Visiting Angels

Four entrepreneurs launch alternative care provider with Visiting Angels

Four local entrepreneurs, more fondly known as ‘The Dartford Boys’, have recently embarked on their new business venture with a mission to take pressure off families who have been forced to choose between their careers and caring for loved ones in need. Together, they have launched Visiting Angels – a care provider that supports people in the comfort of their own homes – to meet the growing demands for exceptional and consistent care delivery while rewarding carers for their ongoing commitment and sacrifice to the industry.

Moving to the UK from Bangladesh between 2009-2010, Rashed, Rony, Abdur and Saddam all grew up in environments where the responsibility of caring for elderly loved ones and others in need was a fundamental part of their culture. And having met during their studies in business management which led to the group enjoying successful careers in hospitality, business development and recruitment, they have long understood the demands and intricacies of placing devoted professionals in client-facing roles.

Now, having reassessed their own ambitions and careers amid the cost-of-living crisis, they have decided it is the perfect time to apply their skills to an industry that will take the pressure of care completely off the local community and help those in need “shine”.

“It’s incredibly important that we give something back to the community that’s done so much for us since we moved here,” explained Rashed.

“Having come to the UK from Bangladesh, we thought it was fitting to launch a care provider that’s driven by community spirit and helping those in need feel as though they’re receiving care from a member of the family. We’d hoped to set out on this venture years ago, but with the pandemic increasing the need for exceptional carers who are now being heavily impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, it’s the perfect time to truly embed ourselves in the community.

“We’re so passionate about helping in any way we can. When you want to help the whole world, you have to approach it one community at a time!”

Thanks to their ‘carer-centric’ approach, Visiting Angels has already been making a difference in other parts of the UK. In fact, their staff turnover rate is just 12% - nearly six times lower than the industry’s all-time high average of 64%1 – something The Dartford Boys expect to repeat at their local branch.

Companies that prioritise the wellbeing of their staff see an improved level of service for clients in need, with carers feeling valued, protected, and respected for their ongoing commitment to an industry in serious need of reform. By providing carers with official contracts of employment, paying for time between home visits and fairly subsidising milage in line with the rising prices of fuel, the team is acting on issues that have been damaging the reputation of the in-home care sector for years. These policies, combined with an unwavering drive to take pressure off families in need of their services are all ways that Visiting Angels raises the standard of social care across Northwest Kent.

“The Visiting Angels approach just makes sense in today’s world,” added Rashed. “Carer centricity is the leading light for the future of care provision, as when you put carers at the heart of the business, great quality care follows naturally.

"At Visiting Angels, celebrating every small achievement is prioritised. Clapping for carers three years ago was quickly forgotten, so we want to do something to continue that trajectory for carers’ whole careers. We’re hoping to grow at a rate that will give plenty of employment opportunities to carers in the area, so aim to employ 30 passionate, exceptional carers over the next year while maintaining the exceptional standards Visiting Angels sets.”

To find out more about Visiting Angels, see their profile.