Local care provider nominated for two prestigious awards

5 years ago

Sheffield-based homecare provider, Visiting Angels, is celebrating this week after being named as a finalist in not one, but two categories in the Yorkshire and Humber finals of the 2018 Great British Care Awards.

Launched in October 2017, Visiting Angels’ mission is to become the UK Care Sector’s Employer of Choice by 2022. Managing Director, Dan Archer, says he is passionate about redefining what it means to be a caregiver. Believing that problems in the industry can be overcome with better pay, work related benefits and more recognition for the incredible work carried out by those who choose to care for a living.

Nominated for the ‘Care Employer of the Year’ award, the mission is clearly well underway and the impact on staff is already being felt company-wide as careworker, Lynsey Hague, explains:

“Other companies I’ve worked for have been very task-orientated - they’d overload you with calls and show no consistency or commitment between you and your clients. That’s where Visiting Angels are different. We are all about person-centred care and are encouraged to give clients the support they need and deserve. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, I truly enjoy my work and feel extremely honoured to be part of the company.”

Registered Manager, Tray Hall, is also a finalist in the category: ‘Home Care Registered Manager of the Year’. Tray works side-by-side with Dan, handling the co-ordination and welfare of the carers, ensuring an exceptional level of service that runs smoothly for everyone concerned. Tray has been in the care industry for 14 years and, after witnessing the pressure that short term visits and minimum pay has on carers, knew Visiting Angels was a catalyst for change.

“I have a massive sense of pride when I say I work for Visiting Angels. We’re incredibly proud to be different and this nomination reminds me why I do what I do. I love that we are being recognised; it’s a huge achievement to be a newcomer but still be nominated for such prestigious awards.”

The Great British Care Awards recognise and pay tribute to care providers that demonstrate outstanding excellence within their field of work, paying particular interest to those individuals that go above and beyond.

“I’m extremely proud and humbled to be a finalist in both categories,” says Dan. “It’s a notable date in the care sector’s calendar and I’m honoured to be involved. My team have all worked hard this past year and it’s a testament to their determination and commitment – this would be impossible without them.”

Since opening its doors in October 2017, the office has seen impressive growth. The company now provides work to 26 local men and women. Visiting Angels Sheffield proudly deliver 330 hours of care per week, supporting 31 families in Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham.

Dan puts the company’s impressive growth down to their mission and values: “We pledge to be carer-centric, meaning we put carers at the heart of everything we do. For without them, there is no business. It’s important for us to stay true to our core values – it’s how we’ve been able to grow so quickly and robustly in a year. These award nominations are an indication of how far we’ve actually come!”

Visiting Angels ‘carer-centric’ approach includes offering a minimum £10ph wage with guaranteed annual increases, a generous mileage allowance, regular car servicing and valeting, a mobile phone and much more. Regular team meetings and social events help to ensure everyone feels valued. The core belief being that ‘a happy carer, is a good carer’.

Winners will be announced on 17th November during a sparkling black-tie ceremony at the National Railway Museum in York. These finalist placings come hot on the heels of Visiting Angels’ most recent title of ‘Best International Office’ awarded to Dan and his team at the company’s global conference in August.

Visiting Angels Sheffield is the UK flagship branch of the in-home care-provider that has over 600 offices worldwide. For more information about the support provided in South Yorkshire, call 0114 433 3000 or visit www.visiting-angels.co.uk

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Images attached: High-resolution shots of Dan and Tray.

If you would like more information, please contact Liam Pitts at liam@revpr.co.uk or 07395641523.

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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".