Following the government announcements in January 2023 around plans to discharge patients from hospitals sooner, freeing up beds and capacity for incoming patients, many UK home care providers have expressed concern at the reliance on home care services that are already stretched.
Pressures on the health service, particularly around significant staffing shortages, are not new. With around 13,000 people on hospital wards who are medically fit to return home, these plans intend to emphasise professional home care as a support service to allow people to recover in the familiarity and comfort of their homes.
Guardian Angel Carers, a UK-wide private home care provider, has explained why its home care franchise model, across 16 territories locally owned including home care Fareham, run and managed by franchise holders, provides a solution that both improves the quality and personalisation of home care in communities and allows home care agencies to scale capacity quickly and safely to meet unprecedented demand.
Updates on Waiting Times and Shortages in UK Home Care
Over the past few months uncertainty around the availability of public healthcare services has spiked with an ongoing and sweeping series of strikes and industrial action, mass reports of the inaccessibility of GP services, and various government initiatives, primarily focused on referring people elsewhere, whether to pharmacies or home care providers.
As it stands, the waiting times between local authorities vary widely. Still, a lack of confidence in finding appropriately skilled home care support means many families look for alternative ways to manage the care and welfare of themselves or their loved ones.
- In February 2022, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services reported that 506,131 people were waiting for home care support to begin or pending an assessment or care review to determine the care required to remain independent at home.
- Waiting lists for home care assessments and provision almost doubled between 2021 and 2022, with care worker shortages equivalent to 170,000 hours of undelivered home care per week.
- Vacancy rates in home care agencies have continued to rise, with an average workforce gap of 13.5%.
These figures are similar to those provided by the Care Quality Commission, which found that 2.2 million hours of care in the home were not delivered in quarter one of 2022 because of limited capacity and that 37% of people on waiting lists felt unsupported.
Comparatively, privately-owned home care franchises can deliver home care support in as little as one to two days, deploying qualified carers and managing care provision through local care coordinators and managers.
The Business Case for a Private Home Care Franchise Model
Private home care agencies and localised franchises adhere to all the quality standards and regulatory requirements applied everywhere else in the health and social care department, with registration and inspections conducted by the relevant local regulatory body and minimum qualification thresholds applied to carers working in any capacity within the community.
However, this is where the comparison ends, as companies such as Guardian Angel Carers report astonishing levels of success both in scaling to meet needs, responsiveness in urgent care scenarios, and long-term workforce retention.
Case studies indicate that, with an initial average investment of £28,500, excluding VAT, individual branches achieve an operating profit of between 15% and 20% within three years, showing how it is possible to run a sustainable home care business while meeting the needs of care recipients on a long-term basis.
Vikki Craig-Vickers, Head of Operations at Guardian Angel Carers says: “Our franchise model is tried, tested, and proven, having expanded across 16 territories in recent years, each delivering fantastic care and compassion to their communities consistently with our core values.
We offer hands-on, robust support from day one, using data-driven reporting and financial modelling to build on our expertise. We give every franchise owner the best opportunities for success while incorporating technological advancements in everyday care management to create the agility and responsiveness so important in the current home care climate.”
Success Rates in Franchise-Owned Home Care Branches
In summary of how the Guardian Angel Carers franchise model works:
- Prospective new franchise owners submit an expression of interest and consult with the Guardian Angel Carers team to discuss the business opportunity.
- A franchise is awarded following investment, managed and run locally, but with quality assessment, training, recruitment and marketing assistance from an experienced home care network.
- Business owners are responsible for operating their branch, leading their team, upholding outstanding care standards, and building a workforce that embodies the values and family-feel approach for which Guardian Angel Carers is known.
The network provides comprehensive support with business financial management and ensures that all new branches are correctly registered with the Care Quality Commission, Care Inspectorate Wales or Scottish Care Inspectorate.
Franchising works so well in home care because it harnesses all the essential components – business acumen, extensive knowledge of regulation and quality in the home care sector, and localised, community-based support tailored to the needs of families and individuals within each town, city or region.
Investors and home care professionals interested in opening a franchise can view further details, including financial projections, through the Guardian Angel Carers website.
Read more about Guardian Angel Carers - Independent Care Company, Guardian Angel Carers, Explains The Need For Inclusivity Within The UK Home Care Sector
Media:
Guardian Angel Carers
Tel: 03333 660440
About Guardian Angel Carers:
Guardian Angel Carers is a leading home care provider dedicated to delivering compassionate, personalised care services. With a strong focus on independence, dignity, and quality of life, the company supports individuals in the comfort of their own homes, offering a range of services from companionship to complex care needs.
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Source Company – https://www.gacarers.co.uk/
