‘Outstanding’ Fylde home care provider launches recruitment drive

A Fylde-based care business which has received support from Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub has launched a significant drive for new staff.

Clifton Homecare, a family business based in Lytham St Annes, provides private, NHS, and local authority-funded domiciliary care services on the Fylde coast including companionship, health visits and end of life care.

It has recently secured a new in-home care contract with Lancashire County Council to deliver services across the Fylde area in places such as Greenhalgh, Singleton and Elswick in addition to its existing care services in South Fylde.

The business is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and managing director Caroline Cosh contacted Boost at the start 2023 for support as she looked to expand and meet this increased demand, while maintaining Clifton Homecare’s strong reputation.

The business has grown its employee count from 42 to 50 in the past year and is aiming to keep expanding over the coming years. Caroline said the Boost support has helped her to reflect on the company’s growth strategy and assess her priorities in helping the business to expand.

Caroline said: “Taking part in Boost’s support programme has helped me take time out of the business to reflect on our business journey and where the next part of that journey will take us.

“We are actively recruiting and the business is changing as it expands. The support helped me to find the headspace to consider the way we currently operate and whether this is the best way to do so going forward.”

Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub and is led by Lancashire County Council. It has received £2.6m from the UK Government for its current programme of business support through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund contributions of ten local authorities in Lancashire, in addition to contributions from Lancashire County Council and the Department for Business and Trade.

Boost’s mission is to help Lancashire businesses thrive and since 2013, it has supported over 14,000 businesses, helping create 3,500 jobs while adding £100m to the local economy. It offers a range of funded business support services and a team of business advisers Lancashire businesses can talk to.

Caroline initially met with business advisor Mike Reece from Boost’s Business Advice Service, who discussed her ambitions and discussed the right funded support to meet these. She then received Boost support from mentor John Townsend to further evaluate her business priorities and set specific goals.

The Boost support included helping Caroline fully appreciate the value of her own time, both to the business and in general so she can prioritise and focus on the business’s growth.

The company’s growth journey and ambition saw it win Employer of the Year award at the Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs) in September 2023, in recognition for its commitment to employees and dedication to providing outstanding care. It has also recently won several local awards for its work in care services.

Andrew Leeming, Boost programme manager at Lancashire County Council said: “This is a growth-focused and determined business. Caroline is a leader and advocate in her field locally, regionally, and nationally. The team clearly love their business, and this is reflected in the recent awards they have received.

“Our Boost advisers are experts in all areas of business growth and Boost also puts businesses in direct contact with the most suitable support from our partners across Lancashire. It’s fantastic to see that the support to help Clifton Homecare is proving beneficial to the company as it grows.”

Caroline added: “I would recommend other businesses consider engaging with Boost. As business owners we can get bogged down with everyday detail and not have time or the headspace to get a fresh perspective on our business, but it certainly proves valuable to do so.”