Shared Lives carers

Apply to become a Shared Lives carer

If you're over 18 and would like to make an amazing difference to someone’s life by offering them a place in your home, you could apply to become a shared lives carer.

Step 1 - Register your interest

To register your interest in becoming a Shared Lives carer, please contact us and leave your name, address and telephone number:

• Online form: Request information about becoming a Shared Lives carer
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 01604 366662

Step 2 - Initial conversation

We’ll call you to talk through the scheme in a bit more detail, and also to check you meet the basic requirements of our shared lives scheme, such as you live in West Northants, and you have a spare bedroom.

We’ll then email you an application form for you to complete (if you don’t have an email address, we can post it instead).

Please return your completed form to:

Shared Lives Scheme
Eleanor Lodge
25 Camborne Close
Northampton
NN4 8PH

Step 3 - Home review

When we receive your completed application, we’ll contact you to carry out a home review. This is part of the assessment process to make sure you are suitable for the shared lives carer role.

The home review will include:

You and your lifestyle

We’ll have a chat about:

• what it’s like to be a shared lives carer (we might also invite you to meet other shared lives carers)
• your experiences, relationships, and care-giving skills
• your family, lifestyle, and anything you do in the community

Home standards

We’ll also check your home to make sure that:

• there’s enough space for another person
• you have a spare room
• the property is suitable and of a safe standard

This is to make sure that we continue to meet the quality of standards required by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our Shared Lives service is regularly checked by the Care Quality Commission.

Your training

We’ll discuss your training and any skills or experience you already have. 

Step 4 - Checks and references

To help us assess if you are suitable for this role, we’ll need to:

• ask for references from your GP, mortgage lender or landlord, your employer and some close friends
• carry out a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check

Visit the GOV.UK website for more information on DBS checks.

Step 5 - Review the assessment

Once we have completed our assessment, we’ll share it with you so that you are fully aware of what it contains before we send it to our shared lives panel.

You’ll also be able to comment and add any other details that you feel are important to your application.

Step 6 - Panel verification

Our Shared Lives panel are a group of interested and experienced people appointed to consider all new shared lives carer applications.

They will review your application and make recommendations on its approval to the Registered Manager.

Step 7 - Registered Manager

The Registered Manager, who has overall responsibility for the Shared Lives scheme, will review the recommendations made by the panel and decide the outcome of your application.

Step 8 - Results

Once the Registered Manager has made a decision, you will be contacted by the Shared Lives team and advised on the results.

If your application has been delayed pending further review, we’ll discuss with you what needs to happen before your application is resubmitted to the panel.

If your application is approved, you’ll need to start preparing to be a Shared Lives Carer.

Last updated 13 November 2023