Staffordshire man brings unique approach to care

When Andrew Lofts became aware of the overwhelming demand for good quality care in Staffordshire, launching a new in-home care provider was his way of providing a solution. Visiting Angels plans to meet the growing need for social care, whilst simultaneously raising the standards of care within the region.

“I’ve noticed just how much people are crying out for a gold-star service,” said Andrew. “Especially during this difficult time, quality care delivery is even more important than ever before. What’s exciting is how we’re bringing something different. By addressing and reducing issues with carer retention, which can seriously impact the quality of care being delivered, Visiting Angels is in a position to prompt change. I’m determined, along with the rest of my team, to lead the way.”

That distinct difference is what Visiting Angels calls being ‘carer-centric’. Put simply, they treat caregivers with the utmost respect, valuing them for their commitment and rewarding them both financially and with opportunities for career development. Issues within the industry usually leave caregivers feeling little-to-no appreciation and without any form of support – this is exactly what Visiting Angels is determined to change.

“Caregivers are usually underappreciated when, in reality, it should be the complete opposite. They’re the ones delivering an essential service to people who need support in their homes, so they deserve to be treated with the utmost respect. We want to remove all of the barriers that make their jobs difficult. By having minimum visits of one hour, we allow our caregivers to have longer, more efficient care visits and pay for travel time between appointments, which isn’t a standard requirement for other providers. By treating them fairly, they will not only be able to deliver quality care, but they’ll enjoy doing so.”

On September 1st, Andrew and his team received approval to operate from the Care Quality Commission. Based at the George Hodges building in Burton-on-Trent, Visiting Angels is on the hunt for local care workers to satisfy the growing demand for its service. Within the next 12 months, they hope to bring at least 15 jobs to the area.

Undeterred by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrew recognises that their essential service continues to be sought after. Visiting Angels hopes to alleviate the pressure that has been placed on local hospitals by supporting people to get back into their homes.

“I’m proud to be in the position where I can serve my community and make a difference to people’s lives. In the current situation, it’s imperative for us to focus on the health and safety of our caregivers and clients, whilst ensuring that the vital work gets done. We’ll be assessing each case carefully and highlight the ways in which we can help, whilst showcasing the measures we have in place to make it as safe as possible. Despite these challenges, we’re determined to raise the bar for social care in the region.”

Visiting Angels East Staffordshire will serve the families of Lichfield, Burton-on-Trent and South Derbyshire, including the surrounding villages. For more information, visit www.visiting-angels.co.uk/eaststaffs or call Andrew on 01283 319 400.

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Editor’s notes

For more information, or to speak with Andrew directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk

Images attached: Andrew Lofts, Managing Director of Visiting Angels Staffordshire.


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About Visiting Angels

In 2017, the Visiting Angels brand came to the UK under the expert leadership of Dan Archer. A franchise veteran and passionate ambassador for quality care at home, Dan launched the first UK office in October 2017. In less than 12 months, Visiting Angels Sheffield proved to be one of our most successful new franchises. Ever. Dan and his team were awarded ‘Best International Office’ at our 2018 Annual Conference in recognition of their exceptional performance and commitment to the Visiting Angels UK mission. Most care businesses, and in turn, most care franchises, will tell you that they put their clients first. And whilst we don’t disagree with the sentiment, we take a slightly different view on how to achieve it. We believe that to truly be successful in this pursuit, and to change the future of social care in the UK, we must actually put our carers at the heart of the business. For without them, there is no business. We describe this approach as "carer-centric".