Could you share your home and change someone's life?
Being a Shared Lives carer is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to someone’s life. By opening your home and sharing everyday experiences, you can help someone build confidence, develop independence and feel part of a family and community.
Scroll down this page to find out more about being a Shared Lives carer, including the types of care you can offer, the training, support and rewards you’ll receive in return, and how to apply.
What is a Shared Lives Carer?
Being a Shared Lives carer means opening your home and sharing your everyday life with an adult who needs support. You’ll welcome someone into your home, build a genuine relationship and help them enjoy new experiences, develop independence and feel part of your family and community.
Every arrangement is different, shaped around the individual and the support they need. It could mean providing a long-term home, offering short breaks or spending time together during the day.
It’s not about being a traditional care worker. It’s about sharing your life, making connections and helping someone get the most out of theirs.
Why Become a Shared Lives Carer?
Make a Difference
Help someone enjoy new opportunities, develop confidence and live a more fulfilling life.
Flexible Support
Explore different types of arrangements to find an approach that works around your home and lifestyle.
Ongoing Training
Access training, guidance and support from our experienced Shared Lives team.
Earn from Home
Receive financial payments for the support you provide, while making a real difference to someone's life.
What Does Being a Shared Lives Carer Involve?
Being a Shared Lives carer is about making someone feel welcome, valued and supported as part of your everyday life. You’ll get to know the person you support, understand what’s important to them and help them make the most of their opportunities.
This might involve sharing meals, enjoying hobbies, visiting places in your local community, developing new skills or simply being there to offer encouragement and support when it’s needed.
You’ll work closely with Avalon’s Shared Lives team to make sure the right support is in place, while helping the person you support build confidence, make their own choices and enjoy as much independence as possible.
No two days are the same, and every arrangement is different. What matters most is being patient, understanding and willing to share your life with someone.
Types of Shared Lives Support
Long-Term Arrangements
Living with a Shared Lives carer as part of their household, with ongoing support and a place to call home.
Short Breaks and Respite
Spending time with a Shared Lives carer for a shorter period, providing a change of scene, new experiences and a break for families and existing support networks.
Day Support
Enjoying activities, developing skills and spending time with a Shared Lives carer without staying overnight.
Who Can Be a Shared Lives Carer?
You don’t need previous experience in care to become a Shared Lives carer. What matters most is having the right qualities, a welcoming home and a genuine desire to make a difference to someone’s life.
Shared Lives carers come from all walks of life, but the qualities we look for include:
- Being caring, patient and understanding.
- Enjoying spending time with and supporting other people.
- Having good communication skills.
- Being reliable, responsible and committed.
- Having a suitable home with space to welcome someone.
You’ll need to be willing to undertake training, assessment and the necessary background checks, but we’ll guide and support you throughout the process.
Whether you’re looking for a new direction, want to use your life experience to help someone or simply feel you have something special to offer, we’d love to hear from you.
How Does the Application Process Work?
Register Your Interest
Get in touch with our team to tell us a little about yourself and why you're interested.
Have an Initial Conversation
We'll talk through the role, answer your questions and explain what becoming a carer involves.
Assessment and Approval
We'll guide you through the assessment process, including the necessary checks and home assessment.
Training and Preparation
Receive the training, information and guidance you need to become a Shared Lives carer.
Finding the Right Match
One of the most important parts of Shared Lives is finding the right connection.
Once you’ve completed your assessment and approval, and training and preparation, where get to know you, your interests, lifestyle, home environment and the support you’re able to offer, we’ll then work with you to identify someone whose needs, personality and interests complement yours, helping create the foundations for a positive and rewarding relationship.
Getting the match right is about more than practical arrangements. It’s about finding people who enjoy spending time together and have the potential to build a trusting relationship. You’ll have opportunities to get to know each other before an arrangement begins, with our team guiding and supporting everyone throughout the process.
Take the Next Step
You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what to expect. Our team is here to help you explore the opportunity, answer your questions and find out whether Shared Lives could be right for you.
Use the form below to register your interest, or click the button to see current Shared Lives carer vacancies.
