Local care company hits 1,750 weekly care hours milestone
Local in-home care provider, Visiting Angels, celebrated a momentous milestone this week – delivering 1,750 hours of care to local residents. Just six months after reaching their first goal of 1,000 weekly care hours in February, August saw them smash through their second target. Managing Director of the Sheffield-based company, Dan Archer, is thrilled to see their growth during such a challenging time.
“To say I’m proud of the team would be a complete understatement. The current situation is certainly providing a challenge, but my carers and office staff have faced it with such pride and commitment that this achievement is really for them. It’s from their dedication and genuine kindness that we’re able to make a true difference in people’s lives every single day. For some that means needing extra company, for others it’s the difference between being able to stay in the comfort of their own home instead of having to go into residential care. To almost double our service in just six months is quite profound.
“This milestone illustrates just how effective our ‘carer-centric’ approach is. We put staff at the heart of the business; paying them generously for the amazing work they do, rewarding them for their service and ensuring they have enough time between care visits. This is clearly something that our local clients enjoy as they can rest assured that they’ll receive a happy and fulfilled carer each and every time. Because, as well as know, a happy carer is a good carer.”
Visiting Angels launched in Sheffield in late 2017, the first at-home care provider in the region to commit to being carer-centric. Dan, 45, is from Sheffield himself and made the decision to join the care industry after he witnessed, first-hand, how damaging an unreliable and poor-quality care service can be – not just for the recipient, but for the family and friends too.
“When I was younger, my nan’s health meant that she required support and it was heart-breaking to see the lack of quality care she received. Within eight weeks, she was seen by 12 different carers, none of whom were around long enough to learn anything about her, or us for that matter. Some visits were missed altogether, whilst the ones that did happen had no real structure. It highlighted just how unstable the relationships were and that no standards were being kept at all.
“The national average of care workers leaving a business is 41%. Our results indicate that we are currently operating at a 13% carer turnover – less than half the national average. I’m confident this is down to our approach and having a team that feels valued and appreciated,” said Dan.
Visiting Angels is currently supporting 120 clients and employs a team of almost 100 caregivers and office staff. For two-and-a-half years, the passion of the company’s values for creating a better environment for carers has emanated throughout the workforce – Clare Appleby is a caregiver and has been with the Visiting Angels for over 2 years.
“I was new to care when I joined the Angels. The management team are really supportive and very approachable. They have helped me to get onto the care sector, do the hours that suit my life as a parent and have promptly dealt with any issues raised. I have a lovely client base that is growing, and l regularly receive good feedback from clients via my manager which is really rewarding.”
For more information, visit www.visiting-angels.co.uk/southyorks
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Editor’s notes:
For more information, or to speak with Dan directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk
Images attached: Dan Archer, Managing Director of Visiting Angels, and Registered Manager, Tray Hall.