As the UK’s leading provider for social care and support, we’re dedicated to delivering quality care and support and improving the lives of vulnerable people.

Earlier this year, we launched a manifesto proposing essential changes to the UK’s social care sector. Created from our compassion and commitment to nurturing fulfilling lives for vulnerable people in the UK, we headed to Westminster to present our proposal to Parliament.

Since that moment, we’ve connected with local MPs and Councillors to discuss our vision for the future of social care. Sharing a glimpse of the vibrant lives of the people we support, we’ve reinforced why our proposed changes are important.

Recently, we welcomed Lola McEvoy, MP for Darlington, to our specialist intensive support service Bewick House for an exclusive MP visit. Newly appointed to post, Ms. McEvoy was eager to gather the views and opinions of her constituents and learn more about the life-changing work we do at Voyage Care.

Bewick House

Ms. McEvoy was welcomed to Bewick House for her MP visit by Service Manager Tracy Foster, Operations Manager Leanne Denison, and Operations Director Vicki Bennett. After a warm meet and greet with our colleagues and the people we support, she enjoyed a private tour of our vibrant residential service in Darlington, County Durham.

A dedicated intensive support service, Bewick House provides essential care and support to six people with a range of complex needs. Rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), our expertly trained team support vulnerable people to live meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Led by Service Manager Tracy, our team use person-centred support, empowering our housemates to live the life they choose and achieve the goals they set.  

Bewick House put the people we support at the heart of their care. Directed by their dreams and desires, our teams guide them along an exciting journey they otherwise might not take.

Championing abilities and skills over disabilities and limitations, our team at Bewick House ardently work for inclusion and equal opportunities in the local community, embodying our founding ethos and the changes proposed in our manifesto.

Charters for change

Ms McEvoy’s visit marked a significant moment for the people we support and our colleagues at Bewick House. Over the course of the day, she invited them to express their opinions about their community and discuss with her the issues that directly affected them.

Joining everyone at Bewick House for afternoon tea, Ms. McEvoy chatted with Operations Director Vicki Bennett, about changes needed in the local area to foster collaborative communities and enhance the lives of those within her constituency – including the people we support at Bewick House.  

Together, Vicki and Ms. McEvoy delved deeper into our charter for change. Our manifesto, ‘Fulfilling Lives for All’ sets out three key ‘asks’ for reformation within in our social care system. Incorporating issues affecting both the people we support and our team colleagues, our proposals for change highlight the importance of inclusion and equal opportunities through person-centred support.

During the Bewick House MP visit, Ms. McEvoy witnessed first-hand how person-centred support enhances the lives of vulnerable people. Moved by the sentiment of our manifesto, Ms. McEvoy’s visit to Bewick House supported her to draw a connection between our ‘asks’ and the lives they would positively impact.  

As conversations unfolded, she learned more about the challenges we currently face in the social care sector. Recruitment, funding, and the cost-of-living crisis have all threatened the future of vulnerable people and those who support them. Ms. McEvoy and our colleagues discussed how these overarching issues contribute to challenges in local communities.

With crouching concerns about pay levels for Support Workers in the local area, how councils commission social care, and the extenuating and evolving needs of vulnerable people in the Darlington area, Ms. McEvoy learned more about our approach to combating these issues. 

By cultivating compassionate teams with colleagues who share our ethos, and exclusively using person-centred support, the flame of our commitment to improving the lives of the people we support continues to burn brightly and light the way to achieving a brighter future for social care.  

Building bonds

As the day ended, our housemates and colleagues demonstrated to Ms. McEvoy what our approach to social care change looks like in daily life. Witnessing tender interactions between our team and the people we support; she saw how valuable our support teams are and what vulnerable people can achieve with the right people advocating for them.

Despite facing nationwide challenges, we remain deeply committed to providing vulnerable people with the care they need to live independent, purposeful lives. Armed with out manifesto and weighty purpose, we’re dedicate to leaping over these hurdles.

With innovative solutions and unwavering compassion, we continue to cement community ties and reinforce relationships, ensuring vulnerable people live the lives they deserve.

Operations Director Vicki Bennett understands the importance of building bonds within the local community to further enhance the support we provide to vulnerable people across the UK.

Reflecting on the day, she said: “We loved meeting Lola at Bewick House and showing her around what is an essential service in the Darlington community. We want local people to understand what we can offer and how it benefits those who live locally, for both those who live at the home and those who work with us. We are an Outstanding service, as rated by the CQC, and have been operating in Darlington for many years. We look forward to working with Lola and her team as she begins her new role as MP.”

For Ms. McEvoy, her time at Bewick House provided greater insight into social care and the real impact it has on vulnerable people in her constituency.

Reaffirming her commitment to advocating for all who live in Darlington, she said: “It was a pleasure to see Bewick House and meet the wonderful team as well as the people supported at the care home. They shared stories with me about their lives here and the goals they’re working towards as part of living more independently. I am excited to continue my work in the Darlington area that benefits all residents, including those that work and are supported at Bewick House.”

Find out more!

If you’d like to find out more about how we could support you, a client, or a loved one, fill out our quick and easy form and a member of our team will be in touch!

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