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What is Home Sharing?
Home Sharing is a community based service that provides both short breaks (respite) and full-time (shared living) placements to children and adults with an intellectual disability and/or autism. These breaks take place in the Host Carer's Home. The scheme is voluntary, however host carers are paid an allowance which is tax free.
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What is a Host Carer?
This is an individual that has been recruited, assessed, trained and vetted by Cope Foundation. This person is approved to have the personal qualities and skills to care for a person with an intellectual disability and/or autism on a short-term or long-term basis.
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Different types of Home Sharing:
Home Sharing as a model of support is subdivided into three categories;
1. Short Breaks Host
Hosts in the community offering a short break to a Guest, in the hosts own home. Arrangements are based on the Host’s availability and other caring commitments as this is not generally the Hosts ’s primary occupation. A tax-free allowance is paid per break provided. Short breaks Hosts usually support one or two Guests separately a number of short breaks per month.
2. Contract Host
Contract Hosts are assessed and approved as contract carers and commit to a number of overnight breaks per month for individuals. Contract Hosts are contracted for 10 - 20 sessions per month for eleven months per year. A retainer is paid to the Contract Host and an allowance is paid per session of support provided.
3. Shared Living
Shared Living Hosts are assessed and approved with a view to sharing their home with a person on a full-time basis with the responsibility as the main carer(s). The person may spend some time during the month with their own family or with another family but their main residence is with the Home Sharing shared living Host under this arrangement. An allowance and retainer are paid monthly.
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Breaks can be for a couple of hours, overnight, weekends or even longer. Each break is arranged around the person's preferences and each Host Carer's preferences and availability.
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