case study:
Transforming care homes into Shared Lives homes

showing shared lives for educational trusts

Community Catalysts has been helping Ruskin Mill Educational Trust in the transformation of 60 small group homes in Stroud, Stourbridge and Sheffield into Shared Lives arrangements.

Ruskin Mill offer students aged 24 or under opportunities to develop their living through land and craft work with an individualised programme of learning and support. Students come from all over the country and live with people called “houseparents” in college households in the locality which were regulated as care homes.

Houseparents are being helped to find their own accommodation as needed and will have the opportunity to become self-employed and to offer a wider range of support options. Students will no longer see them as staff, but will continue to benefit the care and support they have received and many will also able to attract a wider range of welfare benefits.

Local Shared Lives schemes have been involved in advising and supporting the colleges and will also sit on carer approval panels to ensure consistency. Once implemented the model will be shared with other colleges.

For more information about this project contact keithhipwood@hotmail.co.uk.

or give us a call from more information on 01423 790126.