Shared Care for Children

The Shared Care Scheme aims to provide regular short term breaks for children and young people with disabilities, by linking them with approved carers who look after them for short periods of time. This can be from a few hours to a weekend a month.

The children who use the service may have a physical disability, a learning difficulty or sensory impairment.

The Shared Care Scheme gives them a chance to make new friends and to widen their experiences by spending time away from home with supportive carers.

The service is provided to families following an assessment of the young person's needs. The Shared Carers receive full training and a small allowance to cover expenses.

In Lambeth, the Shared Care scheme is run by our partner organisation, Family Link.

Arranging Shared Care

If your child is already receiving a service from Lambeth Social Services, you can contact Family Link directly to discuss Shared Care. 

If your child is not receiving a service from us, you should contact us on 020 7926 5555. 

About Family Link

Family Link offers support to children with disabilities and their families.

They provide family based short break care through trained volunteers for children and young people aged 0-19 who have a disability and live in Lambeth.

These breaks also provide the children and young people with the opportunity of making new relationships outside the family home.

Family Link
Laburnum Court
1 Barstow Crescent
Palace Road
London
SW2 3NS
Telephone: 020 8671 8939
Email: administrator@lambethfamilylink.org.uk  
Website: www.lfl.org.uk  

Further information

Additional information is available on the Shared Care Network website.

If you want further information on the Shared Care Scheme, or you are interested in becoming a carer, please contact Lambeth Social Services on 020 7926 5555.