Huntingdon care provider introduces 'formula for change'
At a time when senior social care is in the spotlight, a new in-home care provider has launched to be a catalyst for change. Taking the lead of Visiting Angels, Ian Lintott, aims to raise the standards of care in the region, whilst providing much-needed support to both clients and their families.
“I’m extremely proud to now be in a position to help make an impact in the care sector,” said Ian, “Not just in my village, but for the whole of Cambridgeshire. It’s always been my ambition to build a business with a strong message at the core. I’m determined to raise quality standards and want to be one of the first people taking steps in the movement to appreciating care staff with our different approach: I’m confident that Visiting Angels has the best formula for helping to do just that.”
That ‘formula’ is what Visiting Angels calls ‘carer-centric’. Simply put, it means treating care staff at the centre of everything we do, valuing them for their commitment and rewarding them both financially and with the opportunity for career development. Issues in the industry usually leave carers feeling little-to-no appreciation and without any form of progression – this is exactly what Ian and the Visiting Angels team are determined to change.
“We take pride in how we differ from other care providers. We commit to giving our caregivers a better wage, provide longer care visits with clients to ensure job satisfaction and incentivise them to deliver premium-quality standard of care. The purpose is to make them feel more valued in their role and enjoy their work which, in turn, will result in them delivering a much better quality of service. We call them our ‘Angels’ so we want to make sure they are treated that way.”
On 18th August, Ian and Sam Kingston, his Registered Care Manager, received approval to operate from the Care Quality Commission. Based at Ermine Business Park in Huntingdon, Visiting Angels is already on the hunt for local care workers to satisfy the growing demand for its service. Within the next 12 months, the pair hope to bring at least 50 new jobs to the area.
Sam has worked in the care industry for almost a decade and has developed a passion for in-home care. In that time, she has realised that staff should be at the heart of the organisation as their happiness translates to clients. Visiting Angels aligns perfectly with those values.
“I began my career as a support worker before progressing to manage a large care team, to now being at Visiting Angels. In my experience, it’s always been when carers are treated fairly and really treasured as a crucial part of the team that we achieve great results. It was clear to me then that imbedding those values from day one was for the greater good.”
In the wake of COVID-19, the pair recognise that their essential service is in demand more than ever before. Visiting Angels hopes to alleviate the pressure that has been place on local hospitals by helping people get back into their own homes.
“The care sector offers some big challenges, but I’m determined to solve them. I’m committed to highlighting in-home care as a viable career, whilst also setting myself a target of becoming the biggest care provider in Cambridgeshire. Right now, at this difficult time, we’re in a position to change lives and I’m confident that, as a team, we can do just that!”
Visiting Angels Cambridgeshire will serve families of Cambridge City, South & East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Fenland. For more information, visit www.visiting-angels.co.uk/cambridgeshire or call Ian on 01223 455 945.
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Editor’s notes:
For more information, or to speak with Ian or Sam directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk
Images attached: Ian Lintott, Managing Director, and Sam Kingston, Registered Care Manager