Shared Lives Development Worker

PSS (UK); Cannock; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

PSS Shared Lives is expanding its Midlands service and is seeking a passionate, people‑focused candidate to join our team. You will help develop the Shared Lives provision and support individuals like Alex to access safe, stable homes with the right level of daily help.

You will recruit and support self‑employed carers, promote the programme to local communities, and act as an ambassador to grow awareness of the service. A big heart and collaborative approach are essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting safe, happy homes.
• Full driving licence with access to a car and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow the Midlands Shared Lives service to meet people’s needs.
• Identify, assess, and recruit carers to work as self-employed Shared Lives carers.
• Promote the service and act as a Shared Lives ambassador to attract participants.

Skills

Great communication skills

Passion for finding people safe and hy

Full driving licence

Willingness to travel

Empathy and professionalism

Job description

Alex is 29 and from Staffordshire. He works as a shop assistant in a local DIY shop. He’s a Man City fan, loves going out for a pint on a Friday night and is secretly a fan of watching Love Island – not that he’d tell that to his mates! He lives with his mum and dad at the moment, but feels it’s high time he moved out. Alex has a learning disability, which means he needs a little help around the house with things like making his lunch for work, ironing and looking after his finances. He’d love to move somewhere where he knows he’ll still get the help he needs, but can also have his independence.

Sarah is 45 and lives in Wolverhampton with her 18-year-old son, David, and their dog Bruno. After being on her feet all day working in a care home, she loves nothing more than putting her achy feet up, relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine and some trashy TV (she’s well and truly caught up with the Kardashians!) She likes her job, but wishes she could work for herself and have more freedom. David is off to university soon, and she’s worried she’ll be lonely without him to look after.

Notice anything?

These two are a perfect match, right?!

Shared Lives is a different type of adult placement that supports people who need a bit of extra support with daily things like cooking, cleaning, ironing and getting out and about to the shops. Each Shared Lives placement is built around the individual person, their hopes and dreams and who’ll be a good fit for them to live with. There’s lots of different types of people using Shared Lives. It could be someone with a learning disability, mental health needs or people moving on from a different type of care. Our big-hearted Shared Lives team work very hard indeed to make sure people are well matched, that both carers and people using the service feel supported and – most of all – that everyone is happy.

Thanks to PSS Shared Lives, Alex now stays with Sarah, in her house, where she supports him to make his ham sandwiches for work and get his uniform ironed and ready for a Monday morning and also have a break from home and do things on his own. Alex loves taking Bruno for a walk, and he’s still close to his mates at Sarah’s. He got his independence and gives Sarah a hand too!

Shared Lives carers are people who, like Sarah, have a spare room in their home and some spare room in their heart too. Sarah gets paid to be Alex’s temporary carer, but he’s become much more than someone she cares for professionally – he’s become part of her family.

What you’ll do

you’ll have an important job to do – to develop the Shared Lives service in Midlands! Using your knowledge of care and support planning, you’ll put plans in place to help people like Alex have his needs met and have a break with his new carer, and you’ll also be responsible for making sure this all runs smoothly.It will be your job to find, assess and recruit carers like Sarah to work as self-employed PSS Shared Lives carers, and to be a Shared Lives ambassador, welcoming people into the service and helping us promote it whenever you can.

Your trusty candidate pack will help you get a feel for what it’s like to work with us, find out what we’re looking for, explain the recruitment process and help you decide whether you can see yourself as a part of our amazing team. Each section is crammed with hints and tips to help you make a great application, so please take the time to give it a good read.

To do this job well, you’re going to need:

• Great communication skills
• Passion for finding people safe and happy homes
• An Enhanced Disclosure
• A full driving licence and use of car along with the willingness to travel to various locations
• A big heart, open mind, determination, professionalism and a genuine personality.