Top rating for Shared Lives Shetland after surprise inspection

SHETLAND Community Connections (SCC) is celebrating after its new support service, Shared Lives Shetland, received a glowing report after a surprise inspection.

Unlike traditional support services, Shared Lives involves carefully recruited support workers who welcome participants into their own homes and communities.

Participants are matched with support workers they choose and want to be part of their lives, ensuring choice and control is central.

The two-day inspection highlighted the service’s commitment to person-centred care, noting that Shared Lives Shetland offers “warm relationships and tailored support empowering people to thrive within their communities.”

And it received the top rating – “very good” – across all four areas of inspection, with no recommendations for improvements to be made.

SCC said the achievement reflected its board’s “bold decision” to introduce the new support model based on the Shared Lives approach.

Inspectors spoke with participants, family carers and support workers, and attended sessions across Shetland.

They said that the service brought individuals “joy and a sense of achievement”, who benefitted from support with “notable warmth, mutual understanding and reciprocal benefit within these relationships”.

SCC general manager Karen Hannay said: “This is a natural progression forShetland Community Connections, as our role is looking at how we connect people and match people who need support with people who are willing and have the facilities to provide it.”

Shared Lives Shetland manager Jane Haswell said that the top rating, coupled with no recommendations, was a “testament to our participants, support workers, and the team’s shared vision.”

“The report highlights that we provide ‘support with compassion share meaningful time and are flexible in response to changing situations’,” she added.

SCC extended a heartfelt thanks to its funders, adding their “belief in their vision made this innovative service possible”.

For more information contact 01595 745093 or visit: https://shetlandcommunityconnections.co.uk/shared-lives-shetland/