What is Shared Lives?

Tower Hamlets Shared Lives is an alternative to traditional types of care and support available to adults with a learning disability.

In Shared Lives, a person lives, stays, or spends some time with a Shared Lives Carer within the local community. The person is supported to maximise their potential and maintain their sense of independence, using the Shared Lives Carer’s home as a base.

Download a copy of the easy read Shared Lives booklet.

Who can use the service?

In Tower Hamlets, Shared Lives is available to adults with a learning disability who have been assessed as eligible by the Community Learning Disability Services (CLDS).

Types of support

We offer support according to individual needs. It is delivered in three ways:

1. Day support - A person can spend a day/s or a few hours a week with one of our Carers.
2. Respite - A person can stay overnight or for a short time with one of our Carers.
3. Long term placement - A person can live on a long-term basis with one of our Carers, becoming a part of their family and/or personal network.

Who are Shared Lives Carers?

Shared Lives Carers are ordinary people from the local community (although being Carers makes them extraordinary!). Shared Lives Carers are self-employed and are paid for the support they provide. All Carers go through a thorough assessment process to ensure they are suitable for the role, and they can offer a safe and appropriate environment for caring.

Why choose Tower Hamlets Shared Lives?

• Supported people are carefully matched with Carers who have similar interest and backgrounds.
• People are supported to live independent lives, integrate into their local community and better manage their health and wellbeing.
• Shared Lives Carers receive ongoing monitoring, training and support.
• We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and received a rating of ‘Good’ following an inspection in August 2025.
• 100% of Shared Lives supported people, Carers, and CLDS staff would recommend Shared Lives service to others (Shared Lives annual survey, 2025).

Don’t just take our word for it, see what others had to say about Shared Lives in Tower Hamlets.

• Supported person - “My Carers are my family; they are very important to me. They support me in my choices and help me when things don’t go so well. They have helped me to understand how to keep safe and helped me keep busy.”
• Shared Lives Carer - “I’ve done caring jobs before, but being a SL Carer is different, it allows me more creativity about the care I can provide.”