Why HBS exists
HBS was created to give Personal Health Budget families, direct payment families and private clients a clearer way to find verified independent carers.
Families deserve more than rushed introductions, scattered messages or unverified profiles. HBS helps organise the information families need before deciding who they want to speak with — including experience, availability, rates, DBS evidence, references, training evidence and verification level.
What HBS exists to solve
Finding independent carers should be clearer, safer and less stressful.
For many families using a Personal Health Budget, direct payment or private funding, finding the right independent carer can be difficult. Families may be expected to find, compare and arrange support themselves, but the information available is often limited, inconsistent or hard to verify.
Who has actually been checked?
Families often need to understand whether identity, DBS evidence, references and training evidence have been reviewed before requesting an introduction.
Who has the right experience?
Support needs can be personal or complex. Families need clearer information about experience, support areas, communication style and availability.
How do introductions stay safe and fair?
Rushed introductions or direct messages can feel unclear. HBS uses protected introductions so both sides understand the process before contact details are released.
What happens if support changes?
Carers may move on, reduce availability or no longer be the right fit. HBS helps families stay connected to a wider verified independent carer network.
HBS exists to make this process calmer, clearer and more transparent — without taking control away from families or independent carers.
Why PHB families need a clearer route
Choice and control only work when families can access clear information.
Personal Health Budgets and direct payments can give families more choice over how support is arranged. But choice can also bring responsibility. HBS helps by giving families a structured platform to explore independent carer profiles before deciding who they want to speak with.
Clearer comparison
Better preparation
Family-led control
Support for changing needs
How HBS supports safer introductions
Clearer evidence. Protected introductions. Family-led decisions.
- STEP 01
Carers build a profile
Independent carers create a profile showing experience, support areas, availability, rates and support approach.
- STEP 02
Evidence is reviewed
HBS reviews key evidence before approved profile information becomes visible, including DBS evidence, references and training evidence where relevant.
- STEP 03
Verification level is displayed
Carers can progress through HBS Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 verification levels depending on what has been reviewed.
- STEP 04
Families request introductions
Families choose which carers they want to speak with and request protected introductions through HBS.
- STEP 05
Both sides accept terms
Before contact details or meeting links are released, both the family and carer accept HBS Introduction Terms.
- STEP 06
Families decide directly
The family and independent carer speak directly and decide whether the arrangement feels right. HBS does not manage or direct ongoing support.
HBS Verification Levels
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 help families understand what evidence has been reviewed.
Core Verified Independent Carer
Level 1 means the independent carer has completed HBS core verification checks before profile visibility.
- Identity evidence reviewed
- Enhanced DBS evidence reviewed
- Right-to-work information reviewed where applicable
- References reviewed
- Profile reviewed before publication
Interviewed & Training Evidence Reviewed
Level 2 means the independent carer has completed Level 1 checks plus a professional interview and relevant training evidence review.
- Everything in Level 1
- Professional interview completed
- Onboarding expectations discussed
- Communication and values discussed
- Relevant training evidence reviewed
Enhanced / Complex Support Pathway
Level 3 is designed for carers who have completed Level 1 and Level 2, plus HBS-recognised training or competency development through a verified trainer, approved provider or verified complex care nurse.
- Everything in Level 1 and Level 2
- HBS-recognised training or competency development completed
- Complex support evidence reviewed
- Specialist badges displayed where approved
What HBS does not do
Clear boundaries help protect families, carers and the platform.
HBS is not a care agency and does not take over the family’s role in choosing or directing support.
- HBS does not directly provide regulated personal care
- HBS does not employ carers
- HBS does not operate payroll
- HBS does not manage rotas
- HBS does not allocate carers to shifts
- HBS does not supervise care delivery
- HBS does not clinically sign off carers
- HBS does not manage care packages
- HBS does not replace family decision-making
- HBS does not guarantee suitability for every situation
- HBS is not an emergency service
Independent carers operate independently. Families choose carers directly and remain responsible for agreeing and directing ongoing support arrangements.
Who HBS supports
A platform built around families, carers and professionals.
PHB families and private clients
HBS supports families who want a clearer way to explore independent carer profiles, request protected introductions and stay connected to future introduction support.
- Personal Health Budgets
- Direct payments
- Private funding
- Children’s support
- Adult support
- Complex routines
- Overnight support
Independent carers
HBS helps carers build a verified profile, show training evidence clearly, set their own rate and receive family-led introduction requests.
- Profile builder
- Evidence upload
- Verification levels
- Specialist badges
- Availability
- Rates
- Introduction requests
Professionals and representatives
HBS can support case managers, deputies, advocates, solicitors and brokers who want to refer families looking for independent carer options.
- Refer a family
- Clearer profiles
- Transparent fees
- Family-led introductions
- Route to raise concerns
Why HBS is different
Not a generic directory. Not a staffing agency. Not a care provider.
HBS sits between informal searching and traditional care agency models. It is designed for families who want more choice and control, but also want clearer information before making decisions.
More structured than informal searching
HBS gives families reviewed evidence, verification levels and protected introductions instead of relying only on messages, screenshots or word of mouth.
More flexible than a traditional agency model
Families choose independent carers directly and carers remain independent, setting their own rates and deciding which introductions to accept.
Built around PHB families
HBS is designed for Personal Health Budget, direct payment and private family-led support arrangements.
Transparent platform fees
Carer rates and HBS platform fees are shown clearly before arrangements proceed.
How HBS is funded
Transparent platform fees keep the service sustainable.
HBS charges a transparent platform fee on top of the independent carer’s hourly rate. This fee helps cover the platform, verification administration, profile hosting, evidence review, protected introductions, support hours records, payment administration where used and the complaints and concerns process.
Standard Support
Complex Support
High-Complexity Support
VAT may apply to HBS platform fees where required.
Trust, safety and concerns
A clearer route to raise platform concerns.
HBS provides a route for families and carers to raise concerns about profiles, introductions, training evidence, off-platform requests, support hours, payments or platform use.
- Review platform concerns
- Request more information
- Pause a carer profile while reviewing
- Restrict platform access where appropriate
- Review training evidence or badges
- Record outcomes
- Signpost urgent safeguarding routes
If someone is at immediate risk of harm, call 999 or contact the relevant local authority/NHS safeguarding route. HBS is not an emergency service.
Our vision
Making family-led support easier to access, compare and organise.
HBS is building a platform where families can access clearer information, carers can present their experience professionally, and introductions can happen in a more transparent way.
Our goal is to help PHB families feel less alone when looking for independent support, while giving good independent carers a professional place to be seen.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about HBS, verification, fees and protected introductions.
Start with HBS
Whether you are a family looking for independent support or a carer wanting to build a verified profile, HBS gives you a clearer way to begin.
HBS is an introductory, verification and platform support service. HBS does not directly provide regulated personal care services, employ carers, manage rotas, supervise care delivery or direct ongoing support. Independent carers operate independently and families choose carers directly.