Innovative scheme sees Havering carers invite vulnerable adults into their homes
Evangeline loves caring and said it is really rewarding. Picture: Bettertogether - Credit: Bettertogether
An innovative scheme that enables carers to house adults that need support is being run in Havering.
Bettertogether offers adults with social care needs the chance to receive support in a family home setting with a shared lives carer.
It keeps people in the community, provides social networks and interaction, and improves their wellbeing.
Under the scheme vulnerable people are carefully matched to specially trained carers in the borough – interests and lifestyles are taken into consideration.
These placements can be for a few nights, or several weeks, enabling the person and their usual carers to have a break.
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They can also be set up as permanent arrangements where people stay as long as they want or need.
Evangeline Suubi has worked as a carer for nine years and since joining the scheme she has had two people live with her full time and seven people who stay with her for short holidays.
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The Recorder spoke to Evangeline as part of a series of articles highlighting social care within the borough.
“People come and live with me and I treat them as part of the family,” she said.
“Anything that they need help with I can give them support –whether it’s getting ready in the morning and getting their dinners or looking after their wellbeing and safeguarding.
“We go out and every year we go on lovely family holidays.”
Her job is varied and no day is the same.
From the smaller tasks to the big, she has taught and enabled those under her care to independently make a cup of tea, and navigate the borough on a bus.
She is also there for people in the last stages of their life and has supported residents who were dying to stay at home for as long as possible.
Evangeline encourages other residents to become a shared lives carer and said she loves her role.
“It’s rewarding because I enjoy my job and it satisfies me when I see that the people that I look after are happy,” she said.
“I have always been a caring person and love seeing them learn new things for themselves and become independent.
“It’s a brilliant experience, if you want to work in this profession you should try it.
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