Sign in to access your Salford customer account, or see our other accounts.
Sign in or register for an accountShared Lives is a service where approved carers share their home and their lives with a person who needs support to live a good life. You share everyday life with your Shared Lives Carer and their friends and family. Shared Lives Carers can give a helping hand in getting dressed, getting to appointments, making friends, cooking together or voting for your favourite dancers on Strictly! You have support that makes you feel independent, make new friends and learn new skills.
Your assessment will tell us what form of support you need and a member of the Shared Lives team will meet with you to talk about this so that we can match you with the right carer.
Shared Lives Carers offer different types of support, for example you might need somewhere to live and so you might move into the home of a carer who has a spare room. Or if you and your usual carer need a break from each other you might go to stay with a Shared Lives Carers home for a few days. Or if you want to stay in your own home you might be matched with a carer who can meet you every week to go to an activity, or support you whilst your usual carer takes a break.
Yes. Support from Shared Lives can be self-funded. Alternatively Adult Social Care can refer you to our service to commission the support, a financial assessment will be completed to see what your contribution would be towards your care support.
You can self-refer to our service if you are funding your own care.
Adult Social Care may refer you to our service if you have eligible care needs and they feel your needs can be met by our service.
Find out more about Salford Shared Lives
Shared Lives carer John Blackburn became a Shared Lives carer because his in-laws had been full time Shared Lives Carers for 14 years. He used to work as a warehouse operative. He is married and has three children. He has worked as a Salford Shared Lives carer for four years.
He said: I enjoyed being part of the staff team, although all the heavy lifting was taking its toll on my joints, I have arthritis in my hip and hands, this role was not sustainable for me and I was in pain most days.
“I was employed to work unsociable hours, including early mornings, late evenings and Sundays – which I hated. I was mostly stuck in the back of a warehouse / loading room, away from people which I didn’t enjoy.
“My wife and her family could see the potential I had for a role for caring for others and encouraged me to apply.
A typical day
“A typical day for me is being able to get my kids up and ready and taking them to school / nursery. I then drive to the first person I support, I sit with them for two hours because they are unable to leave their home, we chat for ages about heavy metal music, concerts, tattoos, history… If we don’t feel like chatting I always bring a film I know they like to watch together.
“I then go to collect the second person I support, we go to get some lunch together, then go for a walk, feed the ducks, go to an appointment if needed. If they are staying for respite we will go home, have tea together as a family, then clean up and relax watching television or sitting in the garden if the weather is nice.”
Tell us about who you care for
“Darren lives in supported accommodation, I take him out for six hours per week, we go to a baking activity group, and the Pool Hall, we love playing different games together such as dominoes or Uno, Darren loves to win!
“Gary lives alone in a flat, he is unable to leave his flat due to poor mobility. Gary enjoys having a chat or watching a film. Gary’s mood can be low due to being unable to leave his flat, but once we getting chatting he usually perks up a lot.
“Philip lives in a full time shared lives placement, Philip likes to stay active, we go for long walks. Philip’s passion is gardening, he has a lovely big wrap around garden at home that is his own little project. Philip also loves food, we sometimes go out for a carvery together as a treat, although his favourite is my wife’s home-made spag bol.”
What do you love about the job?
“I love that it doesn’t feel like a job. I enjoy seeing the same people every week and being there to support them. I love that it gives me the flexibility to be able to take my children to school and to be there with them at tea times and bedtimes.”
People often think becoming a carer is a one way relationship – what do you get out of it? How does it make you feel? What does the person you support give to you, that you don’t get in other roles?
“I love what I do, I get so much enjoyment out of it. I look forward to going to work, I actually feel like I am making a positive different to people.”
Sum up being a Shared Lives carer in one sentence.
“It is an honour and a privilege.”
Tracy worked as a Learning Disability Nurse for 33 and a half years before retiring and she has been a Salford Shared Lives carer for four years.
“I have enjoyed supporting people with learning disabilities in a variety of settings. The last 16 years of my job involved working as a strategic healthcare facilitator with both health services and health colleagues, to ensure that people with learning disabilities had access to a health service that was able to meet their needs.
“I retired from Nursing at 55 years old, took some time out, and decided that I still had a lot of expertise and experience to offer, so decided to apply to become a carer with Shared Lives.”
