15 Years Of Caring

SOUTHEND home care company Doris Jones Ltd has celebrated its 15th anniversary with a special gathering of staff, clients and their families.
Around 80 guests attended the celebration at the Rooftop Restaurant at the Holiday Inn Southend, where they enjoyed afternoon tea and entertainment while marking a milestone for a business that has supported more than 1,600 people across the Southend area.
Founder Caroline Southgate reflected on the company’s beginnings in 2011 and thanked the many people who have contributed to its success.
A physiotherapist by profession, Ms Southgate was inspired to start Doris Jones after seeing first-hand how home care could be done differently. Her idea was to provide care that went beyond the basics – from helping clients with simple rehabilitation exercises and preparing freshly cooked meals to looking after much-loved pets.
That philosophy was summed up in the company’s original strapline, “Care as it should be.”
The company was named after Caroline’s grandmother, herself an indomitable carer and advocate of those needing care. From its early days in premises in Elm Road, Leigh, Doris Jones has grown considerably. Over the years, more than 750 people have worked for the company, while its care teams now make around 1,000 visits to clients every week.
A major milestone came in 2019 when Doris Jones achieved an “Outstanding” rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It was a distinction achieved by only 4% of adult social care services nationally at the time, and the company maintains that rating today.
Ms Southgate paid tribute to the carers, office staff and roster team whose work has enabled the company to grow while maintaining its focus on providing familiar faces and reliable, compassionate care.
She also recalled the extraordinary challenges of the Covid pandemic, when home care workers faced the opposite instruction to much of the population: rather than staying at home, they had to continue visiting and supporting vulnerable clients.
The anniversary was also an opportunity to remember the many families who have placed their trust in Doris Jones over the past 15 years. Some clients have needed help for only a few weeks while recovering from an operation, while others have received support for many years.
Ms Southgate said the many cards and messages of thanks received from families remain particularly meaningful.
Addressing the care team at the celebration, she thanked staff past and present for their “empathy, professionalism, sense of humour and great kindness” – qualities that have remained at the heart of Doris Jones throughout its first 15 years.
To learn more about the services provided by the Doris Jones team, call 01702 472954 or visit www.dorisjones.co.uk.
Picture: Doris Jones – Laura, Caroline & Austin.
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