Homecare provider opens new branch in Lancashire

Westmorland Homecare has expanded its presence in Lancashire with the opening of a new branch in Preston, creating up to 50 jobs.

The business was founded in 2017 by Doctors Josh Macaulay and Chris Moss and director Russell Crossley. Both doctors had experience of caring for people in their NHS roles as an A&E doctor and anaesthetist. Russell’s specialities are in business but he also has a lifetime of experience in care.

Westmorland Homecare provides hundreds of hours of care each week to enable vulnerable and often frail people over the age of 18 to live independently in their own home.

Its services include home care, such as help with housekeeping and meal preparation, and personal care, such as help with medication, dressing, bathing and living their life to the full.

The new branch is based at 6 Chapel Street in the city, and covers Preston and surrounding towns.

The company now operates branches at South Lakeland, Fylde & Wyre, Preston and Lancaster & Morecambe.

Russell Crossley, said: ""There are currently four members of staff, including two homecare assistants but as business grows we shall be looking to recruit between 30 and 50 extra members of staff during 2024.

“There is a huge demand for care now but that demand is going to be even greater in future bearing in mind the growth in the number of elderly people and their needing care in their own homes.”

Russell said statistics showed there would be more than a 40 per cent growth in the number of people aged 65-79 over the next 20 year, with that percentage rising to more than 70 per cent for the 80-89 years bracket and 169 per cent for those aged between 90 and 94.

The registered care manager at the Preston branch is Tracey Redwood, who started work for the company as a homecare assistant at its Poulton, Fylde and Wyre branch, before becoming a team leader, co-ordinator and a senior co-ordinator there before taking on the registered manager role at Preston.