1. Soft Market Test Shared Lives
Management of a sub regional contract in the South West
Webinar 17th March 2017

2. Purpose of Event
The start of a conversation Shape our thinking Develop and input into the proposal

3. About Shared Lives
Shared Lives is an important alternative to home care and care homes for people in need of support.
Shared Lives offers personalised, quality care where carers share their lives and often their homes with those they support.
The service is subject to CQC inspection with performance across a range of measures consistently rated above 90% nationally.  
Nationally, there are now around 15,000 people supported through Shared Lives schemes, and the scope for expansion is significant.

4. About Shared Lives cont.
The model has traditionally been used for adults with a learning disability
There is scope to extend this to a range of other client groups
Shared Lives is one of a range of options, alongside residential care and supported living

5. Shared Lives Plus
Shared lives is a delivery model with a range of different providers
Shared Lives Plus is an umbrella membership organisation
Shared Lives Plus promotes the model and is able to support new providers understand how to deliver

6. Shared Lives in the South West
There are 15 local authorities in south west England
All LA’s have some form of shared lives scheme
The greatest number of places, by far, is for adults with a learning disability.
There are a small but increasing number of families supporting people with mental health difficulties, dementia and other support needs

7. Shared Lives in the South West cont.
There are wide variations across the local authorities in how the scheme is currently delivered.
There is a range of in –house and externally commissioned schemes
The schemes have different approaches to the costs; fee bandings for carers; rent and household costs; management overheads and provision for carer breaks/holidays

8. South West Sub-Regional approach Eight local authorities in the south west are working together to explore a sub-regional approach
Cornwall
Torbay
Wiltshire
North Somerset
Devon
Plymouth
Somerset
Gloucestershire

9. South West Sub-Regional Approach cont.
Across the 8 authorities there are a total of 537 Shared Lives placements
94% are of adults with a learning disability
Somerset, Cornwall and Devon operate the largest schemes
Four schemes are currently in-house and four managed by independent providers
Most, although not all, schemes have a “banding” system for assessing the support needs of individuals and paying carers

10. Commissioning Intentions
Commissioning have identified the following benefits:
The development of common standards across quality/performance/cost
Economies of scale from a large, sub-regional scheme
Greater opportunity to attract new sources of funding for investment
Continuity of approach for carers across Local Authority boundaries
Reviving schemes that have not expanded for some years
The expansion of small schemes, particularly those in large authorities
Scope for innovation
Sharing good practice

11. Commissioning Intentions cont.
A sub regional approach will deliver:
better outcomes for the individual
clearer progression towards independence (where appropriate)
a service model that works for a wider range of needs e.g. dementia or mental health
short breaks service that works for a wider range of needs e.g. a re- ablement option following a hospital discharge
ensuring value for money

12. Indicative Timeline
March Soft Market Test By late Summer – Local authorities confirm how to proceed Autumn – Tender out to advert By Christmas – contract or contracts awarded April 2018 – new contracts in place

13. Co-production
Carers and people who use a shared lives service model will be involved in progressing the tender. This could include: Participating in the soft market test Co-producing the specification Tender evaluation

14. Carers Perspective

15. Issues to discuss
Are there examples of good practice that provide learning?
How can barriers and blocks to expansion best be overcome, specifically: recruitment of new carers? 2. extension to other service areas such as mental health and dementia? 3. how to support carers who host people with complex needs? 4. how to recruit carers on a timescale required by social work teams? 5. suitable adapted homes 6. matching multiple clients and needs in one setting

16. Issues to discuss cont.
Is a move to regional fee banding desirable and, if so, how best can it be achieved?
What would make shared lives more attractive to new providers
Other….

17. Shared Lives Plus The Shared Lives model
National overview of Shared Lives
What is Shared Lives Plus?
Shared Lives Plus support offer
Anna McEwen
Executive Director of Support & Development
an overview of the shared lives model
what it is
what there is now across the country
what support SL+ can offer to develop the sector
support SL+ can offer to new providers

18. The Shared Lives model
What is Shared Lives?

19. Support people to have a good life
Shared lives carers
Provide a mix of paid an unpaid support
Support people to manage their health
Link people in to the local community
Support people to make friends and maintain relationships
Provide a break for family & unpaid carers
Support people to learn skills and have new experiences
Support people to go on holiday
Support people to have a good life

20. Sharing lives – what people who use Shared Lives say….20
Shared Lives is when you live with a family or one carer in their home and they help and support you with what you need.
Where I live now is the best place I have ever lived. I have my freedom but I know people care about me and I feel safe.
A chance to have a life with their family.
When I moved into shared lives my carers saved my life, I was depressed and being bullied before I went to live with them. Now I feel so much better.
I love everything about my life with my carers, now I feel like I belong to a family.

21. The national perspective – England
11,570 people using Shared Lives in England in 2014/15

22. The national perspective

23. CQC Shared Lives schemes are CQC regulated
95% of schemes are good or outstanding compared to 78% residential and 75% community services
No schemes have been rated inadequate
Safeguarding alerts are low

24. What is Shared Lives Plus?
Shared Lives Plus is the UK network and membership body for Shared Lives carers, Shared Lives schemes and Homeshare programmes.
Shared Lives Plus was established in 1992 and has 5,000 members UK- wide.
Shared Lives Plus helps our members to work together to survive and thrive, influencing local and national policy makers and providing support, training, events, resources, research programmes and access to insurance

25. Shared Lives development
27% growth in Shared Lives in two years
Older people
People living with dementia
People with mental ill health
Young people in transition
Parents with learning disabilities
Intermediate care
Important to maintain and improve the quality of Shared Lives as the sector grows and develops
Shared Lives Plus best practice guidance
Quality Framework
Outcomes measuring tool – My Shared Life

26. Shared Lives Plus offer – Membership
Homeshare schemes
Good practice guidance
Quality Framework
Peer support/community of practice
Access to specialist support
Shared Lives schemes
Good practice guidance
Quality Framework
Learning materials
My Shared Life
Peer support/communities of practice
Shared Lives carers
Insurance
Helplines
Legal cover
Benefits advice

27. Shared Lives Plus offer – Development
Development team
Older people
Dementia
Socially excluded adults – mental health, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, offenders
Young people in transition
Intermediate Care
Resources available
Business cases
How to guides
Evaluation
Quality Framework

28. Shared Lives Plus offer – Consultancy
Bespoke support available for providers and commissioners
New providers
“Setting up a Shared Lives scheme” support package – policies, procedures, learning materials, Quality Framework
Engagement seminars with stakeholders
On going support – scheme systems & processes, recruiting & assessing Shared Lives carers, establishing a Shared Lives carer panel, matching process, Shared Lives carer tax/NI & payment protocols, locally identified issues
Existing providers
Health check
Support and training to develop and diversify services
Recruitment of Shared Lives carers

29. Questions