Could you be a Shared Lives carer?
Are you a caring person looking to help others? Are you wanting a rewarding job that means more? You could be a Camphill Village Trust Shared Lives carer.
A Shared Lives carer opens their home and heart to support adults with learning and other disabilities, offering a safe and nurturing environment where people can thrive. At Camphill Village Trust, Shared Lives carers provide tailored support, whether it’s helping someone gain independence, build confidence, or feel part of a family. It’s a unique and rewarding role, creating meaningful connections and empowering individuals to live life to the fullest.
What you need as a self-employed Shared Lives carer...
- No qualifications or previous experience required—just a genuine interest in supporting others.
- Key personal qualities: patience, flexibility, creativity, understanding, and open-minded.
- Your age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, marital status, or living situation are not barriers—your passion and values matter most.
- A clean, safe, and welcoming spare room is essential (permission from your landlord is required if you rent).
- Good communication skills are important for working with professionals and families.
The assessment process
- After your successful application, a team member will contact you to explain the process and arrange a home visit.
- You’ll meet your Assessor/Coordinator and Scheme Manager to ask questions and discuss next steps.
- The process involves getting to know you, your family, values, experiences, and motivations to help with future matching.
- Requirements include personal and employer references, a health declaration, a letter from your mortgage provider or landlord, and an Enhanced DBS check.
- You’ll receive ‘Pre-Approval’ training based on the Care Certificate, covering topics like safeguarding, communication, medication, support networks, equality, and health & safety.
- An assessment report will be presented to an Independent Panel, which makes the final recommendation.
Benefits
Once approved, you'll receive:
- Out-of-hours support and regular supervision.
- Access to a carer support group and written guidance.
- Membership with Shared Lives Plus, including free public liability insurance (for the first 12 months).
- Ongoing training and opportunities to join events and gatherings.
You will get access to the carer network, peer support, carer forum and many more benefits.
How much are you paid?
As a Shared Lives carer, you are paid according to the level of support you provide. Payment includes a fee of up to £700+ per week, with self-employed tax relief and other benefits. The amount you receive for each Arrangement is generally paid 4 weekly and is made up from care and support charge, housing benefit and a board and lodgings contribution made by the Person. You are not paid by the hour and sometimes you will do huge amounts of work when you are supporting someone from within your own home.
All Shared Lives carers will need to be registered as self-employed by HMRC and qualify for tax relief.
How do I become a Shared Lives carer?
Carers can contact us to find out more – or apply directly through our vacancies page.
A Shared Lives journey...
FAQs about becoming a Shared Lives carer
Camphill Village Trust Shared Lives carers provide a range of flexible support options tailored to individual needs:
- Live-in support: Carers welcome individuals into their home, offering a supportive, family-like environment where they can live, grow, and thrive together.
- Short breaks/respite: Carers provide temporary support, giving individuals a change of scenery and offering their families or regular carers a well-earned break.
- Day support: Carers offer flexible day/evening support (with sessions of 4-8 hours), enabling individuals to develop skills, build confidence, and engage in meaningful activities within a supportive setting.
You may be supporting people with:
- Personal care
- Medication
- Daily skills and tasks
- Cooking and meal preparations
- Providing transport to and from activities, hospital appointments etc.
Our carers support people to live a life of opportunity.
- Long-term living arrangements, where the individual moves in and becomes part of the carer’s household.
- Short breaks or respite care, offering temporary support and a change of environment.
- Day support, where the individual spends time with the carer during the day to access guidance, activities, and companionship.
The arrangement is tailored to the individual’s needs and interests and carer's lifestyle. It is a careful matching process. It’s a unique alternative to traditional forms of care, offering meaningful relationships and support within a family setting.
As a carer, you will be carefully matched to the person/people you are supporting.
As a Shared Lives carer, you are paid according to the level of support you provide. Payment includes a fee of up to £700+ per week, with self-employed tax relief and other benefits. The amount you receive for each arrangement is generally paid 4 weekly and is made up from care and support charge, housing benefit and a board and lodgings contribution made by the person. You are not paid by the hour and sometimes you will do huge amounts of work when you are supporting someone from within your own home.
All Shared Lives carers will need to be registered as self-employed by HMRC and qualify for tax relief. This is calculated at £18,140 for every household annually and then £450 per week for every person that comes to stay as an Arrangement (up to three adults). Once approved, you can receive up to £700+ per week, depending on the level of support you provide to the person that is matched to come and stay with you. This may sometimes include personal care such as toileting, bathing and dressing.
We are currently recruiting for Shared Lives carers in the West Midlands and Black Country region. Contact us or find out more on our vacancy page!
The people supported by Shared Lives in Camphill Village Trust come from diverse backgrounds and have a range of needs. They include:
- Adults with learning disabilities.
- Adults with autism.
- Adults with mental health problems.
- Older adults or those with physical disabilities, who need assistance with daily living in a supportive home environment.
Shared Lives focuses on creating arrangements that match the individual’s personality, preferences, and aspirations with the right carer.
- A comfortable, furnished bedroom for the person’s sole use during their stay.
- Access to shared areas of the home, including the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and garden etc.
- A nutritious and varied diet, including meals, snacks, and drinks.
- Support with daily living tasks, such as laundry and personal care.
