Continued expansion for local health care provider, Advanced Care

Advanced Care, a local care company, providing innovative bespoke care packages to clients in the northwest, celebrated the opening of their new offices at Elagh business park last week.

The official opening was attended by the new Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Ruairi McHugh, Deputy Mayor Niree McMorris, local MLAs and the special guest, the Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt.

Advanced was founded by local man Niall Smyth, who, having 30 years’ experience in nursing, set up the business in 2012 and has watched it grow and go from strength to strength, providing specialist care to a range of clients across the province and creating employment for almost 300 people.

Niall explained that the bespoke service that he has set up and managed in Derry has been the most rewarding aspect of his 40-year career to date. He says, “As a passionate Derry man, I am delighted that we have a service in the city that is unmatched across the province”.

Minister Nesbitt in his speech to the guests at the opening complimented the company not only on its growth, but on its approach to real personal-centred care.

Niall explained what makes Advanced unique, “Whilst we are a fully regulated care company, we can also provide a broader service delivering health care tasks alongside social care activities. We’re guided by our clients and the needs of their families.

“They tell us what they want, and we do our best to deliver. We have done the shopping, fed the dog, gone for walks, danced in the kitchens, reminisced, watched old movies and we have listened to Daniel O’Donnell a lot!”

When asked to summarise the key values of the business, Niall said with characteristic modesty, “We like to keep it simple. It is about the clients and putting their needs first.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt with Mayor Ruairi McHugh meeting staff and service users.

“ It is about our staff who are highly experienced and suitably qualified, and it is about providing value for money services for our partners.”

Niall is quick to acknowledge the contribution made by the staff over the years whose dedication and commitment has been inspirational.

Given the continuing expansion, Advanced are now recruiting additional staff across a number of roles including Care workers, Support workers and other Health Care Professionals.

The company will be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to join this exciting local company. Niall says, “The most important values that we look for are people who are kind, compassionate, empathetic and positive… we can teach you the rest.”

When asked about plans for the future, Niall says “We are planning continued expansion across the island of Ireland.

Niall Smyth, managing director, Advanced Care Services.

“To ensure that we preserve the professional quality of our services and, most importantly the personal touch, we have strengthened our management team recently and taken on board a new partner, a local business family who also have a deep tradition in healthcare.

“We are extremely grateful to our clients, our staff and our partners that have enabled us to thrive. We are a company run by health care professionals with a focus on the personal touch.

“We are looking forward to growing the business, creating more employment and providing first class care to those who need it.”

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU ... OUR STAFF

• In house staff promotion and career development opportunities – three senior managers started their careers as care/support workers
• Over 80 staff have completed QCF Qualifications, many received their awards at the Guildhall yesterday
• Staff can avail of over 80 training modules via our online portal
• Staff love the longer calls as it allows them to build relationships with their clients, and it allows them to really get to know their clients not just their needs
• Staff know there is 24/7 support - they all have a direct line to management when required

OUR CLIENTS

• No Rushing – we don’t do 15/30-minute calls
• Our clients are not part of a “run” – all calls are stand-alone time specific calls
• We try to allocate our clients set teams of carers so that staff and clients can develop meaningful relationships
• Our clients really are central to everything we do. We don’t tell them what times their calls will be, we ask them what times they want and 95% of the time we can deliver
• Most importantly we don’t just complete the basic care calls, we combine health care tasks with household and social care requirements and create real person centered care plans.

INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT A CARE PACKAGE FOR A LOVED ONE? Contact niall.smyth@advancedcareni.com or ring 71 253 140.

INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR ADVANCED? Advanced are holding a 2 day recruitment fair in the City Hotel (9am-5pm) on Tuesday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 20.

To apply or for further details email careers@advancedcareni.com or Tel: (028) 71 253 140.