FAMILY-run home care organisation "Helping Hands" officially opened its office in Heavitree, Exeter on October 18.

The company’s office in Fore Street provides a visiting care service in and around Exeter, including in Topsham and Exmouth.

The opening was attended by a number of Helping Hands’ carers and customers, as well as CEO Tim Lee and the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Lesley Robson.

Visitors also had the chance to learn more about the work that Helping Hands does.

Charlotte Harvey, the manager for Helping Hands Exeter, said: “It’s a real pleasure and honour to be heading up the team here in Exeter.

"Being able to bring the best care to the local community is something that I’m really passionate about and I’m excited to work with a dynamic team of carers to make this happen.”

Home care specialist Helping Hands has been providing support through live-in and visiting care services for customers across England and Wales since 1989, and is the longest standing home care service in the UK. Helping Hands has 55 branches nationwide and the opening of the Exeter branch is part of the company-wide expansion plan.

Tim Lee, CEO, explained: “Here at Helping Hands, family is what is most important to us.

"We’re excited to have Charlotte and her carers helping families in and around Exeter to live independent lives. We’ve seen a lot of growth recently, which the Exeter branch is a part of. We have a number of branches across the South West, and our live-in care service is available across England and Wales.”

Helping Hands provides visiting care from a minimum of 30 minutes each day through to full-time live-in care. The company has branches covering many major cities across England and Wales. All of the company’s Exeter carers undertake a three-day training programme at the branch.

Helping Hands’ live-in carers all have five days of intensive training at the company’s purpose-built Centre of Excellence training academy. The centre has been specifically built to simulate customers’ houses and train new employees on how to react to the different scenarios they will encounter during their new care role.

Find out more about Helping Hands at: https://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/ .

Alan Quick