Local former social care worker overcomes life-limiting condition to care for others

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Driven by her innately caring nature, positive outlook and refusal to let challenges define her, local mum of two and former mental health social worker Kelly Samuel is taking on the issues facing the NHS.

After being diagnosed with sickle cell and experiencing a stroke in her early 40s that left her partially sighted, Kelly was inspired by her own care experiences to launch Visiting Angels – a team dedicated to providing care in the comfort of people’s homes. Having lost her sister to the same disease, Kelly sees Visiting Angels not just as a way to improve care in the community, but also as a tribute to her late sister.

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At 24, Kelly took the leap into social work and has been making a difference in the field ever since. She has worked closely with the police and earned a master’s degree from the University of Manchester to become an Approved Mental Health Practitioner. When the pandemic hit, Kelly, being high-risk, swapped the frontline for a role at the Integrated Care Board, where she focused on caring for the most vulnerable in the community.

“Over the past 24 years, I’ve worked in both local authorities and the NHS – driven by a deep compassion for my patients,” said Kelly. “My roles have ranged from dementia crisis support to urgent care and community outreach. Caring for others has always been my passion, inspired by my grandmother, who was a midwife. I spent a lot of time with her growing up and she truly shaped who I am today.

Kelly SamuelKelly Samuel
Kelly Samuel

“On a personal note, both my older sister and I were born with a genetic disease. It’s been a challenging journey, with several strokes and a lot of pain. Losing my sister to sickle cell at just 27 was incredibly hard, but it also fuelled my determination to keep going and to chase both my dreams and hers.”

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It was through her sister’s health struggles, and later her own, that Kelly saw first-hand the need for compassionate, personalised care in the local community. “When I was bed-bound a few years ago after a stroke, I realised just how much support I needed but couldn’t find – especially care that was culturally appropriate. I called every agency I could think of – it was incredibly frustrating and disappointing. That experience made me determined to ensure that others don’t go through what I did. With Visiting Angels, I want to fill that gap.”

Visiting Angels’ ‘carer-centric’ approach sets it apart from other companies in the in-home care sector. Carers working for Visiting Angels feel valued and respected for their commitment to the industry. By offering financial rewards and avenues for career development, from her office in Worsley, Kelly is committed to addressing sector challenges that frequently leave caregivers feeling undervalued and underappreciated.

Following her experiences, Kelly is committed to ensuring that Visiting Angels delivers caring and compassionate support tailored to each client’s unique needs – with the help of happy and engaged carers. “Manchester is so diverse, yet there’s such a lack of understanding and provision for specific cultural needs. I’m excited to bring that kind of awareness to the local area. My goal is to create personalised care plans that truly meet each client’s individual needs, instead of the usual one-size-fits-all approach many providers take.

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“By valuing and respecting my carers, I want my clients to feel equally valued and respected, helping to change the narrative of care in our community.”

For more information, or to see how Visiting Angels could help care for your loved ones, visit www.visiting-angels.co.uk/manchesterwest or call Kelly and the team on 01619 899341 or 01619 899342.

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