People who pride themselves on being caring and compassionate are being offered the ultimate lockdown job opportunity - getting paid to look after someone in their own home.

Three local Shared Lives schemes - Camphill Village Trust based in Dudley Borough, Birmingham City and Walsall Council, have come together to rapidly recruit households across the Birmingham and Black Country region to open up their homes and hearts to adults with additional/complex.

Shared Lives carers can earn up to £570 a week tax free in return.

The project comes about as more and more of us are seeking a change of direction in life amid the ongoing pandemic. It is hoped that people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds will apply for these exciting new roles. Much of the assessment can be undertaken online, which reduces the need for visits applicants’ homes during ongoing lockdown restrictions.

Samantha 31 and Adam Barlow 38 are Shared Lives carers based in Sedgley.  They said:

“Being a Shared Lives carer is a job that sounds a little too good to be true – but it isn’t! It’s great being paid to support someone in our home, or out in the community.

“Our lives fit together, and it’s great to be able to enrich someone else’s life whilst also enriching our own. Most important of all, you are providing a loving and supportive home for someone who needs it.

“Before becoming shared lives carers, we both worked in catering and hospitality, with a brief time working in community-based care. We found that these skills and our life experiences, could all be used in a Shared Lives carer role.

“The great thing is you don’t need any experience at all, just a caring nature and eagerness to support someone, and a spare room!”

Across the UK more than 6,000 Shared Lives carers support more than 14,000 social care users. Carers can provide day care, over-night care or a permanent home for a diverse range of people who need support in everyday life.

This could be anyone from young people leaving care, those with mental or physical disabilities, to older people or those needing short term support following hospital treatment.  95% of all Shared Lives schemes rated as Good or Outstanding.

Shared Lives carers come from a whole range of careers. As well as former care workers and health professionals, current carers include former brick layers, mortgage advisers, foster carers, butchers and police officers, with young parents also choosing it as a career that works around their own childcare responsibilities. Kate Morgan, Registered Manager for the Camphill Village Trust scheme said:

“Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on all aspects of our lives since March, but the 900 plus Shared Lives Carers across the West Midlands region have been providing more support than ever.

“We have witnessed first-hand how resilient and creative carers have been during these uncertain times and continue to support people to live longer, healthier, happier lives.”

To apply for roles as part of the Dudley borough scheme, applicants can visit camphillvillagetrust.org.uk/sharedlives or call 01384 441 505.