Shared Lives: Evidence of Effectiveness: a multi-method study of a community service for people with intellectual disabilities

In Shared Lives an adult who needs support moves in with or regularly visits a Shared Lives carer after they have

been matched for compatibility. In 2016 over 8,000 people with intellectual disabilities were being supported to

live in the community in this way. Shared Lives is under-researched and there is a need to develop the evidence

base further.

Our study aimed to describe who was being supported by Shared Lives, explore whether Shared Lives is

meeting people’s needs, and examine the experiences of Shared Lives carers. Information was collected about a

small number of individuals including measures of quality of life, capability, and mental well-being. Peer

interviewers conducted interviews with people supported by Shared Lives, and researchers interviewed Shared

Lives carers.

Overall, the findings suggested that social care related outcomes, capability and mental well-being were good

amongst participants, and examples were given of how SL had made a positive difference to their lives. Shared

Lives carers described their experiences of caring for someone in a SL arrangement, the skills and support

required, and the unique dynamic of formal care in a family setting