Acquisitions, mergers, disposals and investment activity involving learning disability and complex care providers.
Acquisition
Completed
Announced 12 Oct 2026· Completed 12 Oct 2026· United Kingdom
Voyage Care acquires Orchard Healthcare Group
Voyage Care has completed its acquisition of Orchard Healthcare Group, a specialist dementia care provider known for its person-centred Reconnect model of complex dementia and mental health care in the community. Voyage Care chief executive Mike McKessar said the common ground between the organisations is specialist, person-centred care for people with complex needs. Orchard will continue to operate as a separate organisation under chief executive Hayden Knight, with care and support continuing as normal while the two organisations share learning.
Announced 7 Oct 2026· United Kingdom (North West London base)
Project Warmth: specialist supported living provider offered for sale by Hilco
Hilco is offering for sale the business and assets of an established UK-based specialist care provider supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex mental health needs. The provider delivers supported living, outreach, domiciliary care and emergency/respite support, is CQC registered (Overall: Good), and reported turnover of c. £1.57m for the year ended 30 June 2025. Assets for sale include local authority contracts and all active placements, the trading name, website and IP, a freehold office in North West London, IT equipment and the experienced workforce. The provider is anonymised under the codename Project Warmth.
Announced 28 Sep 2026· Completed 28 Sep 2026· England and Wales
Hartford Care and Select Healthcare move into full operational consolidation
Hartford Care Group has confirmed it is merging operationally with Select Healthcare Group, taking responsibility for the management of all remaining Select homes. The Select brand is being retained for homes supporting people with complex medical needs, learning disabilities and psychological or emotional challenges. The enlarged portfolio totals 61 homes across England and Wales. The move follows Hartford's January 2026 transfer of 16 Select homes and coincides with the appointment of Nicky Barnes as Chief Operating Officer.
Announced 4 Sep 2026· Completed 4 Sep 2026· South and West Yorkshire, England
Voyage Care completes acquisition of Aspire in the Community
Voyage Care has completed the acquisition of Aspire in the Community, a residential care provider in South and West Yorkshire. Five residential care homes transfer to Voyage Care: The Gate, 13 Station Road, 199 Burton Road, Rushbrooke and Longwood House, across Barnsley and Huddersfield.
Announced 1 Sep 2026· Completed 1 Sep 2026· Hampshire, England
Avenues Group welcomes Love4Life
From 1 September 2026, Love4Life — a Hampshire-based social and friendship service for adults with learning disabilities and autistic people — has become part of Avenues Group. The Love4Life team transfers to Avenues, with activities and bookings continuing as planned alongside Autism Hampshire.
Iris Care Group acquires Elysium Cymru and two Newport supported-living services
Iris Care Group has acquired Elysium Cymru Ltd, adding The Grove and Kensington Place, two supported-living services in Newport, South Wales, to its specialist care portfolio.
Announced 2 Jan 2026· Completed 2 Jan 2026· England and Wales
Hartford Care takes on 16 care homes from Select Healthcare Group
Following the acquisition of Select Healthcare Group by Foundation Partners and Deer Capital, 16 fully operational homes across England and North Wales came under Hartford Care Group management, adding 801 bedrooms and taking the portfolio to 45 homes and 2,327 bedrooms. Homes span North Wales (Gresford, Wrexham), the Midlands (Doncaster, High Peak, Rochdale, Walsall, Wolverhampton) and the South (Basingstoke, Basildon, Ramsgate). Group turnover rose from £40m in 2023 to over £140m in 2026.
