Belfast welcomes a new home care provider focused on people, not time slots
Published: 22 January 2026
As demand on health and social care services continues to grow across Northern Ireland, a new Belfast-based home care provider is launching with a focus on personalised, relationship-led support. Visiting Angels Northern Ireland will officially launch on 5th February, providing in-home care and companionship services built around dignity, choice and continuity.
The service is led by healthcare professional Upender Singh, alongside Parvesh Gahlawat, a finance specialist, in response to growing demand from families seeking more flexible and reliable care at home.
Recent figures show the number of people aged 85 and over in Northern Ireland has increased by almost 25% over the past decade, placing significant strain on traditional care models and leaving many families reporting limited continuity and short care visits*.
Upender, a physiotherapist with a master’s degree in healthcare management from Coventry University, has built his career across both clinical and social care settings, including work within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and supported living services for adults with learning disabilities. Meanwhile, Parvesh leads on finance, bringing strong commercial acumen to ensure the service is financially sustainable and able to invest properly in care professionals over the long term.
“I’ve always known I wanted to do something that genuinely helps people,” said Upender.
“Throughout my career, what’s mattered most to me is making people feel safe, respected and listened to, especially during more vulnerable stages of life."
“With Visiting Angels, we want families to feel confident that their loved ones are receiving care that’s built around them as people, not rushed visits or rigid schedules. That human connection is at the heart of everything we do.”
A key part of the launch is the appointment of Stephen Garrett as Community Engagement Officer. Stephen brings extensive experience across community and social care settings and will focus on building strong relationships with local organisations, voluntary groups and residents across Belfast and the surrounding areas.
“What attracted me to Visiting Angels was the genuine emphasis on values and community connection,” said Stephen. “It’s about building trust locally and making sure people know where to turn for support.”
Day-to-day care delivery is overseen by Registered Manager Abigail Duffy, who brings nearly a decade of frontline care experience despite being just 26 years old. Abigail began working in care at 16 and progressed through senior roles while completing her studies in nursing and healthcare.
“Care has always felt like the right path for me,” said Abigail. “There’s a strong background of nursing and healthcare in my family, so caring for others is something I was exposed to from a very young age."
“What I love most about care is being able to genuinely support people and make a positive difference to their day-to-day lives. That’s why Visiting Angels really stood out to me. The focus on seeing each client as a whole person, rather than a number or a time slot, aligns completely with how I believe care should be delivered.”
Visiting Angels follows a ‘carer-centric’ model, placing strong emphasis on fair pay, professional development and long-term career pathways for care professionals. The approach is designed to address industry-wide challenges that often leave carers feeling undervalued, while improving consistency and quality of care for clients.
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand to additional locations across Northern Ireland, with the aim of opening up to five further offices over the coming years. The expansion is expected to create new local employment opportunities while extending access to high-quality, relationship-led home care for more families across the region.
* Nisra, 2025: 2024 Mid-year Population Estimates for Northern Ireland
For more information about Visiting Angels and their franchise opportunities, visit their profile.
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