Care provision since 1994

o   In the beginning – Back in the early 1990’s, when home care began to be privatised and local authorities put out contracts to businesses to tender for. It was in 1994 that Madeleine, our founder, managed to secure a contract with the local authority and KeyCare Community Care was born providing a service to those living in the City of Canterbury in Kent. By 1998 KeyCare had expanded and was providing over 1200 hours of care per week in the area’s of Canterbury, Faversham, Whitstable , Herne Bay and the rural villages dotted around those towns and cities.

o   A few years later – As the company grew in size; greater demands were being felt operationally and at the head office end due to new legislation from the Care Standards Act and introduction of a regulatory body. It was then when Shaun, Madeleine’s son joined the company, initially for a year or two to assist in the transition of moving from a medium size care provider to a large company. Demand was very high and so was competition from other providers. However, from the 110 companies which secured contracts from the local authority for care provision, less than 50 were still in operation by 2002. The main reason being that many thought this to be an industry which was easy and cash rich. They got a shock as running a care company is no piece of cake by any means.

In 2004 the company was in a position to take over the care operations currently run by the British Red cross in Dover, which is how we came to move our head offices out of Canterbury taking full advantage of the fresh sea air and the odd glimpse of France. This practically doubled the size of the company overnight and since then KeyCare has grown from strength to strength though its consistent standards of good care provided through its well informed team of carers.

o   Recently – In 2006 saw the launch of Kenthomecare.com, a new service launched for those who perhaps needed a higher level care and also did not want to move into a group care setting. Initially Kent Home Care provided a Live in Care and support service in Kent, London, Surrey and Sussex. However, only after a few months the Live in Care division was inundated with requests and had a waiting list of customers to join. In actual fact, Kent Home Care was forced to size down its coverage only to Kent due to this and it has remained this way since. Now the company, KeyCare Management Limited operates its community care division under the brand of KeyCare in Dover, Deal, Canterbury and all the surrounding villages. Live in Care and Support solutions are provided under the name kenthomecare.com.  So if you live in Kent, or just on the outskirts, please contact us to enquire about our Live in Care and Support services. And now in 2010 we have expanded and launched our services to southern Ireland under our new brand – kerryhomecare.com.

Family owned, family values – Now only one of a few remaining family run care providers in the area, Kerry Home Care has only seen further demand in the services which we offer. Feedback from potential and existing customers indicate that it is the local, community and family values the company holds true to heart which continues to create a demand and waiting list for the services that KeyCare, kenthomecare.com and kerryhomecare.com provide

Thin on the top, heavy on the floor – Less managers who tend to have an art of seat warming and coffee drinking, and more doers is the motto at Kerry Home Care. As a company, you will find that we operate rather differently to many other care providers and agencies. We keep a small, motivated and extremely knowledgeable team at our offices who’s sole role is to ensure the highest levels of care and support are offered to our customers and that our team of carers are provided with the training, skills, support, guidance and remuneration that continually ensures them to provide those high standards of care mentioned earlier.

Nearly all the major components of the company are outsourced , which ensures enough time to focus on what’s important – the customers first off and closely followed by the team which provides the services to them. With fewer managers and a flatter hierarchical system, should you contact Kerry Home Care, more than likely you will speak to one of the directors . Promoting an open and communicative environment for our team of carer’s has really paid off as they too do not need to complete forms and go through the ranks when problems arise. Happy, well informed and well benefited carer’s results in a happy customers , which in turn provides our best ambassadors for the company. Of course every company does experience the odd problem or issue every now and again, but even so, what makes all the difference is the speed at which these can be rectified and resolved with minimum disruption and complaint. Having this structure in the company means decisions are made faster and results happen quicker. Here there are no big titles, large desks or corner office suites with coffee facilities and en-suite bathrooms. Everyone here is part of the team and understands the larger, fuller picture of what a good care provider needs to be. No one is above anyone else just because of the part they play in the company, everyone is provided with the same respect and loyalty throughout the company , something which as a customer you will notice from day one of your service.

A Care Provider, not an agency – Another fact which are very proud of is that we are a care provider and not an agency. We, as a provider of Care services employ all of carers directly , whereas an agency operates on either a temporary , fixed term or self employed basis for the carers which work with them. Ensuring that our carer’s receive a good remuneration package and experience the benefits of full time, permanent employment with guaranteed hours has enabled us to provide a consistent and high standard of care services throughout Kerry. Looking after our team of carers is vital and just as important as our customers. A well informed, motivated and communicative team of happy carer’s ensures that our customer receiving the many different levels and types of service we provide are also happy and content. Ensuring these two factors is the secret to our success and continued good name for high quality, professional and value for money care services provision in Kerry and beyond.