Celebration event for Sefton shared lives service

Hightown Cricket Club was the venue this week for a special Sefton-wide celebration of an innovative form of supported accommodation for adults with disabilities and other needs.

More than 60 carers and clients attended the event organised by staff from the Shared Lives service run by Sefton’s leading adult social care provider, New Directions.

Games, music, karaoke, food and fun were on the menu at the get-together which was held during national Shared Lives Week, an annual celebration of a service which was formerly referred to as ‘adult placement’.

New Directions Shared Lives clients are given the opportunity to benefit from a safe, friendly and supportive environment by living as part of a carer’s family, rather than in residential care or supported housing.

This can be a permanent arrangement, or organised on a respite basis, but in each case the emphasis is on helping a client to form new relationships, broaden his or her experiences and become more independent.

According to Trish Moscrop who manages the service, one of the most important features of Shared Lives is its flexibility.

Carers can be families, couples or individuals of any age, and service users range from young people leaving care at 16 up to clients in middle age and beyond.

However, the real key to the success of the service is the time and effort that goes into matching up the two parties to ensure they are a good ‘fit’, and also the training and support provided to carers.

Commenting on the evening, Trish Moscrop said: “This was a very successful event which brought people involved with Shared Lives from across Sefton together to celebrate the success of the service, and to say ‘thank you’ to our carers for their efforts.”

New Directions Business Development Manager, Dave Hughes, added: “Everyone involved with our Shared Lives service does a fantastic job in providing a homely environment and positive lifestyle opportunities to our clients.”

New Directions was established in Sefton in 2007 as the first local authority social care trading company in the country.

Ten years on, the organisation remains at the forefront of the local care sector, with a team of more than 300 staff caring for older Sefton residents, or people with disabilities or mental health support needs.

For more information about the services offered by New Directions, or to find out about joining the team, ring 0151 934 3726 or visit www.ndirections.co.uk.

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