Crossroads’ preventative Helping You Care (HYC) service supports unpaid carers looking after an adult aged 18+ who lives in North Hertfordshire or Stevenage, providing a vital break before carers reach crisis point and helping them maintain their own wellbeing.
Yet many eligible families miss out because of common misconceptions about who can access the service and how it works. If you work with unpaid carers in North Herts or Stevenage, this guide covers eligibility, funding, continuity of care and more.
Whether you're already familiar with HYC or hearing about it for the first time, here are six common myths and the facts behind them.
People do not need to be completely new to Adult Care Services to be eligible for Crossroads' HYC support.
The service can work as part of a wider package of support and is not affected by eligibility for other services. We can also help the carer directly with accessing an official Carer's Assessment with the council - they do not need to be on the waiting list already.
The service is designed to support unpaid carers who support somebody aged 18+ living in North Herts or Stevenage and would benefit from a break, helping to prevent caregiver burnout before they reach crisis point. The carer themselves can live anywhere in Hertfordshire.
This looks directly at daily living impact, not income or savings, so they do not need to undergo a financial assessment.
The focus is on creating regular, meaningful breaks for the carer while providing full tailored support for the person they care for.
This could include:
- Activities at home
- Community outings
- Time-specific medication support
- Continence support, bathing and other personal care needs
- Support with meal preparation
- Companionship
- And more!
The visits are intended to substantially benefit both people.
Some assume respite support is limited to befriending or volunteer-led visits. In reality, our Support Workers are experienced care professionals who receive condition-specific training to support individuals with a wide range of needs, including continence support, dementia, physical disabilities and other long-term health conditions.
This means carers can take a break with full confidence, knowing their loved one is receiving safe, personalised support from someone with the skills and experience to respond to their individual needs.
HYC supports carers through the official Carer's Assessment process, and where there is continual need - such as assessment outcomes still being evaluated by HCC - funded support may continue beyond the initial 12 hours. We work closely with HCC to never leave vulnerable individuals stranded without support.
We also have an ongoing Carers Breaks service providing respite visits for as long as desired after HYC ends, often with the same Support Worker for seamless continuity of care. Funding and payment options are available for those who would struggle to pay directly for this service.
HYC can help bridge gaps in support, reduce pressure on unpaid carers and provide assistance during particularly demanding periods, such as illness, treatment, hospital appointments or changing circumstances.
The earlier support is accessed, the greater the opportunity to prevent a crisis from developing.
You can refer your service user for HYC support via our website - simply click the Professionals Dashboard button below. You can also use this page to request a free delivery of HYC service leaflets for your service users.
Helping You Care exists to support unpaid carers before pressure becomes crisis. Funded by Hertfordshire County Council and delivered by Crossroads Caring for Life, the service provides fully funded preventative support to eligible carers across North Hertfordshire and Stevenage.
We hope these myth-busters help raise awareness of what's available and give community partners and professionals greater confidence in identifying and referring local people who could benefit.
Not a professional referrer but have individuals in mind who might benefit from HYC? Click the button below for more info and access to our digital Self-Referral Form.
As a local not-for-profit charity, we rely on funding to help more families access vital respite, reduce isolation and avoid reaching crisis point. Contact us to discuss corporate giving and how we can work together to change local lives.
