Help for Carers (formerly Crossroads) has been providing Home care (respite) services for over 30 years across London and Surrey.
The Help for Carers home care service offers the carer of someone with care needs the opportunity to have regular breaks or 'time out' from their caring responsibilities. Each break offers at least three hours of respite. Enough time to meet friends, go shopping, carry out errands or simply time to relax.
Highly trained care staff offer a range of tasks around the home to suit each client's needs, including providing personal care, conversation, or taking them out. They are able to prepare and cook meals if needed.
Each service user is treated with dignity and respect, while a customised package of care is designed to meet each client's needs following a meeting in the service users own home with one of their senior care support workers. Each service user is matched with a best fit care worker to meet their needs.
Owner: Help for Carers
Person in charge: Stefan Kuchar (Chief Executive)
Type of Service: Home Care Agency (Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned Owned)
Registered Charity Number: 1027026
Provides Carers directly to the general public: Yes
Number of Carers: 80
Fees Guide: £19.90 per hour
Services Offered: Adult Care (18+) • Care for Children • Personal Care (on a contracted hours basis) • Personal Care Assessments • Risk Assessments in the Home
Care Offered: Cancer Care • Companionship • Dementia • Domestic Services / Home Help • Elderly Care • Food Preparation & Serving • Learning Disability • Medication Assistance • Mental Health Condition • Palliative Care • Personal Hygiene Care • Physical Disability • Respite cover • Sensory Impairment • Shopping Service / Errands • Sit in Service
Latest Care Quality Commission* Report on Help for Carers: click here
* Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.
Help for Carers has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.526)
The Review Score of 9.5 (maximum of 10) for Help for Carers is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.
a) The Average Rating is 4.5 out of 5 from 16 Reviews over all time. This Average Rating is also the rating value for Help for Carers in Google's Search Results - more info
b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5 out of 5 from 5 positive Reviews in the last 12 months.
Click to show a breakdown of the Review Score
a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating of all Reviews over all time. For each review the Home Care Agency / service is rated Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Poor or Very Poor on a number of areas eg Staff, Management etc. The Home Care Agency receives points for each rating as follows: Excellent = 5. Good = 4. Satisfactory = 3. Poor = 2. Very Poor = 1. These points are added up and then divided by the total number of completed ratings to generate the average rating.
The Average Rating of 4.526 for Help for Carers is calculated as follows: ( (58 Excellents x 5) + (30 Goods x 4) + (6 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 95 Ratings = 4.526
b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 12 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with 'Extremely Likely' or 'Likely' in answer to the question 'How likely are you to recommend this Home Care Agency to friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment?'
The 5 points available are broken down as follows: 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.5 points for each of the next 4 Positive Reviews ie an Home Care Agency needs 5 Reviews to receive the maximum score of 5 points.
The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Help for Carers is based on 5 positive Reviews in the last 12 months and is calculated as follows:
3 + 0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 = 5
When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Patrick D (Client) on Tuesday 23 May 2017. Relates to February 2017.
It was a good review.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Likely
Overall Standard: Good
Staff: Good
Care / Support: Good
Management: Good
Treated with Dignity: Good
Value for Money: Good
Review submitted from a Postal Card by T A (Client) on Tuesday 25 April 2017. Relates to April 2017.
The care service provided suits with our needs very well and is good to know that should circumstances change help is a short phone call away.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
stefan kuchar, chief executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 25 Apr 2017:
Thank you for your kind review.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by J G (Wife of Client) on Wednesday 14 September 2016. Relates to September 2016.
We have been very pleased with the service provided. The carers have been punctual, caring and efficient.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 14 Sep 2016:
I'm glad you are satisfied with the carer service, thank you.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by I S (Client) on Thursday 25 August 2016. Relates to August 2016.
We have been very pleased with all our contacts with Help for Carers, especially the consistency and character of the carer who comes to us.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Good
Stefan Kuchar, CEO at Help for Carers responded to this review on 25 Aug 2016:
Thank you for your support and kind words.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by K D (Daughter of Client) on Friday 5 August 2016. Relates to July 2016.
Help for Carers have been a life line for my brother who is my father's main carer and myself. The care workers who visit dad are kind, patient and experienced. We trust them completely. In addition the support and gentle understanding of the admin staff has been so welcome. They have helped make a very difficult situation a little easier and every little thing mean so much.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
Stefan Kuchar, chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 05 Aug 2016:
Thank you for your kind words. We are glad to be able to serve you and your family.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Clarito A (Wife of Client) on Monday 25 July 2016. Relates to July 2016.
I think the service is excellent.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Good
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 25 Jul 2016:
We are so glad you feel we are doing such a good job for you! Thank you.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Donald W (Client) on Thursday 21 July 2016. Relates to June 2016.
I have always been happy and satisfied with the service provided to me.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
stefan kuchar, chief executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 21 Jul 2016:
We are very pleased that you are happy with your Homecare service. Thank you.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Dave (Son of Client) on Wednesday 27 April 2016. Relates to February 2016.
Very reliable, very polite and amenable, happy to do whatever is required and use own initiative to see what is required.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 27 Apr 2016:
Hi Dave, thank you for your valuable feedback which I appreciate. Im glad to hear you're satisfied with the service we provide for you.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by R M (Daughter of Client) on Tuesday 29 March 2016. Relates to December 2015.
