A North Yorkshire home care business is set to expand after celebrating its first year of operation with Rishi Sunak MP.
Blossom Home Care Ltd, based in Northallerton, was launched by qualified nurse Fiona Leggott and her farmer husband John last September to help elderly people live independent lives in their own homes for as long as possible.
Since then the business has flourished and Fiona and John are looking to recruit more staff and expand their services, the core of which is to offer visits to elderly people in outlying areas that last a minimum of 50 minutes.
Blossom Home Care Ltd celebrated its first anniversary with a reception at its Evolution Business Centre base in Northallerton, attended by the Richmond MP, the Mayor of Northallerton Cllr Claire Palmer, Cllr Caroline Dickinson of Hambleton District and North Yorkshire County councils, service users, families and carers.
Rishi Sunak, said he had been delighted to attend the party and to meet the staff and many of service's clients.
"John and Fiona have created a brilliant business from scratch and it is very gratifying to see a small enterprise grow so fast and sustainably,” he said. "They have clearly identified a need for affordable home care in a rural setting and that is the secret of their success. I wish them the best of luck as they build their business, fulfilling a rural need."
The company currently employs 30carers but plans to increase its staff to cope with demand from clients across North Yorkshire.
A recruitment open day will be held at its offices on September 30 and all those interested in a career in caring are invited to attend between 10am and 4pm.
In response to demand, Blossom Home Care Ltd also plans to offer dementia awareness training on October 18, from 10am until 11.30am as an introduction for those wishing to become a ‘dementia friend’. The training session is open to all businesses as well as members of the public but spaces are limited so advance booking is requested. Contact carri@blossomhomecare.co.uk.
Fiona Leggott said: “We have received a fantastic response to our service and to maintain the high levels of attention we demand we now have to recruit more carers.
“Our service users, many of them in outlying farming areas of the county, depend upon seeing our carers for a minimum of 50 minutes per visit and we will not reduce our commitment to them in order to stretch our resources.
“We provide uniforms, mobile phones and training and we pay above the usual rate at £9 per hour, plus mileage expenses and paid holidays.”
Husband and co-director John, a farmer at Hutton Bonville, near Northallerton, added: “We expected a good response to the business because we knew, from our own experience of farmers and rural communities, that people like to live in their own homes – on their farms – as long as possible when they become elderly.
“The response we have received in our first year of operation has been terrific and has shown that people want and need a high level of very personal service to allow them to live independent lives at home, where they are happiest. Staff recruitment is vital to allow us to expand the service but recruitment comes first – we won’t put a strain on our existing resources to meet the demand.”
During time with clients, Blossom Home Care staff can provide help with washing and dressing, housework, shopping, preparing meals, the management of hygiene and administering medication.
They will also accompany clients to appointments, social outings such as to the cinema, restaurants and activity clubs, and even go on holiday with them, subject to positive risk assessment.
Blossom Home Care can be contacted on 01609 751644, by email at hello@blossomhomecare.co.uk, or through the website www.blossomhomecare.co.uk.