30,000 hours of care helping North Yorkshire residents remain independent at home
A home care provider supporting families across Harrogate and North Yorkshire is celebrating a major milestone after delivering more than 30,000 hours of care, helping local people remain living safely and independently in the place they know best, their own homes.
Visiting Angels North Yorkshire West, based on Kings Road in Harrogate, has reached the landmark less than six years after opening in December 2020. Since then, the business has grown to a team of 25, including 22 caregivers, and now provides around 200 hours of care each week for approximately 30 clients across the region.
Behind every hour of care is a personal story. Over the years, the team has helped people recover their confidence following illness, supported individuals to remain at home rather than move into residential care and reunited families during some of life’s most challenging moments.
On one occasion, a caregiver’s quick thinking saved a client’s life after arriving for a scheduled visit and discovering they had collapsed in their home with the gas left on. In another, the team supported a client to enjoy seven more months with their loved ones after they had been told they were unlikely to survive beyond a matter of weeks.
Zohaib Shahid, Managing Director of Visiting Angels North Yorkshire West, said:
Thirty thousand hours is a huge milestone, but for us it isn’t about the number. It’s about every conversation, every visit and every person we’ve been privileged to support over the past few years.
We know that most people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, surrounded by familiar people, memories and routines. Helping make that possible, while giving families reassurance and peace of mind, is what motivates our team every single day.
I’m incredibly proud of what our caregivers have achieved. Their compassion, professionalism and commitment have helped us build trusted relationships throughout our community, and we’re excited to continue growing so we can support even more local people in the years ahead.
Visiting Angels’ ‘carer-centric’ approach sets it apart from many other providers in the home care sector. Caregivers are empowered to build meaningful relationships with clients through financial recognition including paying a minimum £15ph, ongoing training and the time to deliver consistent, high-quality support. With an incredible sector-busting 90% staff retention rate, clients get to see the same familiar faces when care is delivered.
By building its service around supporting and valuing caregivers, the team also believes strongly in helping older people remain socially connected, active and independent both inside and outside the home. The Visiting Angels team has become an active part of the local community, supporting dementia cafés, fundraising for local Rotary clubs, taking part in charity walks and working alongside organisations including the Alzheimer’s Society, local hospices, schools and community groups across Harrogate and North Yorkshire.
The business has also expanded into new service areas, introduced specialist care services and built a reputation for high-quality, person-centred care, earning positive feedback from clients, families and healthcare professionals alike.
As demand for home care continues to grow, Visiting Angels North Yorkshire West is planning further expansion, with ambitions to grow its team, introduce additional specialist services and continue helping more people live independently in their own homes.