PSS Shared Lives is a bit like fostering....

....but with the big difference that its for people over 16 (or over 18 in Wales) who want to live as independently as possible. Its a completely flexible support service that can work for people from all walks of life, with all levels of need.

Here are a few words from the longest standing member of staff for Lincolnshire Shared Lives Troy Melvin.

It is my privilege to be a Shared Lives Development Worker for PSS is Lincolnshire. I say privilege because I am incredibly proud of what we do and the difference it can make to a supported persons life. I have been with PSS for a little over two and a half years now and I remain in complete awe of the care and support our dedicated Shared Lives Carers, who hold 24/7 responsibility for their supported people - although they are expected and encouraged to have breaks, for example when the individual they support is in day services or goes into respite for a few days. Short Breaks can be for 1 night only or can be for several weeks if need be. More commonly theyll be of 2 or 3 nights duration, say over a weekend, or for a whole week or maybe 2. So its bit little like having a holiday.

My job is wide and varied, Im there to ensure that the supported person is well and happy too, that they are being supported in the way they want and need to be supported, and that the carers (and PSS) are fully compliant with the law and CQC requirements, although I would always hope that we are way, way above just the requirements. What we at PSS do is special I think and to our people who use the service even more so.

One of our inspirational stories....

Additionally to this, we would like to tell you about one of arrangements. We had a gentleman in his late 50s, called Nicky, who sadly passed away in 2021. Nicky had quite profound Downs Syndrome, extreme learning difficulties, and several other medical issues. He had limited communication, and very limited capacity. His carers, a wonderful couple called Maria and Colin, made it their business to ensure that Nicky lived as full a life as he possibly could during the 15 years or so he lived with them. Maria & Colin are heavily into the scooter scene and Colin owns some very stunning vintage Scooters the Lambretta and Vespa type - and they attend lots of meetings, events and shows with them. So that Nicky was included, Colin built him his very own scooter by marrying a real scooter body to the base of a disabled persons 4 wheeled electric buggy, motor and all, and hooked up the motors go button to the throttle of the scooter. Nicky was then able to join in at all the meetings and shows with his own scooter, often leading a parade of 100s of participating scooters and their owners. Subsequently, Nicky became world famous in the Scooter world. Nicky quickly stole everyones heart and he was loved like their own son.

As if that wasnt enough, Maria & Colin also have a second Shared Lives supported person living with them, who rides his own motorcycle, owns his own caravan and holds down a regular paid job, all with support from Maria and Colin.

Now, admittedly not all arrangements are that intensive but the one thing they all have in common is that the supported people living in those arrangements all need support and care, to a greater or lesser degree, to live as fulfilled a life as they want to.

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