TWO friends with 32 years of combined experience in the care industry have teamed up to start a business offering help to people who need social support to stay in their own homes and are already looking to recruit six staff.
Tracey Macpherson and Lisa McCallay from Middlesbrough set up The Personal Support Network, to help people with mental health issues and learning and physical disabilities to retain their independence.
Ms McCallay said: “It was clear there was a need for a social support service in Middlesbrough to provide tailor-made support packages.
“Our aim is to provide a service which will enable people to continue living within their own home environment, with the security of knowing they have a consistent and dedicated support network in place.”
The two business partners have a team of self-employed carers to work with clients on a one-to-one basis, tailored to their individual needs.
The enterprise has also benefited from a personalisation scheme introduced by the Government to provide a financial allowance to pay for support in the community. Ms Macpherson said: “The service aims to provide regular, focused, high quality support. Our support plans are developed for the service user by the service user and each plan is tailor-made to suit the needs of the individual.
“We are unique in that we are able to meet a wide range of requests for both domestic and in-home support, social support, doctor and hospital appointment to name a few.”
She recently gained a NVQ Level 3 qualification in health and social care and both women are now completing the Level 4 qualification.
The two friends began working with Business Link in February to set up The Personal Support Network, from the basics of starting their business to coaching and mentoring.
It also put them onto the Tees Valley Investment Package to access start-up funding, which is an extra package of support available.
Business Link advisor David Dixon said: “Tracey and Lisa have admirable strength and the desire to achieve. Most importantly, they are both driven to help those in need by providing them with a care service that is dignified, friendly, has the compassion and ultimately puts the needs of the client first.”
