MP opens new Townfield Academy which will create 100 new jobs

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones has officially opened a new training academy set up by a local family business which plans to create up to 100 new care sector jobs this year.

Based in Great Harwood, Townfield Care is more than doubling the capacity of its Home Care service, providing individually tailored care packages which enable older people to live in their own homes for longer.

To maintain their family business's high standards, brothers Michael and John Timmins have set up their own Townfield Academy, so that every recruit receives the same level of training whatever their background or previous experience.

Graham said: "Improving standards in home care is really important and it's good to see a strong focus on training and skills to provide these vital services.

"I welcome the work that John and Michael and their team at Townfield Care are doing through setting up this academy. Investing in people is really important, especially in an industry that involves personal care."

Established in 1975, Townfield operates a 24-bed specialist dementia care home in Great Harwood and a smaller six-place residential home for the elderly in Rishton, as well as providing home care to clients throughout Hyndburn and into neighbouring Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

"With people living longer and keen to stay in their own homes we have experienced a growing demand for home care," explained.

"Everyone is different so we can tailor a care package to suit their needs, ranging from daily help and medical care to regular companionship visits or help with thing like going to the shops. What's crucial for us is that the standard of care we provide remains uniformly high, which is why we've established our own in-house Townfield Academy."

It will be run by Townfield Care's principal trainer Carol Moreton, a qualified NVQ assessor and former staff training and development manager with East Lancashire Primary Care Trust. She and other senior staff will deliver a mix of classroom-based and on-the-job "shadow training" to new recruits through a series of training courses.

"We currently provide around 950 hours of home care per week and are looking to increase that to around 2,000 hours to meet demand," added John. "That equates to between 60 and 100 new care roles, depending on the hours people work. It can be a very flexible role and we're looking for people of all ages and backgrounds, with life experience and attitude just as important as qualifications. Each training course is limited to 12 people so recruitment will be an ongoing process."