A typical day
“Most of my week is spent supporting a middle aged women with a number of challenges, to live the best life that she is able to with her home and local community. I also support an older gentleman (aged 93 years) with social activities, companionship and most importantly a good chat and a brew.”
Sum up being a Shared Lives carer in one sentence.
“The freedom to support individuals on a one to one basis, to do ordinary everyday things like you and me.”
Diane has worked as Salford Shared Lives carer for approximately three months. She is married and has a son. She became a carer after a friend told her about Shared Lives.
“I am a school cook and was also a personal assistant for the mother of the lady who recommended Shared Lives to me.
“The helping and listening to her life stories. Having cups of coffee and just being part of her life. I didn’t have any dislikes. I did the job because I wanted to . I would of done it even if I didn’t get paid.
“The lady I looked after sadly passed away, and I missed her so much. When the time was right for me to be there for someone else, I knew it was time to apply to Share Lives.”
A typical day
“No two days are the same, I find we have a lot of fun finding new things to do, getting to know each other better and just generally enjoying my time with Hope. I think she helps me to be a better person and understand people with different needs. It’s nice to know Hope feels safe and enjoys our days out.
“One of the times were going to Heaton park looking at the animals and watch her go up the space ship slide, we giggled so much, and then the museum of illusions, her best day being bamboozled. Hope is very friendly and chats to loads of dog owners, with care.”
Tell us about who you care for
“Hope is quite a loving and affection young girl who has a heart of gold and sees the good in everyone. She is always very happy but you have to make sure you guide her in the right steps otherwise this can come across so differently. Hope is doing very well understanding how we behave in public places and to strangers she meets.”
What do you love about the job?
“Seeing the person, I look after, grow. The happiness I see in them and what they bring to me. I think it’s a two-way thing and we can learn just as much, if not more by learning too.”
What are the challenges?
“The challenges can vary from some people not having the patience or understanding of people with special needs to the person themselves having a bad day and just not in a good mood or co -operative. We can all have our own challenging days, we just need to learn about them and help them to get passed it. Just be there for them, listen, support them and just sometimes sit a while and watch the world go by.”
People often think becoming a carer is a one way relationship – what do you get out of it? How does it make you feel? What does the person you support give to you, that you don’t get in other roles?
“I don’t think this is the case at all. I think they can bring you so much joy and friendship, I think you can get just much out of the job as you put in. I haven’t seen this as a job, more of meeting a new friend for the first time and finding our way .It is also very rewarding seeing the change in them.”
Evette has been a Salford Shared Lives carer for three years. She has worked in children’s services at Salford City Council and as a foster carer. She decided to make a change when the young person she fostered turned 18 years old.
A typical day
“I have a very good relationship with the man I live with, I always encourage independence and socialising. It’s very rewarding for both of us when you can see the progress that is made by us both. I am extremely proud of him. We always have chats to discuss our day, and anything that may be bothering us, or if something has made us giggle.”
Tell us about the person you support
“He is an absolute joy to have in my life. Things were hard at times when he came to stay as a child. But with showing that I am always going to be here for him, we settled into our family life. He has become such a respectful, funny and very clever young man. He helps me do jobs around the house and isn’t afraid to tell me if he isn’t happy with something. He is a pleasure to be around.”
What do you love about the job?
“I love seeing him progress independently, and make decisions that enhance his life, i.e. booking holidays for him and his mates in the UK. I love that I can be at home and available to him, and I love that I can provide a stable comfortable home environment for him.
What are the challenges?
I find some challenges with personal care, managing money and staying safe with him, but we talk about it and use strategies to manage.
People often think becoming a carer is a one way relationship – what do you get out of it? How does it make you feel? What does the person you support give to you, that you don’t get in other roles?
“I don’t agree that it is a one way relationship. He brings me so much joy and love that I wouldn’t find in any other role. He shows that he cares by his actions, even though he struggles to verbalise it. But I know him so well that I recognise his warm heart.”
Sum up being a Shared Lives carer in one sentence.
“I love my role and can’t imagine doing anything else. It gives me purpose and I feel this is my vocation as opposed to a job.”
This page was last updated on 18 June 2025