Home Instead Senior Care Dartford welcomed local MP, Gareth Johnson, to their offices last week to display the progress the business has made since opening in September 2019.
The home care company, owned by husband and wife team, Ram Chandra Thapa and Christina Uppenkamp, provides high-quality home care services to elderly people in the local area. Their services range from companionship and home help, to specialist dementia and respite care.
Mr Johnson last visited Home Instead when the business became CQC registered in October 2019, so Ram and Christina were keen to update him about how the company has seen success and growth in its first year of operating despite the many obstacles 2020 has thrown at them.
The office has expanded its services, currently employing 30 members of staff who have provided 6,250 hours of care to elderly people in the local area. They have also enrolled 20% of their staff on NVQ levels 2 and 3 training. Mr Johnson was impressed to hear that the office aims to recruit 50 new caregivers over the next twelve months due to increasing demand for their services.
They took the difficulties of the nationwide lockdown in their stride, easily adapting by creating a paperless office and organising for all office staff members to work from home.
Furthermore, the office continued to provide training via virtual Zoom calls and online classes, allowing their caregivers to continue developing their skills throughout the lockdown.
Mr Johnson expressed his sympathies regarding the difficulties lockdown presented for many businesses but was impressed with the support that Home Instead provided to their staff members to keep them safe throughout lockdown. He also provided a local community update, explaining measures and initiatives being taken locally to support the community through this difficult time.
Ram commented: “It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to welcome Mr Johnson back to our offices after a year and discuss our growth and successes despite the effects of the nationwide lockdown. He was particularly impressed with our future recruitment plans during a time of mass redundancies, and also expressed pleasure in how well we have been able to keep our caregivers and clients safe. Many thanks to Mr Johnson for taking time out of his busy schedule to give us a visit!”
For more information about Home Instead Dartford, please ring 01322 923750 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/dartford.