Home Care Services (Kent) Limited (HCS) was founded in October 1994 by our former Chair, Lesley Byard, and her husband, Michael Byard, to provide quality domiciliary care services that were lacking within the local community at that time. The company was first based in Borough Green but due to its rapid success, it soon outgrew its premises and moved to larger, more suitable premises in Snodland.

In 1998, HCS was awarded its first major contract with Kent Social Services making HCS the largest private provider of domiciliary care services in West Kent. At this time, HCS was a founding and driving member of the Kent Community Care Association (KCCA), a trade association formed to provide independent care providers with a support and consultation mechanism. Likewise, the association has grown and now numbers over 50 companies which account for over 85% of all domiciliary care provision in Kent.

Through the quality of its services and reputation for professional management, HCS has continued to grow. After several office moves to provide adequate facilities, HCS is now based at its Head Offices, Cobdown House, in Aylesford.

In April 2004 HCS was once again extremely successful in securing major block contracts with Kent Social Services. These contracts were not only awarded for Domiciliary Care Services, but also for the fast developing Community Support Services. This is a testimonial to HCS commitment to quality and will ensure continued growth and diversity in the future.

In November 2005 to ensure continued improvement, growth and development, HCS merged with Procare (Kent) Ltd. to form the HCS Group. The merger enabled the organisation to reduce central operating costs and enabled these resources to be reinvested back into front line services. Since the merger the Aylesford, Margate and Whitstable offices have been continually striving to consolidate working practices and share best practice throughout the organisation. The Directors of HCS see this as an ongoing process and is an integral part of our continuing commitment to develop high quality services across the County.

Whilst continuing to develop the highest quality services, the company is developing its range of products to meet the needs of its current service users, whilst actively identifying and implementing innovative services to meet future market trends. The company is actively involved in the Strategic Development of Social Care in partnership with Local Authorities, Housing Trusts and Primary Care Trusts to meet the Governments targets for future Social Care provision.