FAMILY business Heritage Healthcare Trafford has been shortlisted for two awards - and one of them is a national accolade

The company, which provides homecare to the elderly in the Trafford borough, is in the running for the Great British Care Provider, North West Region, award.

This is in recognition of its ongoing commitment  to provide quality homecare services to their clients and for their low staff turnover.

The Company has also been shortlisted for the award of the best national start up in the UK, in recognition of its growth and sustainable and robust business model.

The company was established in 2015 by father and son Mark and Michael Collier and employs 50 staff.

Mark Collier, managing director, said: “ I still remember the past when my mother, who had Alzheimer’s Disease, received what I thought was a poor standard of homecare.

"When we set the business up after 12 months of research, I vowed that we would not be a sub-standard care company and our aim was to be Trafford’s best provider in the eyes of our clients, staff, healthcare professionals and the wider public at large."

He added: "The company’s success is in no small part down to the care staff at Heritage. Our staff are fantastic people, they do a terrific job.”

He continued: “I think that we are well on with our goal. We cannot afford to stand still and we are increasing our investment in the company to give us the edge.

"Next year is particularly exciting. We are going for Investors In People accreditation, this will involve all our staff. We cannot afford to stand still.

"We need to ensure that we have a first class sustainable service for many years to come. We are looking to recruit a further 50 people over the next 18 months. We need to recruit good, reliable and vocational people.

"Statistics show that 60 per cent of carers come into the sector for a job, 10 per cent to gain experience to go on to other things and the remaining 40 per cent come into it for vocational reasons.

"Evidence suggests that if an elderly person has a carer from the 60 per cent bracket then they are three times more likely to have a fall or break a part of their body.

"Our challenge among other things is to find more of those people in the 40 per cent segment, to train, nurture, and for them to participate in the business and keep our clients safe and well cared for whatever their individual needs may be.

"We promote from within as those who know our culture, are better able to understand our values and better equipped with development and support to go on and be successful at the job.”

Asked about the future of the local care sector he said: ”Providers are under many price pressures from increased regulation, increased costs of training, wage and pension pressures.

" Local authorities will have to curtail their health and social care budgets and will have to find different ways of doing things.

"A quality provider like ourselves keeps people out of hospital. Hospital admissions could be reduced if care at home was of a better overall quality. Older people are sometimes admitted to hospital  with an avoidable condition such as dehydration. More attention to detail can avoid this.

"People are living longer and are wanting to stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. We are seeing a greater demand for our 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year care packages which compare favourably price wise with the more expensive residential homes. Families know that their loved ones are receiving one to one care and support around the clock and such packages can be tailored to cater for social activities of choice.”

Mr Collier thanked Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Mike Kane for the interest he has shown.