Guild Care explains value of its home care service

In addition to making sure care home residents have been safe and comfortable during this last difficult year, care workers have worked tirelessly to support those living in their own homes.

Home care services are invaluable. They offer care to individuals who need it but do not require the around-the-clock support of a care home. This enables older people and vulnerable adults to lead better-quality lives while remaining safe and comfortable in their own homes.

Guild Care’s home care service, which I am proud to say is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, was established in 1994 and offers support to those living in Worthing, Lancing and Shoreham. The service is staffed by our loving and professional community care assistants, who provide personal care and assistance with tasks such as shopping and medication.

The service’s registered manager, Lacey Thomas, was kind enough to talk to our communications team about the importance of home care services.

She said: “It’s about having a support network of carers that can help with minimal to complex care. It could be down to just having company. Some of the visits we do are simply ‘check visits’. People might not have family and they just want to know there’s someone that will check on their wellbeing so that they’re safe.”

Lacey was quick to highlight the value of the social aspect of home care. She continued: “A lot of our clients are unable to go out. Especially now during the pandemic, people are very isolated. So, I think home care plays a large part in the community in making sure people are safe and cared for.

“To have support from a regular carer – and that’s absolutely key, regular – is important. They build up a really good relationship. It just makes people feel safe and is good for their mental health. Can you imagine seeing no one? It must be so difficult.”

Asked what in particular makes Guild Care’s home care service special, Lacey answered: “I think it starts with Guild Care as an organisation more widely. We’re a great charity with such a level of support. For example, we can pull upon our director of nursing, clinical governance and quality for anything to do with specialist care – a small home care agency wouldn’t have that support.

“Also, we’ve got a health and safety officer on hand, so if we have any queries or concerns, we can get the reassurance that what we’re doing is spot on. And we really care about our clients. Everybody is so passionate: our carers, our community support workers, my office team – everyone.”

Finally, asked how she would describe her service’s community care assistants in three words, Lacey replied: “Caring, compassionate… I can’t do it in three words!

“I would have to say that they have been extremely brave during the pandemic. It was something we never envisioned being a part of our lives and there have been so many new things we’ve had to learn. However, I don’t think I’ve had one care worker in my service say, ‘I’m not doing this’. Our staff are amazing and dedicated – dedicated to Guild Care and our clients.”

If you would like to find out more about Guild Care’s home care service, you can visit our website or call our friendly customer service team on 01903 327327 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm.