Support Cambridgeshire has recently been contacted by the Cambridgeshire Shared Lives service and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership around an exciting new program they want community groups to know about and promote within their networks. Perhaps you know someone who would be perfect for this paid role?

Cambridgeshire Shared Lives service and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership are working collaboratively to establish a new Shared Lives Domestic Abuse Project. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safe Accommodation Needs Assessment identified gaps in safe accommodation for people with disabilities, including learning disabilities. The Shared Lives Domestic Abuse Project aims to address this gap and provide safe accommodation and support for survivors of domestic abuse with learning disabilities.

The project is currently recruiting for Shared Lives Domestic Abuse Carers who will open their homes to the service user. Shared Lives Domestic Abuse Carers can offer a range of solutions, including overnight stays or day visits to their home for a couple of hours (i.e., meeting for a coffee). This is a paid role, whereby carers receive a tax break on earnings. Shared Lives Domestic Abuse Carers can offer as much or as little to the project as they wish, it can fit around your working and home life. Whether you have 2 hours spare every month or several weeks at a time available. In Shared Lives, it’s about supporting someone to become confident, learn new skills and thrive in everyday life.

This support can include supporting the survivor to access specialist services and support to increase their confidence and independence. As a carer, you will not be expected to provide specialist domestic abuse support, however, you will receive tailored training around trauma-informed practise. Each survivor will work with a domestic abuse practitioner to receive this specialist support, either with the IDVA or DASS team. This project is aimed to provide emotional and practical support for survivors who fall within Medium and Standard risk categories (as determined by the DASH Risk Indicator Checklist).

Each Survivor and Shared Lives Domestic Abuse Carer will be matched to ensure support is fully person-centred. This matching process will look at a multitude of factors, including the person’s support needs, level of risk, mutual interests and lifestyle.

Shared Lives Domestic Abuse carers are usually practical, sociable and patient – and have a great sense of humour. We’re looking for people who want to make a positive difference – no experience needed.

If you would like more information, please visit Cambridgeshire County Council DASV Partnership – Becoming a Shared Lives Domestic Abuse Project Carer (cambsdasv.org.uk) or email us on cambridgeshiresharedlives@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

There is also a schedule of presentations to organisations interested in the project. Please contact Libby on libby.swannell-bell@cambridgeshire.org.uk to book in.