Some of the staff are excellent, however some are a huge let down to the company. When staff are off, no cover is found causing irreparable hardship.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Unlikely
Overall Standard: Satisfactory
Staff: Satisfactory
Care / Support: Poor
Management: Satisfactory
Treated with Dignity: Good
Value for Money: Good
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 12 Apr 2016:
Thank you for your feedback which we value. We appreciate that you have been a loyal client with us since 2003. We are sorry that you do not feel that we have served you effectively. However, after the recent phone conversation you have had with our head of care, we hope your concerns have been fully addressed.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Sue (Wife of Client) on Tuesday 19 January 2016. Relates to December 2015.
It's nice to know that my husband has bonded with his carer. She takes him out in his wheelchair, weather permitting. They usually go to the shops as he loves shopping. He really looks forward to her coming and him going out. He usually buys flowers for her and for me, his wife. She is also easy to talk with and gives me useful advice. It's nice to know he is looked after and I need not worry about him.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
stefan kuchar, chief executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 12 Apr 2016:
Dear Jennifer
Thank you for your valuable feedback which we appreciate . We are delighted that we make a difference in your life.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by A F (Husband of Client) on Monday 18 January 2016. Relates to December 2015.
From time to time I have dealings with the "office". The phone is picked up promptly. My issues are normally quickly and always accurately resolved. I would rate the office organisation structure highly. My wife has one regular carer. This lady is accepted by my wife - the most important factor of Crossroads. I ask her to do very little but keep my wife safe and secure, assist her to the toilet and prepare a little light lunch. These tasks she performs entirely satisfactorily. I am pleased with and grateful for the care my wife is given.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Good
Staff: Good
Care / Support: Good
Management: Good
Treated with Dignity: Good
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 12 Apr 2016:
Dear Sue,
Thank you for your valuable feedback which we appreciate. We look forward to supporting you in the future.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Carmen (Aunt of Client) on Monday 18 January 2016. Relates to December 2015.
I am an elderly lady (85) and have a niece who I live with who has severe MS and Crossroads have supplied me with invaluable help so I can go to my own appointments knowing everything is OK back home. The help they provide has given me a better quality of life.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Good
Staff: Good
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Good
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Good
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 12 Apr 2016:
Dear Alan
Thank you for your valuable feedback which we appreciate. We are pleased that you feel our office is responsive and effective.
All the best.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Sue C (Mother of Client) on Friday 15 January 2016.
South Thames Crossroads provides three hours respite care for us on a Friday evening. Their staff are reliable, same person every week, are dedicated highly trained. Our daughter is autistic and we can leave her in the knowledge that she is safe and motivated. I would recommend Crossroads care to anyone.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Good
Staff: Good
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Good
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Good
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 12 Apr 2016:
Dear Sue, thank you for your kind review which we value. We are so pleased that you are happy with the service that you receive from us.
Stefan
Review submitted from a Postal Card by C M (Husband of Client) on Thursday 14 January 2016. Relates to December 2015.
I have been very pleased to have had assistance from Crossroads. Administratively they have been efficient and helpful and I have been able to benefit from this. One carer who came to us (3 hours per week) was extremely efficient. Since her departure (as a carer) one long-term carer has been adequate, and one (who attended only once) was below standard), which I reported to Crossroads. Very pleasant but in my view not suitable for the task.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Likely
Overall Standard: Satisfactory
Staff: Satisfactory
Care / Support: Satisfactory
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Good
Value for Money: Good
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 12 Apr 2016:
Hi Colin, thank you for your feedback. We are delighted that you clearly value the service we provide for you.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by C R (Daughter of Client) on Thursday 14 January 2016. Relates to December 2015.
Thank you always for your help. Our dear carer is a really nice person. Very good with my mum. Nothing is too much trouble for her.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard: Excellent
Staff: Excellent
Care / Support: Excellent
Management: Excellent
Treated with Dignity: Excellent
Value for Money: Excellent
Review submitted from a Postal Card by H C (Daughter of Client) on Thursday 14 January 2016. Relates to December 2015.
The carers always arrive promptly and are kind and helpful to my mother, treating her with patience and concern. I feel confident to go out shopping and leaving them to care for her in my absence. In minor emergencies (eg. cut leg) they have coped well.
How likely would you be to recommend Help for Carers? Likely
Overall Standard: Good
Staff: Good
Care / Support: Good
Management: Good
Treated with Dignity: Good
Value for Money: Excellent
Stefan Kuchar, Chief Executive at Help for Carers responded to this review on 12 Apr 2016:
Dear Christine
Thank you for your feedback which we value. We are so pleased to hear that you and your mum get the support you both need.
Job Title: Head of Care
Joined: 2008
Description:
Avril Doyle is the Head of Care Services and has over eight years experience working in the health and social care field. She is the Registered Manager of the Care Quality Commission regulated respite care services.
Job Title: Chief Executive
Joined: 2014
Description:
Stefan Kuchar is passionate about delivering excellent care service to people who look after their loved ones with health and social care needs. He has transformed the organisation to be more responsive to customer needs.
A recent customer survey revealed that 90% of our customers are satisfied with the service we deliver. Additionally, 90% of our care support worker said that they are satisfied with the service they do.
