A desperate plea has been issued to recruit more carers for Moray adults in their own home.
The Shared Lives service helps people aged 16 and over with social care needs to live a full and active life and to stay as independent as possible.
The small team of self-employed carers currently support 36 people, but more carers are urgently needed.
A recruitment drive later this month will focus on Buckie and Keith but there is a demand for placements right across Moray – particularly in Speyside.
Moray Council’s Shared Lives officer, Diane Mcleary, said that no formal qualifications were needed to apply.
She said: “When we asked people who use the service what qualities in a Shared Lives carer were important to them, they told us it was things like patience and understanding, enthusiasm and being able to motivate, a sense of humour and flexibility.
“Some have had careers in nursing or have spent time caring for a family member but experience is not essential either.
What is vital is a passion for making a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Speyside Glenlivet Councillor Fiona Murdoch urged potential carers to reach out.
She said: “These services are absolutely vital for people so they can stay in their own homes and remain active as much as possible in their own communities.
“I imagine quite a lot of care in Speyside is given by extended families because people still have very strong ties here, but there may well be other people looking for a rewarding activity to step into and I would really urge them to come forward as they will find they will get a lot out of it as well as the person they are caring for.”
Carers offer daytime care and support in a homely setting to a maximum of two people at a time. They can also offer overnight and longer stay care, so the families of service users can take a break from their caring role.
Christine Coubrough, from Burghead, began working as a Shared Lives carer in January.
She said: “The best thing for me is the satisfaction I feel when I have supported someone to make the most of their life doing things that make them happy.”