Agenda item

Cllr Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Adults, Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Services, Sam Harper, Head of Service, Sally Ellis, Shared Lives Team manager, and Nikki Oleksiw, Shared Lives Social Worker, have been invited to present a report on an Update on the Council’s Shared Lives Service.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Adults, Sam Harper, Head of Service, Sally Ellis, Shared Lives Team manager, Nikki Oleksiw, Shared Lives Social Worker, Jane Whitaker, Shared Lives Carer, and Sarah Hopwood, Shared Lives Scheme “Expert by Experience”, presented the update on the Council’s Shared Lives Service.

The Cabinet Member introduced the report by outlining Shared Lives as a community-based model of care in which individuals are supported to live within family environments with approved carers, rather than in more traditional residential settings. Officers advised that the service currently supported over 100 individuals, was regulated by the Care Quality Commission with a “Good” rating and delivered both improved personal outcomes and lower costs in many cases when compared with residential care. The presentation also highlighted the service’s role in supporting people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and care leavers transitioning to adulthood, alongside ongoing work to expand capacity.

Members began by asking how consistently Shared Lives was considered through assessment and care planning. Officers said it formed part of standard care planning and was considered at an early stage where appropriate, but stressed that suitability depended on individual need, preference, compatibility with carers, and safeguarding considerations. Members asked whether earlier identification of suitable candidates could increase uptake, and officers agreed that further awareness among practitioners remained important.

The Committee then explored the scale of the service and the constraints on growth. Officers advised that recruitment of carers remained the principal constraint and that the approval process had to be robust to ensure quality and safety. This involved assessment, training, and careful matching, which could take several months. Members asked whether the Council had clear growth ambitions and whether progress was sufficient. Officers said there was a clear ambition to expand the service, but that growth had to be managed carefully to maintain quality and appropriate matches.

Members raised questions about recruitment and public awareness, noting that the model was not widely understood. Officers acknowledged this and said that successful recruitment was still often driven by word-of-mouth and informal networks. Members asked what more could be done to promote the scheme, including the role councillors might play locally. Officers welcomed Member support and said that clearer, more consistent messaging would help recruitment.

The Committee also discussed the uneven geographic distribution of carers across the county and the risk that people in some rural or less well-served areas might have more limited access to placements. Officers acknowledged this variation and advised that targeted recruitment activity was taking place in areas with lower provision, though this remained dependent on suitable individuals coming forward.

Members explored the financial and wider system benefits of the model, asking how Shared Lives compared with residential care. Officers confirmed, and was supported by the Expert by Experience, that placements were often significantly less expensive than residential care packages while also producing better personalised outcomes. They emphasised, however, that the service should not be seen solely as a cost-saving measure, as its main purpose was to provide a more suitable and independent form of support where appropriate.

Members sought further detail on support for carers, including training, professional support, and respite. Officers explained that carers were subject to ongoing monitoring and review and were supported through training, professional advice, and peer networks. Members also asked about retention. Officers said retention was generally good, but that the demands of the role meant continued support was essential to sustain the workforce.

Members were particularly interested in the lived experience shared during the meeting and noted the positive testimony from those directly involved in the service. The Committee recognised the value of lived experience in shaping future service development and emphasised the importance of continuing to gather and reflect user feedback in future reporting.

The Committee AGREED to the following actions:

·       A Member briefing note be developed to support councillors in promoting the Shared Lives service within their divisions.

·       Officers would review opportunities to strengthen awareness and communication channels to support recruitment.

The meeting adjourned at 11:51, and reconvened at 11:57