News & Events

Lancashire based family home care organisation achieve success

It was another month of success for the independent and family owned home care providers, Astra Care Services Ltd. In light of recent negative national media coverage of the care industry, Astras continued accreditation and success serves as a benchmark to others

Company Director, Suzanne Black, won a Highly Commended award for Business Person of the Year at the glittering awards ceremony for the 2012 Pendle Business Awards held at the Ace Centre in Nelson on the 27th April. The Awards recognise innovative local companies which, despite the pressures of the recession, are still flourishing.

The Company then received notification that one of its support workers had also won a Certificate of Commendation in the Lancashire LINk Care Worker of the Year Awards. Suzanne and the support worker picked up the award at the presentation ceremony at the Woodlands Conference Centre, Chorley on Monday 14th May in recognition of providing high quality care

Awards such as this, commented Suzanne, endorse the fact that we are getting things right. They give us the motivation and impetus to strive for even higher standards

Astra Care Services currently employ over 100 employees, serving the three local boroughs of Pendle, Burnley & Rossendale and are backed up by 14 administrative and customer support staff.

Even in current times of financial austerity, this resilient family business continues to grow and support the community in which it lives and works

 

Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service partners with local Home Care Organisation to raise Fire Risk Awareness

Following increasing numbers of domiciliary fire incidents within the county, Lancashire Fire& Rescue Service has mounted a major campaign to raise awareness of potential risks to people in their own homes. In particular, the local Pendle Fire Service has embarked upon a number of strategies in an effort to curb this alarming trend, including opening it’s doors to the general public, handing out leaflets to town centre shoppers and visiting and talking to community based organisations     

One such organisation is, Astra Care Services. Following a meeting last week, between, Steve Chappell (Station Manager, Pendle Rural Fire Stations), Phil Emmett & Geoff Hudson (Pendle Fire Safety Practitioners) and Astra Care’s Training Manager Nicola Riley & Pendle Assistant Manager Zoe Hargreaves, a partnership between the two organisations was agreed to provide a free fire safety check for their Home Care customers who sign up for a visit by the LFRA Community Fire Safety Officer.

In accordance with the Data Protection Act (2003), Astra Care will issue Visit Request Forms from the Fire & Rescue Service to their relevant clients and once permission is granted, home visits will be arranged for the officers by Astra Care Services.

Pendle Fire Safety Practitioner, Phil Emmett said after carrying out a thorough domestic survey, trained officers will advise the householder of all potential fire risks and how to deal with them. In many cases we can also provide and install sonic, tactile and visual detectors & alarms, replace old chip pans with new deep fat fryers and replace open bar electric fires with new oil-filled electric radiators. All Free of charge! He also made the point that this service is available to everyone.

Astras Nicola Riley continued, This partnership is completely in line with our company policy to work in close association with all the emergency services & medical agencies, to ensure that our clients are safe, secure and given a quality service within their own homes.

On-going risk awareness training sessions will be provided for all of Astra Care Service support staff at their training suite, by Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service safety officers. Fire risk awareness training adds Phil Emmett, should be on the agenda of all domiciliary & residential care organisations

For further information please contact:

Steve Chappell (Station Manager) & Phil Emmett (Pendle Community Fire Safety Practioner)

Pendle Rural Fire Stations

Tel: 01282 612 312

Web: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk