We understand that home is where you want to be, even when extra support is needed. Crossroads provide a wide range of community care services across Sandwell, Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton, which provide an alternative to residential care.
Our care is person-centered and support packages can be provided to people of all ages, disabilities and health conditions. Our aim is to help develop your confidence to remain independent and stay in your own home for as long as possible.
Care and support
We provide tailored support to meet individual needs. This can include –
- Personal care and rehabilitation support
- Meal preparation
- Help with shopping and chores in the home
- Support with taking medication
- Help to get out and about to socialise or attend hospital or G.P. visits.
Chronic Long-Term Illness Care
This is always a difficult, stressful time within families. We understand and appreciate the needs of people who are struggling to cope with a long-term illness. We will help you through the maze of how care can be delivered and financed. Your care is our concern, we will organise and recognise how you wish to receive your support from our highly qualified caring staff with a tailor-made care plan, which is flexible to meet your needs.
Palliative Care
Crossroads has for many years supported people – and their carers – at the end of their life. Our staff are renowned for providing the highest quality of care which is truly person-centered.
Our organisation is a valued partner of the Connected Palliative Care team providing holistic care in conjunction with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, John Taylor Hospice, St Mary’s Hospice, and Age Concern. Our staff work alongside the clinical staff during the day time and during the night, providing a service of urgent response.
In addition, our role within the partnership is to provide free respite as required. We are able to take referrals from anyone who lives in Sandwell and will direct your enquiry through the Palliative Hub team who will make formal arrangements through our systems to provide you with the break that you need at this very stressful and difficult time.
Dementia Support
We provide services in Sandwell and Birmingham to support carers of people with memory issues or a dementia diagnosis. Please check to see what is available in your area.
Respite for Carers
It is often difficult for family carers to take a break from their caring role. We are able to provide a sitting service for you, which may be funded by yourself, or we may have been allocated some funding from the Health or Local Authority depending on where you live. Please contact us for more information.
If you need more practical support for a person with dementia, we are happy to help design a care plan with you, this may involve helping with practical daily living issues, or help to take the person with a dementia out and about, to become more involved with hobbies or interests that help them to enjoy daily life.
Live in care and support
We can provide staff to live in your home, to reduce loneliness and for those at risk. If you are in receipt of funding, we will help to design how you wish to receive your care and find the right staff for you, who will train and support as they remain caring for you.
Training for family carers
Caring for someone is often complex. We offer training to family carers in their own home to help you in your caring role, to learn how to correctly use equipment, etc. We can teach you all you need to know to protect yourself and your loved one, to care without harm.
Training for Personal Assistants
If you have a personal budget and employ your own carers, we can help you. We have our own Training department, with excellent trainers who will help and support you. We train our own staff to a very high standard and wish to do the same for you. Once your staff member is trained, we will put them on our Recall System, making sure that they receive updated training periodically – essential to you and their health and safety.
Advice, Guidance, and Signposting to other services
Crossroads focus is on providing information for family carers. Our staff can provide you with the support and advice you need. We can signpost you to not only our services, but to other organisations to ensure you receive the care and advice you need.
To check is a service is available in your area, call 0121 553 6483 or complete our online Contact Us form.
Advice and Guidance
Frequently asked questions
What is Crossroads Caring for Carers?
Crossroads service is about improving the lives of carers by giving them time to be themselves and have a break from their caring responsibilities. Our aim is to provide a reliable service, tailored to meet the individual needs of each carer and the person they are caring for.
How did Crossroads Caring for Carers Begin?
The Crossroads service began in 1974 and, in the first year, supported just 28 families. Today Crossroads have approximately 140 local organisations throughout England and Wales. Together, they provide 4.6million care hours to more than 35,000 carers – that’s the equivalent of over 525 years of care.
What does Crossroads Caring for Carers do?
The Crossroads team provides practical support where and when it is most needed – usually within the home. A trained Carer Support Worker will take over from the carer to give them ‘Time to be themselves’.
What do Carer Support Workers Do?
Every situation is unique depending on the needs of the person being cared for. If someone has a physical disability or illness, a Carer support worker may provide very practical support / help with personal care, feeding, washing and dressing and assistance with other household tasks.
If someone has mental health problems, support may be more on the emotional side. If someone has Dementia, they may require someone to be with them all the time, so they dont come to any harm.
All our Carer support workers have been trained to meet individual needs and follow nationally agreed standards and quality assurance systems. We apply rigorous vetting standards to all recruitment including enhanced criminal disclosure checks to try and ensure we only employ suitable staff.
Clients who receive our services should be confident that they are supported by a highly trained and qualified team of management staff and Carer Support Workers.
What areas do Sandwell Crossroads cover?
There are Crossroads Caring for Carers schemes throughout the UK. Sandwell Crossroads covers all areas within the Black Country. We cover Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Who can make a Referral?
Referrals are received from professional sources. These include Social Services, PCT’s, GP’s, District Nurses, Parkinson’s Society, MS Society and Alzheimer’s Society. Self-referrals are also welcome.
What happens after the Referral has been made?
Once a referral has been made, our Scheme Manager / Care Manager will contact the Carer to arrange a suitable time for a completion of our Risk Assessment. An individual care plan will be developed with both the Carer and the Cared for Person. It will detail time and days and frequency of agreed care visits. The care plan will be regularly reviewed.
What costs are involved?
The costing is varied and can be available free of charge depending on the source of the referral. Care can also be purchased through the Direct Payment Scheme or privately.
What tasks can the Carer Support Worker carry out?
- Trained Carer Support Workers will take over from the Carer to give them ‘Time for themselves’.
- Personal Care – During daytime, evening, weekend or overnight.
- Respite Care so the family carer has time to themselves.
Do you just work with the elderly?
No. Crossroads offers respite to all ages. our aim is to provide a reliable service tailored to meet the individual needs.
Are the staff paid workers or volunteers?
All Crossroads staff are paid workers.
Are the staff Police checked?
Yes, all staff are police checked and are not allowed to start until this check has been confirmed in writing and are confirmed to be suitable.
What training is given to the Carer Support Worker?
All Carer Support Workers receive induction, mandatory training and work towards NVQ Levels II & III.
What will happen if a Carer Support Worker is off sick or on holiday?
It is our intention where possible to find a replacement Carer Support Worker to cover the call.
Will i have the same Carer Support Worker?
Yes, it is the Crossroads philosophy to arrange on the rota for you to have the same Carer Support Worker. Crossroads feel you need to build up trust and feel a commitment from the continuity of a regular Carer Support Worker.