Sharing lives and changing lives
Caring families can make a real difference with Cornerstone
BEING nurtured as part of a family is a natural experience – but for some, it can feel out of reach.
Cornerstone aims to bridge the gap by matching people who require support with caring families who want to help.
The charity’s Glasgow team is keen to recruit more families in the city to meet an urgent, rising demand for its Shared Lives and Short Breaks service.
The pioneering initiative has been supporting people in the west of Scotland for 17 years, as family placement assessor Shona Elvin explains.
“Our Shared Lives and Short Breaks Service is used by people, aged 16 and over, with a wide range of disabilities, conditions and other support needs,” she says. “This includes people with learning disabilities or mental health issues, older adults and young people being supported through transitional services.
“It is not a new idea - there have always been people who support vulnerable individuals by taking them into their own homes, or by supporting them in the way that a family may support a vulnerable family member.
“Shared Lives helps people who need a little bit of extra support to live in their own community without having to live alone.”
All carers go through a number of mandatory checks including a Disclosure/PVG check and a medical. They also complete an assessment and training programme to ensure they are suitable for the role.
The kind of training you require depends upon your life experience, and there are opportunities to access further programmes from Cornerstone’s Training Academy, specific to the needs of the individual you are supporting. Carers will have regular contact with the social services care manager and the Shared Lives team and can attend regular carers’ forum meetings to meet with other carers and exchange ideas, as well as share knowledge and experiences.
“Assessment and training are very rigorous, but the feedback we have had from carers is that they find that reassuring,” says Shona.
“It gives everyone peace of mind.”
Currently there are 27 families participating in the west of Scotland. Family placement assessor Sarah McPhail explains: “We need to increase this number, particularly in Glasgow city, because there is a huge demand for the service.
“We are hoping to recruit many more families who want to help.”
She adds: “People are carefully matched with carers best suited to meet their needs and it has to be a working relationship on both sides - everyone is included and it is a joint decision. Families are encouraged to take things at their own pace, and we are there to support them.”
Sarah and Shona are part of the team involved in the carer assessment process from the start, dealing with referrals from social work and finding families to match to individuals needing support.
After a placement is made, they regularly visit carers to offer support.
“Our focus is on the carers – we want to make sure they are happy and confident, and feel supported in their role,” explains Shona. “It is a hugely interesting and rewarding job – I’ve been here for 17 years and I’ve always said it’s more like a hobby than a job.” She smiles: “I do it because I want to, rather than because I have to.”
Carers receive a generous allowance and additional help with household costs and they have plenty of opportunities to enhance their professional development. But more than that, carers get the chance to make a positive difference to the lives of others.
Cornerstone are looking for families from all walks of life, with a range of experiences and interests, to help with Shared Lives.
Shona sums it up. “All you really need to have to be a family carer for Cornerstone,” she says, “is a spare bedroom, and time to care.”
For contact info, please see the advert below.