Private provider of home care services, Home Instead, is hoping to improve access to care for residents in the Dengie Peninsula with its new branch in South Woodham Ferrers (SWF).

Home Instead SWF, which is officially opening on Friday 13 August, will deliver personal care to elderly residents across Essex - including those from rural communities in the Dengie who have found it difficult to access care due to the remoteness of their location.

Susan Garrett, care manager of the branch, said: "We find that round in the Dengie, it is very difficult to get care, and although there are care agencies about, we find that people have so many different carers in.

"We'll only supply a maximum of three carers so the client gets really used to them."

The branch aims to better serve residents by employing local caregivers.

Susan said: "We support our caregivers constantly and don't expect them to be spending many hours of the day travelling as we like to keep them working in the area they live."

She continued: "To make clients feel at ease, our caregivers don't wear uniforms.

"When a caregiver is visiting a client for the first time, they don't just turn up - I personally introduce them to the client and their family.

"We match caregivers with clients. For example, a caregiver who has pets will be matched with a client who has a cat or dog."

Home Instead UK was established in 2005, and has over 200 locally owned and operated offices delivering care across the UK.

The SWF office is owned and operated by Dorothy Nwankwo. The care it will provide includes home help, companionship, personal care and dementia care for elderly people to help them live independently, happily and comfortably in their own homes.

Areas to which the branch will deliver care include SWF, the Dengie, Burnham-on-Crouch, Hockley, Maylandsea, Southminster, Rochford, Bradwell-on-Sea, Canewdon, Monsale, Church End and Rayleigh.

Susan said: "Dorothy and myself will ensure we know each client personally – they will not just be a name on a piece of paper – we support our clients to have access to other health care professionals."

To find out more information on the new branch, you can visit its website using the link here.

You can contact a member of the office team on 01245 979 579 or email [email protected] or [email protected].