Shared Lives Lead Worker

Shared Lives Lead Worker

Location: Darlington (based from home with access to office in Newcastle; travel to Leeds required)

Salary: £37,167 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We are seeking a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner to join our new Shared Lives scheme in Darlington.

Shared Lives is at the forefront of current thinking in social care. St Anne’s Shared Lives is a well‑established and high‑quality service which recruits carers who offer an “ordinary” home in the community to adults with a learning disability.

• A relevant qualification at the level of Social Work Degree, RNLD, Level 4 in Health & Social Care or equivalent
• An understanding of and commitment to the values of Shared Lives
• An ability to manage a diverse and complex caseload
• Strong assessment, analytical and problem‑solving skills
• A full driving licence and use of your own vehicle

For an informal chat, please call Jonathan Hainsworth on

• Support a caseload of shared lives carers through telephone contact, online and home visits, dealing appropriately with any problems that may arise during an arrangement.
• Undertake full assessments of applicants wishing to become shared lives carer.
• Document the assessment process and present this to the approval panel.
• Manage sometimes complex problems relating to a shared lives carer and the person/people they support, including issues that would arise under the umbrella of Safeguarding Adults.
• Support shared lives carers to meet the requirements of the scheme and the Health and Social Care Act (2008), Care Act (2014) and other key legislation and CQC guidelines with regards to services that offer personal care.
• Support the organisation in the delivery of training events, local shared lives meetings and social events for carers and service users and consultation opportunities with shared lives carers and service users.
• Undertake annual shared lives carer and client reviews, involving all relevant parties.
• Participate fully in the referral, allocation, assessment and matching process.
• Liaise with relevant agencies, family members, the client and potential providers to ensure effective information exchange and communication.
• Maintain records using St Anne’s electronic and paper systems.
• Promote the services offered through networking and promotional events.
• Represent St Anne’s shared lives at appropriate public meetings and events.

• Rising 20 to 25 days plus statutory bank holidays
• 24‑Hour Employee Assistance Programme
• Continuous opportunities for ongoing training and career development
• Cycle To Work scheme
• Refer A Friend recruitment initiative
• Flexible working opportunities (where applicable) upon successful completion of probation period
• Group Personal Pension Scheme
• Discounted income protection scheme
• Free car parking at most services
• Free life assurance cover

• Relevant qualification (minimum Level 4 in Health & Social Care)
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

St. Anne’s is working to actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion. We want people from underrepresented groups such as disabled, black and ethnic minority, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and non‑binary (LGBTQ+) communities to apply for all our roles.

St. Anne’s is a Disability Confident employer. We are actively working to recruit and retain people with disabilities and long‑term health conditions into our workforce. If you are an applicant who has a disability, you will be offered an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the job. Please contact recruitment on  opt 5 if you require any reasonable adjustments.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) and the Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

• Shared Lives Lead JD (PDF, 208.4 KB)
• SL Lead Employee specification 2025 (PDF, 136.6 KB)

Apply online now.

Further details / informal visits contact:
Jonathan Hainsworth, Shared Lives Manager, jonatha