How to become a Shared Lives Carer

Shared Lives carers help people to develop and maintain independent living skills, friendships and roots in the community.   

Criteria for becoming a carer

Whether you’re married or single, your sexuality, age and employment status will not impact on your application.

We provide full training and welcome applicants from all backgrounds and family circumstances. 
 
You don’t need a specific qualification when you apply to become a Shared Lives carer, but as part of the process to become a carer you will need to: 

• Attend training courses 
• Have a DBS check (a check by the Disclosure and Barring service) 
• Have your home checked for health and safety. 

Essential criteria 

It is essential that you have: 

• A spare bedroom 
• A safe, clean and comfortable home 

What to expect

As a Shared Lives Carer, you can decide whether you want to provide short-term, long-term or emergency care for up to three people at a time. 
 
As a Shared Lives carer you will:  

• Be self-employed and will work from home and be responsible for your own tax and NI contributions. HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) have agreed a beneficial tax arrangement for Shared Lives carers.
  You can download the HMRC tax guidance for Shared Lives carers (still called adult placement carers) here.  
• Receive at least a weekly fee of £484.81 (2024/25) while someone is staying with you.  
• Have at least 4 weeks’ paid holiday a year  
• Get continuous support and guidance from us.  
• Have regular training, and support meetings with other Shared Lives carers.
• Be involved in our social activities.   

Making an application

If you would like to become a carer the first step is to send us your details.  You can also contact us on 01670 629130. 

You can send us an email at SS-SharedLives@northumberland.gov.uk

When we receive your email, we will contact you to discuss your application and arrange an initial visit to meet you at your home.

During this initial visit, we will take some basic information, have a look round your home, and talk you through exactly what being a Shared Lives carer involves and answer any queries you may have.  

If you wish to go ahead and we feel confident about you, we will then invite you to join the assessment process.  
 

Assessment  

The assessment process offers us all an opportunity to see whether Shared Lives is right for you.
 

Approval  

Once your assessment is completed, we will put your assessment to our independent panel that will help decide whether you should be recommended as a Shared Lives carer for Shared Lives Northumberland.  

Sharing your life is a big commitment and we would not expect you to decide overnight. Equally you would not expect us to match you with someone tomorrow. It takes time and patience to become a Shared Lives carer.  

The average time from the assessment to carers being ready to welcome someone into their own home is around six months.