Why HBS Exists

HBS is not designed to be a generic care directory.

We focus on helping families connect with independent carers who have been through a clearer onboarding and verification process before their profile goes live.

This gives families more information before they decide who they want to speak with.

It also gives carers a better way to show their experience, training, values and approach to support.

Families using Personal Health Budgets often want more control over who provides support.

That makes sense.

Many families are not just looking for "a carer". They are looking for someone who:

• communicates well
• listens properly
• understands routines
• respects family preferences
• can build trust gradually
• feels calm and reliable
• is willing to learn how support works in that home
• understands that every person is different

HBS helps families make more informed decisions by giving them clearer information about each carer's background, verification status, training and experience.

Families stay in control of who they choose, who they meet, and how ongoing arrangements are agreed.

HBS is also built for good carers.

Many experienced carers are tired of being treated like shift fillers. They want better introductions, clearer expectations, and families who understand the value of proper onboarding.

HBS gives independent carers a place to show:

• their experience
• their skills
• their training
• their preferred type of support
• their availability
• their values
• their hourly rate
• their verification status

The aim is not just to connect carers with more work.

The aim is to help create better matches between families and carers, where both sides understand the support needs, expectations and communication style before anything begins.

Good support often starts before the first paid shift.

For many families, a calm introductory meeting can make a huge difference. It gives everyone time to talk, ask questions, understand routines and decide whether the relationship feels right.

This can be especially important where support involves:

• autism
• anxiety around new people
• children's support
• behavioural support
• complex routines
• communication differences
• personal care
• overnight support
• family-led routines

HBS encourages careful, family-led introductions because trust is built through conversation, preparation and time — not just a profile.

Families should be able to see more than a short bio and an hourly rate.

That is why HBS places strong emphasis on verification.

A verified profile helps families understand whether a carer has completed key onboarding checks before being introduced through the platform.

Verification may include:

HBS verification is designed to help families make more informed decisions. It does not replace the family's own judgement, conversations or responsibility for agreeing ongoing arrangements with an independent carer.

A certificate alone does not always tell the full story.

HBS focuses on whether carers have completed relevant training, whether their experience is clearly understood, and whether further onboarding or competency development may be helpful before introductions.

Where appropriate, HBS may use experienced trainers or train-the-trainer verified professionals to support 1:1 onboarding, skills development and confidence-building for carers using the platform.

This is not about rushing carers into support.

It is about preparation.

Better preparation can help families feel more confident and help carers feel clearer about the expectations before they meet a family.

HBS is built around family choice.

Families decide:

• which carers they want to view
• which carers they want to contact
• whether they want an introductory meeting
• whether a carer feels right for their situation
• how ongoing support arrangements are agreed

HBS supports the process by helping with information, verification, onboarding and introductions.

The ongoing support relationship is agreed directly between the family and the independent carer.

Our mission is simple:

To make finding independent carers safer, calmer and more transparent for PHB families.

We believe families deserve more than a list of names.

They deserve clear information, verified profiles, thoughtful introductions and carers who have been properly prepared before they are introduced.

And carers deserve a platform that values professionalism, training, communication and long-term relationships — not just availability.

HBS exists to bring those two sides together in a more trusted way.