Homecare company expands into Lancaster and creates 15 new jobs

Westmorland Homecare has opened a new branch in Lancaster.

It is manned by experienced managers and the company has taken on 15 new home care assistants to look after people in the Lancaster and Morecambe area.

And it is hoped that more staff will be taken on in future as its operation grows in this part of north Lancashire.

Westmorland Homecare provides hundreds of hours of care each week, which enables anyone aged 18 and above, including elderly and often frail people, to live independently in their own home.

Its services include home care, such as help with housekeeping and meal preparation, and personal care, such as help with dressing, bathing and getting in and out of bed.

Earlier this year the Kendal branch was given an ‘outstanding’ rating in all five key areas following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.

The new branch is based in offices at Brock Street in Lancaster.

“We will be covering Lancaster, Morecambe, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, Halton, Heysham and smaller surrounding villages,” said Care Manager Christie Parker, who has worked in the care sector for 10 years.

“Since Westmorland Homecare was established in South Lakeland and Poulton-le-Fylde we have had a growing number of inquiries for the Lancaster and Morecambe area. We can see a real need for high quality, reliable care within the area and wish to develop the service to meet that need.

“More and more people are choosing to receive care within their own homes, no matter what their need and we believe that everyone should have that opportunity. We believe passionately that care should be wholly focused on the client’s wishes and always do our upmost to achieve that.”

Miss Parker said the office would be a hub of activity, providing staff support, training and organising care for people in the community.

“As the service grows, we will have an ongoing recruitment process to provide care for the increasing number of clients. We have a dedicated Recruitment Coordinator Katie Pennington and Administration Coordinator Sarah Macaulay, who bring a wealth of experience.

“We look for kind-hearted people who have a passion to deliver outstanding care. Experience is not essential, as we provide full training from day one. We benchmark all recruitment on the ‘mum-test’ and only employ people who we would be happy to provide care for one of our own family members.”

She added: “The team and I are thrilled to be opening this new branch in Lancaster. We are looking forward to meeting new staff members, clients and their families.”

Westmorland Homecare was founded in 2017 by Doctors Josh Macaulay and Chris Moss. Both had experience of caring for people in their NHS roles as an A&E doctor and anaesthetist but wanted to help people more than while they were just in hospital.

As well as the Lancaster and South Lakeland branches, they also have a branch in the Fylde coast and Wyre district, which looks after clients in Blackpool, Poulton, Lytham and surrounding areas.

“We believe that every individual should be free to remain in their home as long as they wish, should be able to be as active and independent as ever before and should continue to have rich and fulfilling lives,” said Dr Moss.

“We want our clients to thrive and live life to the full, no matter what age they are. That is our mission and something we are dedicated to delivering every day.”

Westmorland Homecare’s Lancaster branch is based at 25 Brock Street, Lancaster, LA1 1UR. Its telephone number is 01524 956240. The office is open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.