Second year of nominations for Sheffield care provider
For a second year in a row, Sheffield-based homecare provider, Visiting Angels, has been named a finalist in the Great British Care Awards. With a mission to become the UK Care Sector’s Employer of Choice by 2022, the nomination for the Care Employer Award in the Yorkshire and Humber finals, sees their goal well within reach.
Managing Director, Dan Archer, says he is passionate about redefining what it means to be a carer in today’s society. Visiting Angels’ ethos puts the company’s carers at the heart of everything it does – something it calls being ‘carer-centric’. And it’s this approach that has earned Dan and his team a place in the 2019 finals.
“I’m extremely proud to be a finalist again. This is a testament to our determination and commitment to live and breathe the change we want to see in the care industry. I believe our results speak for themselves. The national average of care workers leaving within a year is 41%. Our results show that we are currently operating at a 13% carer turnover. I am certain that this is down to our carer-centric approach.”
The Great British Care Awards recognise and pay tribute to care providers that demonstrate outstanding excellence in their field of work. The Care Employer award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate employers’ commitment to care and how they are achieving success by delivering an excellent service.
Dan’s right-hand woman, Registered Manager, Tray Hall, has over 15 years’ expertise in the care industry. She handles the co-ordination and welfare of the carers, as well as liaison with clients and their families, ensuring the service is run to an exceptional level. During her careers, Tray has witnessed the impact that the pressures of short visits and minimum pay has on carers and clients alike – both of which Visiting Angels seeks to challenge with its approach to care.
“Visiting Angels is a catalyst for change,” says Tray. “Putting carers first is absolutely the right thing to do – the benefits are clear to see. Our carers – our Angels - feel valued and respected in their work which means they give the very best level of support to our clients. We’re incredibly proud to be different and I love that we’ve been recognised two years in a row; it means that we’re making waves and we’re well on our way to becoming an Employer of Choice in the region.”
Visiting Angels Sheffield has seen impressive growth since its launch in October 2017. The company now provides work to 46 local men and women and proudly delivers over 700 hours of care per week, supporting 76 families across Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham.
“I have worked for care companies before, but nothing compares!” says Visiting Angel, Natalie Baker. “The management team are really supportive and very approachable. They’ve helped me to get back to work, do the hours that suit my life as a single parent and have promptly dealt with any issues. I have a lovely client base that is growing, and l regularly receive good feedback from clients via my manager which is really rewarding.”
Visiting Angels ‘carer-centric’ approach includes tangible benefits such as a minimum £10ph wage, generous mileage allowance, regular car servicing and enrolment into the company pension scheme. In addition, the company works hard to foster a culture of inclusion and wellbeing through regular team meetings, access to counselling services and social events to help to ensure everyone has a voice and feels valued. The business’ core belief being that ‘a happy carer, is a good carer’.
Winners will be announced on 22nd November during a black-tie ceremony at the National Railway Museum in York.
-ends-
For more information, or to speak with Dan or Tray directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk
Image: Dan Archer, Managing Director, and Tray Hall, Registered Care Manager.