We are looking for an additional person to join the Shared Lives Team as a full-time Officer. This is a rewarding position with a focus on achieving good outcomes for our Service Users through providing support and oversight to Shared Lives Carers.
Shared Lives Officers are responsible for maintaining a caseload of Shared Lives Carers and overseeing the support provided to Shared Lives Service Users.
They work closely with the scheme’s Manager, Senior Officer, Shared Lives Carers, and other professionals to ensure Service Users receive safe, consistent, high-quality care and support that meets their eligible needs and outcomes, as well as CQC standards.
The successful candidate will be supported with a comprehensive induction and ongoing support.
What is Shared Lives?
Shared Lives is a community-based model of care used nationwide that matches self-employed Shared Lives Carers with people aged 16 and over who have care and support needs. The support is provided in the Carer’s home, enabling service users to live gloriously ordinary lives, centred in their communities. This can be as a long-term placement, a short break to provide respite, or as a day opportunity.
In the Dorset Council area, Shared Lives Placements are overseen be The Dorset Shared Lives Team. We recruit and support the Shared Lives Carers to share their home and life with Service Users, who are referred to us by Social Work teams. The scheme is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and all staff and Shared Lives Carers work within CQC standards.
Key responsibilities include:
- Recruiting, assessing, and approving new Shared Lives Carers
- Providing regular monitoring and support to Shared Lives Carers
- Working with Social Work teams to consider Service User referrals
- Matching Service Users and Carers for long-term placements, short breaks, and day opportunities
- Reviewing Service User placements and advocating for Service Users in various contexts
- Collaborating with other professionals to maintain high standards of care within the scheme
- Take an active role in promoting the Shared Lives Service, both internally and externally
Please refer to the “Day in the Life” document, Job Description (shared with Assessment and Support Co-ordinator role) and SLO context statement for further details about this post.
Location and Working Arrangements
The registered location for the scheme is County Hall in Dorchester. We offer hybrid and flexible working, but the post-holder is expected to attend the office regularly and be available for face-to-face visits in the community to meet Shared Lives Carers and Service Users.
About You
We are looking for someone committed to getting the details right for Carers and Service Users. Someone who will work collaboratively, and with clear purpose, to improve the lives of people with care and support needs in Dorset.
Prior to working in Shared Lives, all of our team members have had a range of different professional and personal experiences. We value, respect and celebrate our differences, recognising how each person’s unique insights and perspectives strengthen the team, helping us to understand and support our Carers and Service Users more effectively.
We would love to hear from you if you have a passion for supporting people with care and support needs, and believe you possess a range of personal attributes, knowledge, skills, and values that align this role.