Merry Christmas 2025 and a Look Back at Our First Full Year of Horizons Homecare

As 2025 draws to a close, we wanted to pause, reflect and say thank you. This year marks Horizons Homecare’s first full year of trading, and what a year it has been.

From our very first care visit to the thousands that followed, everything we have built has been driven by one simple goal. To provide care that families can trust and carers can be proud of.

This Christmas, we are reflecting on what we have achieved together, our team, our clients, our families and our wider community.

A Year of Care Delivered with Consistency and Reliability

In our first full year, Horizons Homecare has delivered around 18,000 hours of care across Lancashire. Behind that number are thousands of moments of support, companionship, dignity and kindness.

One statistic we are particularly proud of is this. We have not missed a single care visit.

In a sector where missed or late visits are sadly common, achieving zero missed calls across an entire year is incredibly rare. Every single visit took place as planned, because we believe nobody should ever be left wondering if help will arrive.

All of our visit data is recorded and verified through Nourish, our digital care system, ensuring transparency and accountability. The data we track and publish is available on our homepage

Staying for the Full Visit, Because Time Matters

Another standout achievement is our average visit duration of 99 percent of the scheduled time.

In 2023, national reporting highlighted that in some areas the average length of a one hour care visit could be as little as 13 minutes. That reality is heartbreaking and unacceptable.

At Horizons Homecare, carers stay for the full visit. Care is never rushed. Conversations matter. Reassurance matters. Presence matters. This is care delivered properly.

Arriving on Time, Every Time

Punctuality is often overlooked, but it matters deeply to people receiving care.

Across the year, our average arrival time was within one minute of the scheduled visit start. This level of consistency is extremely rare in homecare and reflects careful planning, realistic scheduling and respect for the people we support.

Knowing when someone will arrive brings peace of mind, routine and trust.

Growth with Purpose, Opening Our Lancaster Branch

This year also saw an exciting milestone as we opened our Lancaster branch, expanding Horizons Homecare into North Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Opening a new branch was about more than growth. It was about bringing our values, standards and approach to another community that deserves dependable, relationship based care at home.

We are incredibly proud of the Lancaster team and the warm welcome we have received.

Recognition That Reflects Our Team

Being recognised externally is never the goal, but it is a meaningful reminder that standards matter.

This year, Horizons Homecare was proud to:

• Win a Homecare.co.uk Top 20 Award

• Be named finalists at the Coastal Radio DAB Awards

• Being named as a business achieving "The Highest Standards" locally

These achievements belong to our carers, coordinators and leaders who show up every day and do the right thing, even when nobody is watching.

Building a Strong, Supported Workforce

People are at the heart of everything we do and In our first year, we have employed almost 50 people, with a current retention rate of 86 percent, an outstanding figure in a sector facing national workforce challenges.

We have celebrated Carer of the Month awards, marked one year service anniversaries, and focused on creating a workplace where people feel valued, supported and proud of their role. We believe that continuity of care begins with continuity of staff and staff who enjoy their jobs, are staff that give a great level of service.

Giving Back to the Communities We Serve

Horizons Homecare exists within its community, not apart from it.

This year, we have proudly supported and continue to support:

• Trinity Hospice

• Marton United Reformed Church

• Headway Brain Injury Association

• Alzheimer’s Society

• and many more...

We have hosted and supported singing for the brain sessions, Forget Me Not dementia cafés, and regular client and community social events that reduce loneliness and bring people together. Care is not just about tasks. It is about connection.

Opening our Volunteering Section

Throughout our first year of trading, we have begun to understand and accept that we will never be able to officially care for everyone who needs it, and that's fine. In order to do that, we would have to lower our standards for recruitment - and ultimately, that is something we are just not willing to do.

To compromise and to support our communities in every way we can, we decided to announce our Volunteer Roles to people who want to give back in their communities. Our volunteers will ultimately support us to support the people in the community through events, fundraising for our partner charities, dementia cafés and so much more.

If you are wanting to give up some of your time to help us at events, fundraise for charities that we work with, support our community via advice stalls and more - please get in touch. You will receive:

• Free enhanced DBS

• Training (Safeguarding, Dementia Awareness, S4C Modules and more)

• Expense forms (to cover your mileage & any costs associated at events)

• Branded clothing & other material

A Message from Horizons Homecare MD, Russell Crossley

"This year has been one of the proudest of my career. What we have built together goes far beyond numbers and awards. It is about trust earned, promises kept and care delivered properly. Every statistic reflects real people, our clients, our carers and their families. As we head into Christmas and look ahead to the future, my gratitude goes to every person who has played a part in making Horizons Homecare what it is today. We are only just getting started and the family at Horizons Homecare are just simply the best"

A Message from Horizons Homecare Director, James Galler

"Horizons Homecare officially began trading 15 months ago, but the real beginning came a little earlier. During that period, I worked long hours, often close to 100 a week. There were no shortcuts. Every decision was made with the future in mind and with a clear belief in what Horizons Homecare could become. Nobody warns you how difficult this could be. It felt like working and going backwards, but my belief and vision was clear there was nothing else. Once we started trading, one thing was always clear, people come first. Supporting staff, paying wages, and making sure everyone felt valued mattered more than anything else.

As the business grew, so did the team. Along the way, we’ve been lucky to meet some incredible people. Dedicated, caring individuals who shared the same values and wanted to be part of something meaningful. These are the people who helped shape Horizons Homecare into what it is today. Growth didn’t happen alone; it happened together."