Payment for Shared Lives carers

Standard rates of payment for Shared Lives carers.

How it works

The relevant care manager and your Shared Lives social worker will agree on the level of payment with you. The amount depends on the type of care or supervision required by the person you care for.

No one factor will automatically define the level of payment that you receive, but rather a collection of elements.

Levels of care

An overnight stay is 24 hours and usually includes full board and accommodation.

Daycare of seven hours is paid at 70 per cent of the overnight rate and includes one main meal. If visits go beyond this, we can make an additional payment equivalent to an introductory visit. A half-day is 3.5 hours.

Not all carers can provide all the above types and levels of care. On the other hand, it may be possible for carers to provide additional or different care if the person's support plan requires it.

Paid respite

If you offer long-term arrangements to a person, you will get up to six weeks of paid respite. We will support the person to stay with another Shared Lives carer, or somewhere they choose. Their support plan will include this provision. 

Payment rates

Rate Band 1 Band 2 Band 3
Weekly rate £378.72 £447.54 £516.44
Night rate (24 hours) £54.10 £63.93 £73.77
Day rate (up to 7 hours) £37.87 £44.74 £51.56
Extended day rate (over 7 hours) £46.49 £53.37 £60.26
Half-day rate (up to 3.5 hours) £18.92 £22.36 £25.81
Introductory session £15 £15 £15

Bandings

Band 1

The basic level of payment includes care or supervision with one or more of the following tasks:

  • Minimal or partial personal care.
  • Emotional support and companionship.
  • Cognitive stimulation (e.g. activities which stimulate memory, reasoning, acquisition of knowledge, etc.)
  • Administration of medication as per instructions from a GP (and with training from the primary health care team when necessary).
  • Development or maintenance of daily living/independence skills.
  • Development of community links / widening opportunities.
  • Maintenance of family links.
  • Encouragement to undertake the above or other activities.
  • Intermittent supervision to reduce risks to the service user or others.

Band 2

A middle level payment may be applicable when any of the following apply:

  • Full personal care.
  • Management of single incontinence.
  • Assistance with eating and/or drinking.
  • Behaviour which is occasionally challenging to services (e.g. occurring regularly but not daily).
  • Some mental health issues.
  • Sporadic or short-lived disturbance during the night.

Band 3

A higher level of payment may be applicable in the following circumstances:

  • Constant supervision is required to manage risks to the service user or others.
  • Significant levels of risk, as identified in a formal risk assessment.
  • Management of double incontinence.
  • Challenging behaviour (e.g. occurring daily but not constantly), including mental health issues.
  • Frequent or sustained nighttime disturbance.