SHARE YOUR LIFE FOR SHARED JOY
Get paid for looking after needy
DEBBIE Griffin, 62, from Bexley had always worked hard as a nurse until she broke her back in a life-changing ice-skating accident.
Meanwhile, her husband, Mark, 55, a window cleaner, brought in a good income, but wasn’t happy.
Almost overnight they changed their jobs and transformed their lives after hearing about Shared Lives – a paid scheme where people share their homes and family life with adults who need support in everyday life.
What has Shared Lives meant to you?
Our family unit now consists of us, plus William, 65, and Chris, 48, who both have learning difficulties. Day to day, it’s about routine, social interaction, and a balance of activities and rest.
It’s about give and take. We all mix in and have time apart when we need it.
Before Covid, we’d love to eat out, going to different restaurants. We all loved getting out and about, and going on holiday together.
It’s really fun for all of us and we can’t wait to get back to our normal, active selves when the lockdown eases more.
Why has it worked for you?
To see the lives of our new family members change so much brings us joy. We’re doing something that really makes a difference, and we both find it rewarding.
Being Shared Lives carers has changed us by changing our priorities.
The income is important – we’ve paid off the mortgage and got a fantastic worklife balance.
But more than that, we’ve found ourselves focusing on the happiness we can bring to Chris and William, and in turn the happiness they bring to our lives.
Why did you get involved?
After my accident, we both needed a change. I was at home having had to retire from nursing – a job I had loved all my life and didn’t want to give up.
Not being able to be busy was a massive adjustment. When I heard about being a Shared Lives carer, it seemed to make sense. I could work from home and put some of my caring and people skills to use.
Mark was window cleaning, plus he was working as a butcher, but I felt like I never saw him.
We needed a second income though, so we started to look at different options. Initially we thought about fostering, but then we got involved with Shared Lives and it just seemed like a perfect fit.
How did you make it happen?
We had to go through an approvals process. The Shared Lives scheme manager was really supportive.
We didn’t need any particular qualifications, but we had to do on-the-job training and earned our NVQ 3 in Promoting Independence. Once accepted, we were put on to other various training sessions – something that continues today.
Shared Lives is about providing the best level of care you can. And it’s always good to keep learning – with this job, every day’s a school day.
What was it like to start with?
It wasn’t all easy. Both Chris and William have learning disabilities.
When Chris first moved in, he was a totally different character to who he is now. He’d just mentally broken down. He didn’t speak and didn’t leave the house for six months.
It took a long time of showing him that we loved and cared for him. Slowly he began to come back to life. With lots of support he started to go out again, and eventually he got a monthly paid delivery job – which he still does today.
William had physical health problems too – such as diabetes, but through working on his nutrition, he has now reversed his diabetes. We’re so proud of him.
He’s got himself work for five half days a week, has a social life again, sees his sister, goes to church and loves our grandchildren. It’s been so rewarding to watch him flourish and blossom into a really happy, social man.
Who would suit this job?
You don’t need nursing or care skills, just compassion and empathy for other people.
CARING ROLES
Shared Lives schemes across the country are recruiting carers to offer live-in, short-term or day placements. You can earn up to £450 per week. Find out more at sharedlivesplus.org.uk/start-yourshared-life.
Meanwhile, we have found 23,659 other caring jobs, with fish4jobs.co.uk listing 2,635 roles ranging from care workers to support workers.
At findajob.dwp.gov.uk, there are 9,675 social care roles and 9,580 care assistant jobs.
We spotted a further 1,323 jobs at jobs.communitycare.co.uk and another 446 at gumtree.com.
‘‘ It’s always good to keep learning and with this job every day is a school day