SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 12 Excellence in Domiciliary Care 2024 – Devon & Most Nurturing FamilyRun Care Company 2024 – Devon The domiciliary care sector has seen rapid growth in recent years, a rise driven by an increasing demand for in-home support. The No Place Like Home report from The Live-in Care Hub states that an astonishing 97% of individuals do not want to go into a care home if they fall ill or become less able to cope with their lifestyle. Instead, many now opt for live-in care services that enable them to retain their independence and receive treatment from the comfort of their own home. Below, we speak with Pauline McToal, Co-Owner and Manager of Southview Home Care, Devon’s leading provider of domiciliary care. Based in Holsworthy, Southview Home Care is a domiciliary care company delivering high quality services that protect and preserve the independence and dignity of its service users. The company lends its services to anybody over the age of 18, offering them personal care, medication, cooking, cleaning, and companionship services that enable them to maintain their routines and engage in the activities they love, whilst receiving the support that they need. Taking a holistic approach to providing care, Southview Home Care delivers solutions that address not only the physical needs of the client, but also their emotional and social well-being. From personal care and companionship to medication management and specialised support, Southview Home Care caters to a variety of abilities and illnesses. The company develops specialised care plans that are designed to adapt to the changing needs of each client, ensuring that they receive the correct level of support at all times. Southview Home Care was established by Co-Owner and Manager Pauline McToal, who kickstarted her career in care at the young age of 14. Completing her work experience in a care home whilst at school, Pauline fell in love with the industry. From there, she went to college to obtain her N.V.Q. 1 and 2 and took on part-time work to pay for her college books. Whilst in college, Pauline was exposed to many different aspects of care, such as cancer care, mental health, and care homes, before gaining her first experience in domiciliary care, where she found her true passion. “It has always been my dream to run my own care company, from a young age,” she recalls. “I started to give up on having my own company until the company I was working for decided to close down.” Pauline realised that she could open up her own care company, operating with love and care, and decided to share her plans with her husband. Together, they began to complete their registration for the CQC and establish an office, but unfortunately, time was not on their side. Pauline and her husband signed the contract for their office the very day that the UK went into lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic and were forced to put their plans on hold for the time being. “I then failed my CQC assessment,” Pauline remembers, “which then gave me the determination to pass it the second time. It wasn’t easy, but it’s worth every tear and every grey hair I have gained since.” Shortly after, Pauline established Southview Home Care and has never looked back. She started the company based on her own personal experiences, having been responsible for a loved one in need of care. Pauline saw first-hand the unique challenges and worries that having such a responsibility brings. In addition to this understanding, Pauline was also exposed to what quality care should look like, and now strives to set this standard across the industry. “I started the company because I believe people deserve great care and love,” she tells us. “We always treat our service users with respect and love; the people we look after are somebody’s mother, father, brother, or sister – why shouldn’t we treat them like a family member?” As the Owner and Manager of Southview Home Care, Pauline juggles many responsibilities on a daily basis, but one of her favourite elements of the job is simply the happiness and gratitude she receives from her clients. “It is the best feeling in the world to know that we have helped someone to have a better life,” she says, “and to know that we have made somebody’s day, letting them live as independently as possible.” Of course, this attitude must be reflected across the entire team for Southview Home Care’s services to be successful. When hiring new employees, the company seeks those who share the same vision and passion for helping others, and those who will treat its service users with the utmost respect and care. By exclusively hiring like-minded individuals, Southview Home Care ensures both harmonious care services and a cohesive working environment for the entire team. “Some people think it’s all about personal care, but there is so much more to the job; it is passion, and it is love,” Pauline tells us. “It is knowing that we have achieved something special, knowing that we have made someone’s day and helped them to live a happier life. It is about holding someone’s hand whilst they pass away and supporting the family in their hour of need. So, when we employ someone, we look to see if they have the same values as us, would suit the people we look after, and if they would love the service users like we do.” As for the existing team at Southview Home Care, Pauline tells us that she is incredibly proud. Each member of the company pulls together every day to deliver top-tier home care services, overcoming obstacles and experiencing every emotion on their journey to facilitating independence for all clients. It is not an easy job, but the team excel in all that they do. “The staff know we are proud of them and that we have their backs,” Pauline states. “We are a family.” Such a positive working environment has certainly translated into productive, high quality services. Southview Home Care has received numerous five-star reviews and testimonials from clients past and present, praising the company for its professional, caring team and exceptional domiciliary care services. “Pauline, Mike, and the team gave me and my family so much support during a very difficult time,” writes Sue. “Their care, support, and thoughtfulness helped to make life more bearable for my dad and family. They gave dad his dignity and dealt with emotional needs, when sometimes my patience had run low. Wonderful people, thank you so much.”
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