Shared Lives placements

A flexible option, living with another family.

Three women sit indoors laughing together.
In a Shared Lives placement, you live with another family.
The host family shares their life with you and offers you support and care.
Shared Lives staff match you with a family they think is a good fit for you.
You get to meet them before you decide if you want to live with them.
Usually you get to try living with them for a short time as a trial, too.
Some placements are long-term and you could stay for many years.
Some placements are short-term, where you agree together how long you will stay.

What’s good about Shared Lives?

It is flexible – you can stay with the host family full-time or part-time.
In a part-time placement you spend part of the week with your Shared Lives family, and part of the week with your own family.
Shared Lives provides independence with support.
You could make friends with your host family.
It can help you learn the skills to live more independently.
You can keep benefits like Personal Independence Payment or Universal Credit.

What’s bad about Shared Lives?

It’s not open to everyone. You will have to have an adult social care assessment to see if you meet the requirements.
You may have to pay some of your support costs.

How can I get a Shared Lives placement?

You will need to request an adult social care assessment from the council.
Talk to your transition worker or social worker, if you have one.
Or contact the council’s adult social care team directly.
Get more information about Shared Lives in your area here:

Learn more about how Shared Lives schemes work:

You can choose to live with another family, in a Shared Lives placement.

The host family shares their life with you and offers you support and care.

Shared Lives staff match you with a family they think is a good fit for you. You get to meet them first and usually have a trial stay before deciding if you want to go ahead.

Shared Lives is flexible – you can do it full-time or part-time.

In a part-time placement, you live with the host family for part of the week. You live at home with your own family for the rest of the week.

How long can I live there?

It varies. Some placements are short-term and others are long-term.

How much does it cost?

It depends on how much income you have. The council will check your finances and tell you if you need to pay any money.

What’s good:

good  flexibility – can stay with them full-time or part-time

good  independence with support

good  make friends

good  build life skills

good  you can keep benefits like Personal Independence Payment or Universal Credit

What’s bad:

bad  eligibility criteria – requires an adult social care assessment

bad  you may have to pay some of your support costs

How to access Shared Lives

You will need to be assessed by Adult Social Care at the council to see if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Talk to your transition worker or social worker, if you have one. Or contact the council’s adult social care team directly.

Get more information about Shared Lives in your area here:

Learn more: