About Echoes
Echoes Community Care is comprised of two companies that were purchased by the Somerset Group.
The first company was the original Echoes Community Care, based on the South coast, servicing Havant, Waterlooville, Portsmouth and the surrounding rural areas. Echoes had established itself as a market leader in respect of quality, flexibility and value for money. Somerset Care purchased Echoes in December 2004.
The second company was Gordon Care Services, taken over in January 2006. Gordon Care provided a diverse range of domiciliary care services (including Learning Disabilities) to the local communities across North Hampshire, with bases at Andover, Basingstoke, Church Crookham and Tadley. The company also had a reputation for quality, adaptability and best value.
In January 2007, both companies were consolidated under the Echoes name. This was to provide clients with faster and easier access to services across the County and secondly, to provide the Local Authorities with improved communication and systems, to promote closer working in partnership.
Echoes is also a not-for-profit provider – any excesses generated are redistributed to frontline operations. There are no sharesholders to reward. This ultimately means the client benefits from enhanced support and greater quality.
Echoes continues to work closely with Local Authorities in respect of the personalisation agenda: we have run pilot services to provide diversified services that are outcome focused and individually tailored. An example of this is our Community Access service – a 12 week objective targeted support service that re-integrates individuals back into the community.
Echoes has grown to expand beyond Hampshire’s borders. Major contracts have been won for both Surrey (Runnymede, Surrey Heath and Guildford South areas) and West Berkshire (Thatcham, Theale and rural areas). These contracts were primarily awarded based upon our quality, our value for money and recommendations from other Local Authorities.
The company continues to expand its private market share by ensuring services offered are best placed for the public to take full advantage of and are: personalised, at the right quality, at the right price, and have a broad range.
Echoes will continue to evolve as the company and its services further expand, the Government agenda develops and the sector changes to meet the ever-growing demand.
