Celebrating 35 years(1986 – 2021)
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As we celebrate 35 years of providing care in your community, we’ve put together a timeline of some of the key events in Agincare’s history.
Agincare
A change of direction
As a young man, Derek Luckhurst worked in London in the defence industry and wanted to find ways to make the most of his entrepreneurial and strategic nature. Derek had friends who owned care homes, and in the mid-1980s he spotted a gap in the market. His vision was to create a new style of care home, that offered high-quality personalised care and facilities at a really affordable price. This lead Derek back home to Weymouth and was the beginning of Agincare as we know it today.
Agincourt, a family effort
Derek purchased his first care home, Agincourt in Weymouth, Dorset. The Luckhurst family lived on-site at Agincourt, all working on renovating the building.
▶ Derek shares some memories with us from the early days at Agincourt.
“I came back to Weymouth as I always have and still do, love Weymouth.”
Derek Luckhurst
Home Care
Building on Agincourt’s good local reputation, Derek saw an opportunity to expand the organisation to provide domiciliary care. Since 1993 Agincare home care, has gone from strength to strength and we now provide reliable, flexible and affordable home care to people across the country.
▶ Holly, a member of our home care team & Mrs Holloway took the time to tell us what Home Care means to them – it really is a powerful endorsement of the positive difference we make to people’s lives.
Agincare, caring in your community
Agincare LTD became a registered company in the early 90’s.
Meals on wheels
It soon became apparent that care and support was needed in a less traditional sense. Meals on wheels delivered free hot meals to vulnerable members of the community. Food was delivered one, two or three times a day. Drivers were also trained care workers who provided a 15 minute free care check. Each year over 250,000 meals were delivered.
Building strong partnerships
In 1994, Agincare was one of the first care providers in the country to be awarded a local authority, block contract for home care for older people. This partnership with (then) Dorset County Council, paved the way for future contracts. We now have over 70+ public sector contracts across the country, delivering a range of care and support services.
“The first public sector contract with Dorset County Council was really the start of Agincare. I remember the moment of elation when we found out that we had won the contract.”
Derek Luckhurst
Raina Summerson joins Agincare
A qualified social worker with a Masters in Mental Health Services, Raina has worked in social care since 1989, both privately and in the Local Authority/NHS environment. Before joining Agincare, Raina was a (formerly CSCI) Regulatory Inspector with five years’ experience of registering and inspecting care homes and domiciliary care agencies.
Raina, a passionate and dedicated advocate for social care, also works closely with the UKHCA and other national bodies in respect of lobbying for the social care sector.
“I have absolutely no doubt that under Raina’s management, that the business will continue to grow and grow.”
Derek Luckhurst
Live-in care
Agincare’s services expanded once more to provide live-in care, giving 24hr one-to-one care in the comfort and security of clients own homes. Over the past 16years, the live-in service has grown to provide care and support to many people across the country, and our care teams receive glowing feedback .
▶️ Hove resident Peter discovered live-in care and it’s no exaggeration to say that it changed his life.
Care & Nursing Homes
From the late noughties, the number of care & nursing homes began to grow. Take a look over the past three decades at how we’ve expanded to over 20 care homes, nursing homes and retirement villages providing our residents with the comfort, security and support that they need.
Agincare, Extra Care
In 2010, Agincare Extra Care was created. Over the past 11 years, the service has grown and there are now care teams based at 17 extra care schemes across England.
Someone living at an extra care scheme owns, rents or part-rents their own purpose-built secure, self-contained home, helping them keep their independence.
Agincare House, Admiralty buildings
Not only is Admiralty House home to 80 Agincare support function team members, but it is also home to the D-day centre, a museum visited by many tourists and schools throughout the year.
Agincare has a deep family connection to Weymouth and Portland, and Castletown in particular. Derek Luckhurst grew up in Weymouth, and his father, grandfather and two uncles all worked in the naval base on Portland – his father as a deep-sea diver. Derek has spearheaded the Castletown Regeneration Project.
Training Now
Agincare has always taken a proactive approach to training. Since 2017 our training arm, Training Now has been delivering practical social care, education and business apprenticeships to both Agincare care teams and learners from other organisations.
Agincare care worker first person in Dorset to get Covid vaccine
On a historic day in the fight against coronavirus, a frontline care worker at Agincare’s Cheriton Care Home in Dorchester was the first person in Dorset to be given the Covid vaccination.
2020, the year the world stood still & we all came together
Agincare has always been a company with family at its core, and through the most difficult of times, our bond has never been stronger. The Covid-19 pandemic challenged us all in ways we didn’t think possible, it was a very difficult year and one we will not forget. But 2020 did have it’s positive moments, we became the recipients of care in the community. The kindness and generosity from local business, community groups, voluntary organisations and neighbours was truly heartwarming.
The Agincare Senior Leadership Team
“As the company grows, it gives us the ability to recruit more professional and capable staff. It wasn’t until I was able to recruit people like Raina Summerson, who with all their ability and personal qualities and growth potential, that I was able to see as a vision the place where we are at today. I am incredibly proud of the senior management team here at Agincare, they are evolving the business and services that we provide – taking us to a level that 5 years ago I wouldn’t have dreamt of.”
Derek Luckhurst
Exciting expansion north for our live-in care service!
Another step forward in Agincare’s expansion across the country, we are excited to be opening a new live-in care regional head office in Harrogate, North Yorkshire this spring. Establishing a team in the Harrogate regional head office will give us a local, professional team on the ground, able to match even more clients to our experienced care team members.
Covid hero medals for absolutely fabulous Agincare team
Star of film and television Joanna Lumley recorded a special video message paying tribute to the heroic efforts of our team members as they received a special Covid Hero Medal in recognition of their dedication and commitment during the pandemic to those they care for and support.
New supported living service for Kent
Our Agincare Enable team is delighted to announce the opening of a new supported living for younger adults service in Rainham, Kent with high quality accommodation made up of self-contained studio units and a self-contained annexe.
Raina is a Voice of the Industry!
Our Chief Executive Raina Summerson has been recognised as a Voice of the Industry in Home Care Insight’s inaugural Power List, which recognises and celebrates adult social care’s most influential leaders, who are shining examples of excellence and innovation.
Home Care team of the year!
We’re delighted to announce that our South Devon End of Life Project, which is part of our live-in care service, has won regional Home Care Team of the Year in the Great British Care Awards.
Lifetime Achievement Award for Derek!
Our Chairman and Founder Derek Luckhurst was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious Leaders in Care Awards! The awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of care providers nationwide. It comes as Agincare celebrates the 35th anniversary of Derek opening his first care home in Weymouth.
