Visiting Angels

Visiting Angels Northern Ireland is a private home care provider, delivering personalised support to adults in their own homes across Belfast and surrounding areas. Our mission is to provide high-quality, relationship-led care while placing equal value on the wellbeing, dignity, and professional recognition of caregivers. 

We operate as a carer centric organisation within the social care sector, supporting individuals with companionship, personal care, and daily living needs. Based in Belfast, we currently employ a growing team of care professionals and office staff, with plans to expand services across Northern Ireland

Motivation for Living Wage Accreditation

Our motivation to accredit as a Living Wage Employer was driven by a clear belief that quality care begins with valuing the people who deliver it. Social care staff are often underpaid despite the responsibility and emotional labour involved in their roles. We wanted to take a principled stand by committing to fair pay that reflects the real cost of living in Northern Ireland. Becoming a Living Wage Employer aligns with our ethos of respect, dignity, and reinforces our commitment to attracting and retaining skilled, compassionate caregivers.

Implementation Process

Implementing the Living Wage was a straightforward process. From the point we began recruiting caregivers, we paid above the real Living Wage, reflecting our values even before formal accreditation. This meant no retrospective pay changes were required. Once operations were established, we aligned our policies with Living Wage guidance and completed accreditation within a short timeframe.

Additional Workplace Changes

As a newly established organisation, Living Wage principles were built into our foundation from day one, alongside strong carer-centric employment practices. Our culture of respect, wellbeing, and professional development was already embedded before accreditation. This included comprehensive paid induction and training, ongoing support, and regular wellbeing check ins.

Challenges and Barriers

Rather than facing implementation barriers, we confronted them during business planning, before hiring our first caregiver. The challenge was designing a sustainable financial model in a sector where underpayment is normalized. We analysed local cost-of-living data, competitor rates, and client affordability to price services that support Living Wage salaries without compromising accessibility. Some questioned whether 'premium pay' was viable for a start-up in social care. Our answer: it's not premium - it's appropriate. By building our business model around fair wages from the outset, we avoided the painful retrofitting many employers face. Accreditation simply formalized our existing commitment.

Benefits of Living Wage Accreditation

Accrediting as a Living Wage Employer reinforces our commitment to fair wages in social care and ethical employment practices. While recently accredited, we anticipate measurable benefits including improved recruitment outcomes, as experienced caregivers increasingly seek employers who demonstrate respect and sustainability. Living Wage status strengthens our position as a responsible home care provider and builds trust with families seeking quality home care services in Belfast and surrounding areas. The accreditation provides tangible reassurance that compassionate care is underpinned by fair employment practices, positioning Visiting Angels Northern Ireland as a values-led Living Wage homecare provider committed to both client and caregiver wellbeing. 

“Being paid above the real Living Wage as a home care worker means I can plan for the future, not just survive week to week. For the first time in my 8 years in social care, I don't need a second job. I have the energy to truly connect with my clients and provide the compassionate, person-centred care they deserve. I finally feel valued for the skilled, emotionally demanding work I do”

John, Caregiver, Visiting Angels Northern Ireland

“As Northern Ireland's newest accredited Living Wage Employer in social care, our commitment to paying above the real Living Wage reflects our belief that exceptional care begins with properly valued caregivers. We've built Visiting Angels Northern Ireland on a carer-centric model where fair pay isn't optional - it's fundamental. Caregivers carry immense responsibility supporting vulnerable adults in their homes, yet this essential work has historically been undervalued. Our Living Wage accreditation demonstrates our commitment to changing that, building sustainable, relationship-led care rooted in dignity for everyone involved.”

Upender, Director, Visiting Angels Northern Ireland