabilities, people with mental health problems, older people, care leavers, disabled children becoming young adults, parents with learning disabilities and their children.

Someone can become a part of a Shared Lives home on a full-time basis, through regular short break stays, or as day support visits.

Following a care and support needs assessment, if you are assessed as having an eligible need, your allocated care manager can submit a referral on your behalf into the Shared Lives Scheme.

You can find further information about Shared Lives in the following documents:

• West Berkshire Shared Lives Service User Guide - Easy Read [5MB]
• West Berkshire Shared Lives GDPR Guide - Easy Read [2MB]

If you would like to get a referral into the scheme, but you do not have an allocated care manager, you can complete our Adult Social Care online enquiry form.

Shared Lives Service User Experience

Leigh is a Shared Lives service user and she answered some questions for us:

What do you think of Shared Lives?

I have been with Shared Lives for 21 years and I love living with my carers. I really couldn't be happier :)

What do you think of the Shared Lives service user meetings?

I really like the meetings because I get to see all my friends which is really important to me; being able to stay in touch with them, especially during Covid-19, helped me a lot, as a lot of my activities were cancelled and I missed seeing everyone, so loved meeting up on Zoom and seeing everyone.

What do you think of the speakers that join the service user meetings?

I like meeting new people and finding out new things. I liked Isabel King who came and spoke to us about Ascend. She gave us information about volunteering and the help she could give me with my benefits which can sometimes be confusing. I also look forward to seeing the Shared Lives staff, Lisa and Becky and Sadie, who run the service user group.

Do you have any plans over Easter weekend?

Yes I'm looking forward to going to Witney with my carers and their daughter, Belle; and I will also enjoy having some chocolate.

The West Berkshire Shared Lives Scheme is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Use the link below if you would like to read a copy of the latest report.