Praise for volunteers

FROM the left: Helan Graham (MD), Amy Mowbray, Nicola Broadbent, Anita Roberts, Rachael Cook, Nazia Begum and Stephanie Doherty (MD)

A HEARTFELT 'thank you' is being given to hard-working team members at trusted home care company Caremark (Oldham) during national Carers Week (June 12 - 18).

Professional and supportive, the 50 dedicated care and support workers and office team are always on hand to provide the best person-centred, compassionate service for clients and their relatives.

And where better to heap praise on them than from their brand new premises in County End Business Centre in Springhead.

Now in its sixth year, the company moved from nearby Stamford Street to their spacious and modern ground floor offices in April, which boasts a dedicated reception area, flexible meeting room for hire and ample parking spaces.

But while their location has changed, one thing that has stayed consistent is the highest level of care and compassion given by the fully trained staff to their long standing clients.

Company directors Stephanie Doherty and Helan Graham said: "Our staff are the face of Caremark and it's really important to us when they are out in their uniform representing us that they are proud to do so.

"Our well-trained carers are passionate about the work they do and offer only quality care to their clients, many of whom have been with us from the start.

"They really are part of the Caremark family and we couldn't do without them."

Set up in 2011 by Stephanie and Helan, Caremark (Oldham) offers flexible care plans to fit adults, young people and vulnerable children in their own home and community.

These include:

• companionship - where a care and support worker spends time with a relative

• social activities - taking customers on shopping trips, visits to hairdressers or to the local social club

• domestic duties - help with chores

• respite care - trained and experienced professionals can give carers a well-deserved break.

The company also offers live-in care where a support worker lives with a client and provides round-the-clock care.

And, quite uniquely, Caremark have a team of specialist dementia care and support workers on hand to ensure people living with dementia retain their independence and dignity for as long as possible, while living in their own homes.

Caremark staff receive PEG feed training and emergency CPR to name a few, and the company was awarded a good rating in its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in August 2015.

Having outgrown their Stamford Street base, the new location is benefitting both clients as well as staff.

Helan said: "We wanted a bright, new atmosphere from where we could provide a warm welcome to clients but was also conducive to growing the business.

"Working from County End Business Centre means that we have a dedicated space for clients to speak to us about what services they need or just to find out more about us if a relative or loved one is needing a bit of help.

"We also have a meeting room which can be used for confidential discussions with clients or can be hired out.

"But it also enables the full Caremark team to work together in the same office."

The move has also brought with it the ability to increase staff numbers thanks to a recruitment drop in session every Thursday from 10am to 12noon or 2pm to 3pm, where new recruits can find out more about becoming a valued member of the Caremark team.

Stephanie said: "We've made the application process smoother so if a carer comes to speak to us with the right paper work, they could be working for us just a week after all background checks are approved.

"We are always looking to recruit and our retention rate is very high, which we are very proud of.

"It shows that our staff are happy to work here and that our values of excellence, teamwork and loyalty are shared throughout the company."

Caremark care and support worker Nicola Broadbent agrees.

She said: "I really enjoy working for Caremark.

"I love helping different people on a daily basis and doing different things.

"My colleagues are all very nice and we make a good team."