Carers breaks
Supporting those who care
If you provide support and assistance to someone who requires help due to illness, disability, or age-related challenges, we can step in and take over your caring responsibilities, giving you a well-deserved break.
Carers breaks can also be referred to as… respite care, relief break, support break, time out for carers and temporary care.
Contents:
What is the definition of a carer?
What is a carers break?
Why are carers breaks important?
What does a Crossroads support worker do?
What makes Crossroads support different?
How much does a carers break cost?
What it means to the people we help
Frequently asked questions
Useful links & further reading
How do I arrange a carers break?
What is the definition of a carer?
A carer is an individual who provides support and assistance to someone who requires help due to illness, disability, or age-related challenges.
This support can encompass a wide range of activities, including personal care, emotional support, companionship, and help with daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and managing medication. Carers can be professional but in most cases is unpaid family members or friend, and their role is crucial in ensuring the well-being and quality of life for those they look after.
What is a carers break?
A carers break refers to a period of time when a carer is given the opportunity to take a rest from their caregiving responsibilities.
This break allows carers to recharge, maintain their own well-being, and manage stress. It can vary in length and can involve different forms of temporary care for the individual being supported, from home visits to taking someone out for a few hours.
We typically offer weekly, bi weekly and adhoc support, from a couple of hour to a day at a time, but we can also offer overnight care upon request.
In certain circumstances we can offer longer breaks and have supported time for holidays, days out, weddings, hospital admissions and more. However, these require notice and planning.
Why are carers breaks important?
Carer breaks are important as they help prevent burnout and and give carers much needed time for themselves.
A break offer opportunities for social interaction, personal pursuits, work, attending appointments… or simply relaxation, which are essential for maintaining a healthy balance in life. We feel that access to a carer breaks should be available to every carer as appreciation for the invaluable role they play.
What would you do with some time for yourself?
Sleep
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Shopping
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Gardening
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Seeing friends
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Exercise
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Cinema
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Coffee
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Admin
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Walks
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Sleep 〰️ Shopping 〰️ Gardening 〰️ Seeing friends 〰️ Exercise 〰️ Cinema 〰️ Coffee 〰️ Admin 〰️ Walks 〰️
Need a break?
Book a free support assessment with our dedicated team and discover how we can help. We're here to guide you every step of the way!
What does a Crossroads support worker do?
A support worker plays a vital role in supporting both the person receiving care and their carer, providing temporary relief and essential respite. Their primary responsibilities include:
Temporary Care: They step in to care for the individual, allowing the carer a much-needed break. This ensures that the carer can recharge and take care of their own health and well-being.
Tailored Support: Adapting their approach based on the unique needs and preferences of the individual they are caring for, ensuring personalised support that aligns with the individual's routine and lifestyle.
Companionship: They provide social interaction and companionship, engaging in activities that promote mental stimulation and emotional well-being.
Communication: They often communicate with family members to keep them informed about the individual’s progress and any concerns that may arise during the respite period.
Daily Living Support: Help with daily tasks like meal preparation, washing and medication management, ensuring that the individual's routine is maintained without disruption.
Personal Care Assistance: They assist with managing continence (helping go to the bathroom), ensuring the individual's dignity and comfort.
Overall, our support workers not only enhance the quality of life for those they care for but also provide essential support to the carer, making a significant impact to their well-being.
What makes Crossroads support different?
We carefully select kind and compassionate people to provide support for carers and those who need care… that feels like family.
Not only that, they are…
trained professionals - who specialise in meeting the unique care needs of each client.
person-centred - understanding individual needs and preferences of those being cared for.
problem solvers - if/when they arise, giving you piece of mind.
enhanced DBS checked to ensure safety and trust.
We also have trained specialists (we call them champions) in specific areas of care, that we can call upon to offer the best help and guidance for
safeguarding and infection control
medication, nutrition & hydration
moving and positioning
care culture
dementia
How much does a carers break cost?
We charge £27.24 per hour* but funding is available in most cases.
The local authority may provide financial support for respite services, but require an assessment to establish needs of the carer, the person being cared for and a means test. We can help you navigate this process and take the stress away.
Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that both carers and those they look after are supported in a way that suits their individual circumstances and helps maintain their wellbeing.
*Our minimum carers break is 2 hours as our experience shows that it offers the most benefit to the carer taking the break and allows us to build a stronger relationship with the people being supported.
From our experience we feel that people benefit from a minimum of a 2 hour break to best have a rest from their caring role and build a better repore with the wonderful people we support..
What carers breaks means to people we help.
Frequently asked questions about carers breaks
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Carers in Hertfordshire - a carer charity based in Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire Citizen’s Advice - can both offer advice around carers allowance and other in-kind benefits.
Hertfordshire County Council - Advice on paying for long term care.
