30th August 2012

• National care provider Crossroads is set to close its Sheffield branch with effect from 30 September 2012. The closure will affect around 40 families with disabled children who currently receive Crossroads homecare and befriending services.

  In November 2011, Sheffield City Council and NHS Sheffield announced the decision to terminate all the existing 22 adult carer support contracts and jointly commission a new improved model of support for carers of adults in the city. This included the contract with Sheffield Crossroads for services to carers of adults, which will now end on 30 September 2012. The new model of support for carers will be implemented from 1 October.

  Peter Tisch, Chair of Crossroads Care Sheffield, said: “Sadly Crossroads Care Sheffield was not successful in the bid [for the support contract for carers of adults] and its main source of funding for many years will end shortly. The adult carer service work will now be transferred to another service provider.”

  “While Crossroads Care Sheffield does receive funding for children’s carer work, it is not enough to enable us to remain open, and so sadly the Trustees had to take the decision to close the Sheffield office.”

  Sheffield City Council have informed us that they have been working closely with the affected families to explore future service options. For some families, the transfer to a new provision has already begun.

  The Council wrote to all families receiving a service from Crossroads to offer choices for future provision, including continuing to receive a delivered Befriending or Homecare Service, transferring to a Direct Payment, or transferring to a SNIPS service. Some families have already expressed a preference for their new service, and Sheffield City Council are supporting them through the transfer.

  Families who currently receive a service from Crossroads but have not yet chosen what new provision they would prefer, or who would like to talk to someone to understand the options better, are advised to call SNIPS Team Leader Simon Money on 0114 273 4017.

  Remember: You can also find lots of useful information about short breaks and direct payments on our website!