It’s 2023 and Ablewell Care are celebrating 11 years in business. The plan was to mark the 10-year milestone last year; however, Covid was still an issue and in January 2022, gatherings were restricted. So I met up with management and staff at the Harrington Arms in Bosley to toast their 10th+1 birthday a few weeks ago.

We all enjoyed freshly made cake and coffee while business owner John thanked the team and reflected on the journey they have been on over the last few years during COVID, expressing his gratitude for the dedication they had shown during a difficult time. Many of the staff have been with them since day one, and company director Rachael took the opportunity to hand out service awards, Care Certificates and gifts.

Ablewell Care work with individuals and families and support them in making life as easy as possible so they can stay at home for as long as possible. They provide services in personal and domestic support, along with meal preparation and medication administration. It was good to talk to some of the team and see how much they enjoy their jobs; there was a real family feeling in the room and a sense of job satisfaction.

As the empty plates and coffee cups were cleared away I asked Rachael what her goals were for the next 10+1 years. She told me the most important thing was to grow and develop the staff, making sure they are providing the best service possible to their clients. Recruitment in the whole sector is still a concern, and she hopes this will change and people will see the benefits of working in care. I hope so too, as the job they do is vital and the time I spent with the team demonstrates to me that Ablewell are a lovely company to work for.

Katy O’Regan, Beartown Voice