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If you have a significant unpaid caring role that would be detrimental to the person you care for if you stop caring you could be entitled to a funded carers break. To see if you qualify, please look at Who can get social care help from us | Hertfordshire County Council
To book an assessment ring social service and ask for a carers assessment as you need a carers break. - Adult care – how to get care and support from us | Hertfordshire County Council or 0300 1234042
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If you are struggling with your caring role and don’t know the next steps the best thing to do is contact adult carer services and speak to a social worker on 0300 1234 042 and ask for a carer’s assessment to get a carer’s break
We can also support with this by potentially providing a carer’s break for you.
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Carers are entitled to benefits but there are stipulations based on your caring role as well as if you claim a state pension and other factors. The best place to speak to initially is Citizens Advice Hertfordshire
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Please speak to your GP if you are feeling mentally low. There are also fantastic charities such as Mind who can help.
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If you are looking for a longer break, then please discuss with your loved one about short term respite.
This is a short stay in a respite facility such as a care home for a few days to a few weeks that can sometimes help with your caring role
The best place to look is Hertfordshire Care choices website who will show a wide variety of places to look at Care in Hertfordshire | Care Choices
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If you no longer fee like you can support your loved one at home, please speak to your social worker – 0300 1234 042 to have a conversation about next steps including respite and care homes
There is also the Hertfordshire care choices website where you can look at private care homes Care in Hertfordshire | Care Choices
Useful links & further reading…
There are plenty of places where you can get additional support…
General help & advice
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Hertfordshire County Council offer a range of support and advice for Adult social services.
This includes:
Social care help
Equipment, homecare, and housing
Arranging and paying for care
Support for unpaid carers
Dementia, autism, and mental health support
Blue Badge applications
hertfordshire.gov.uk/adult-social-service
Factsheets are available on the website covering a range of topics such as Advocacy, Financial support and advice, Assistive Technology and Tips for unpaid carers.
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Herts Help is a countywide service that offers advice and practical support to people across Hertfordshire. They can listen and help you find independent support, guidance and information to help you get the most out of life, including:
Support in a crisis (help with finding specialist services)
Help to manage at home
Finding the right care and support
Advice on funding your care
Advocacy to help you explain a problem/ have your say
Help finding community support to maintain independence
Winter Health
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Information and advice services for older people.
Telephone (Herts): 0300 345 3446
General advice line: 0800 678 1602
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Provides clear, free and impartial advice on issues that matter, care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility.
Support groups
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Carers in Hertfordshire provides information, advice, workshops and support free to carers on a range of matters related to their caring role and wellbeing, including finances, legal planning, the Mental Capacity Act and making or altering a Lasting Power of Attorney.
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We’re here for unpaid carers with expert information, advice and support, and also campaign to make life better for carers. Alongside this there are opportunities to connect with other unpaid Carers through online forums and training for unpaid carers.
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A weekly drop-in session for anyone living with Dementia or who is worried about their memory to come along with a family member or their carer in a safe and relaxed environment.
Runs every Thursday from 10:00 – 12:00
Ernest Gardiner Treatment Centre, Pearsall Close, Letchworth, SG6 1QZ
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Facilitated by Garden House Hospice, Wellbeing Hubs offer opportunities for people to come together for information, to socialise and promote wellbeing and engage in activities.
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Memory support groups are facilitated by Memory Support Hertfordshire and Alzheimer’s Society. Chat to people with dementia, their carers, family and friends at our friendly and relaxed dementia café. At each session you can ask questions, share your experiences and get the help, advice and information you need in an informal and sociable setting. Groups are available across Hertfordshire.
Financial support
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To support with the cost of living, Hertfordshire County Council has been provided with funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF). This funding will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food.
Hertfordshire County Council is working with a range of partners across the county to make sure they can get the right help to those who need it, at the right time.
Residents are not able to apply directly for the Household Support Fund, however, if you need help or support you can call Herts Help on 0300 123 4044 who may be able to help. If support is available, it will be based on your current situation, and you may be asked about your finances.
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Provides free confidential and independent advice, including finances and benefits.
03444 111 444 or 0800 144 8848 (Freephone)
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Age UK Hertfordshire gives information, guidance and emotional support for carers living in Hertfordshire where they or the person they care for is over age 50.
How do I arrange a carers break?
Everyones needs are different, and our team is dedicated to drawing up a personalised care plan centred around your needs and those of whom you care for.
Reach out today, and let’s make your well-being a priority.
3 simple steps to a carers break
1 - Reach out - to us. Call or fill in the form and we will contact you within 2 working days to arrange an assessment date that suits you.
2 - We assess - your needs though an informal chat at the home of whomever needs support, or over the phone… whatever works best for you.
3 - We help - by selecting the most suitable support worker for your needs and arrange a time to start.