HCRG Care Group awarded contract to deliver Intermediate Care and Reablement Service in Medway
HCRG Care Group has been awarded a £40.7 million contract to deliver Medway’s Intermediate Care and Reablement Service (ICRS), following a competitive procurement process led by Medway Council.
The award marks another important milestone for HCRG Care Group in community health delivery, building on its growing presence across Kent and Medway. HCRG Care Group has been delivering adult services across Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and Swale since 2016, and in 2025 became part of a new partnership with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and Medway Community Healthcare to enhance community healthcare under contracts awarded by NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board.
The contract will commence on 1 October 2026 for an initial five-year term, with the option to extend for a further four years. It will see HCRG Care Group deliver a fully integrated intermediate care and reablement service for people across Medway, bringing together home-based and bedded pathways into a single, streamlined model.
The new contract further strengthens HCRG Care Group’s position as a trusted partner for local authorities and NHS commissioners, supporting system-wide priorities to improve access, reduce hospital stays and deliver more care closer to home.
The Medway service will provide joined-up health and wellbeing support for adults transitioning from hospital to home, or at risk of admission, with a focus on restoring independence, reducing reliance on long-term care, and improving outcomes.
HCRG Care Group has extensive experience in delivering intermediate care and reablement services in Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, Swale and across the country. Drawing on that expertise, its focus will be on providing high-quality, person-centred support that meets the needs of local communities.
Debbie Lindon-Taylor, Managing Director of Adult Community Health Services – North Kent, at HCRG Care Group, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to deliver Medway’s Intermediate Care and Reablement Service. Our approach will focus on ensuring people receive the right support at the right time, with greater accessibility, strong system partnerships, and an emphasis on prevention and early intervention, adopting a Home First ethos.
“We look forward to working closely with Medway Council and our new colleagues to ensure a smooth transition and continued excellence in care.
“By bringing together home-based and bedded care into a single service, we will create a cohesive model that delivers preventative, recovery-focused care at scale.
“We will use the time between now and when our contract begins in October 2026 to work with the current provider, Medway Community Healthcare, to ensure a smooth transition and identify opportunities to further enhance services for local people.”
Initiatives being planned so far include:
- A single, integrated service model combining home-based and bedded reablement pathways
- Strengthened partnership working with voluntary and community sector organisations
- Expanded service scope to include bariatric and non-weight-bearing pathways
- Enhanced care transfer hub working to support timely hospital discharge
- A focus on data integration, outcomes tracking and continuous improvement
- Working closely with transferring colleagues, recognising their expertise and local knowledge to ensure continuity of care and help shape the future service
