Shared Lives offers adults – over 18 - the opportunity to live with approved carers in ordinary family homes, experiencing all the advantages, joys and sometimes difficulties of family life.
It works when an adult needs a family environment with care and support, and it’s a service run by a small and very welcoming team of officers in adult social care.
To mark Shared Lives Week we want to highlight some of the positive stories about the scheme.
One of those stories is about Aleem. It highlights how our Shared Lives team do the best for the families they come into contact with.
Aleem, was born in Coventry and lived there until he was 12 yrs old. He spent time with his family and then with foster carers, before moving to a Children’s Home outside of the city in 2018.
Aleem explains: “It was my first time in a children’s home, I really liked it there, especially going to all different activities and living with friends.
“The adults at the home are now my lifelong links and I text them all and sometimes go out with them. I learnt a lot there and went to various different clubs, including football, cadets and youth club.
“I also went on work experience whilst at school and got a part time job from it. I had lots of fun there and felt sad when I knew I had to leave.”
Aleem was approaching his eighteenth birthday and our responsibilities as a Council required Adult Social Care to step in and offer ongoing support to him.
Aleem explains: “When I turned 18yrs old I did not want to leave my home. I wanted to stay where I had been for over five years and I would miss everybody a lot, having different adults around me gave me the chance to do things with other people.”
Nathan – who already worked at the home with Aleem – and his partner Rachel, decided it was something they could help with by becoming Shared Lives carers.
Aleem added: “When my Coventry Social Worker told me that Nathan and Rachel would like to offer me a place to live with their family, I was very happy to be living with somebody I knew as I was not ready to live alone.
“If it wasn’t for Nathan offering me a home, things could have been different for me. I do not think living in Coventry was a good idea, I would have had to leave college, moved away from my clubs including football team and been away from adults I know who care about me and can help me when I need it.
“When I was offered a placement with Nathan and Rachel I was excited, and when I started visiting their home and seeing their son, Chester and Ruby the dog it started to feel very good. I am the sugar to their sweet, this makes them smile when I say that as their surname is Sweet.”
Karyn Ross, manager of the Shared Lives scheme in Coventry, said the service is all about putting individuals at the heart of our work.
She said: “It was absolutely clear that Aleem is a perfect match for Nathan and Rachel and vice versa.
“He enjoys family events and has been to Centre Parcs with their friends and they’re going on a family holiday to Bulgaria.
“Nathan has known Aleem for just under six years.
“Nathan spoke to Rachel whilst on holiday about Aleem’s situation and the concerns with his vulnerabilities, it was agreed that Nathan would speak to the social worker to see if it was an option for them to be approved as Shared Lives carers - which it was!”
Nathan said: “We knew Aleem would fit into our family well, and everybody including our little son, Chester would take to him, our friends and family we knew would love him.
“We supported Aleem during Ramadan, and I also completed a period of Ramadan with Aleem before celebrating Eid.
“Aleem has a lot in the local community such as college, work, football and friendship and we thought it was vital for these to continue allowing Aleem to receive education and earn money as well as being around people he knows well.”
Nathan added: “The future is something which is scary for everybody, but our hope is that Aleem lives within our home for as long as he needs and then when he wants to move on, he can move to somewhere that we can continue to support and he can continue to come for, holidays and spend time with us whenever he wants to.
“Like lots of people leaving their home it is still their home even when he moves on.”
Nathan believes Aleem has had a positive impact on their lives as a family. He said: “Our surname is Sweet and Aleem has called himself the sugar to our sweet and we love it, he literally fits into our lives. We cannot remember before he lived with us.
“Chester will always ask about Aleem, where is he? Will I see him before bed? We’re privileged to have him live with us.”
Karyn said: “We would like to thank Aleem, Nathan and Rachel for sharing their story and for being open and honest about their journey. Life can take many turns and can sometimes make us anxious and unsure of the future. The scheme is proud to share such a warm and inspiring story, one that we are sure will continue to be “Sweet” for Aleem.”
If you feel you could change someone’s life whilst enhancing your own, and are interested in becoming a Shared Lives Carer, or wish to know more about the Scheme please visit our website.
visit: Coventry.gov.uk/sharedlives or call: 024 7678 5339 or e-mail: sharedlivesscheme@coventry.gov.uk