Community Integrated Care and Inspire are set to merge.

Two Scottish social care providers, Community Integrated Care and Inspire, have announced their intention to merge.

The partnership is a strategic fit for both organisations. Inspire is set to benefit from Community Integrated Care’s significant size, scale and experience in implementing innovative systems, technologies and ground-breaking partnerships and initiatives.

For Community Integrated Care, the move is part of the charity’s Best Lives Possible strategy, which sets out an ambitious plan to expand their reach further, supporting more people in new geographical areas.

Community Integrated Care supports 2,500 people and employs 5,000 colleagues nationwide, over 280 and 1,000 in Scotland respectively. 

Inspire has a significant presence across North East Scotland, supporting 360 people and employing 570 staff. 

Both charities deliver award-winning support to people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and complex care needs, assisting them to live independently.

Jim Kane, chief executive officer at Community Integrated Care said: “The teams at Community Integrated Care and Inspire have been in discussions for a number of years about the exciting possibility of bringing our two organisations together. We’re delighted that the moment has finally arrived where we can take this confident step forward.

"The move presents many positives: the opportunity to learn new ways of working through best practice sharing, the ability to align resources to work more effectively, as well as supporting us to collectively build initiatives that will improve the lives of our people.

“Of course, we know that the challenging landscape in social care makes collaboration within our sector key. The union between our two organisations will not only support us to scale up and expand our work and mission across Scotland, but through a united voice, we hope that we can also have greater influence across the sector and demonstrate the true value of consolidation.”

There are significant synergies between both charities including shared heritage, values and vision for the future of social care. 

The organisations mark their 35th birthdays this year, having both been founded in 1988 with a mission to ensure people with support needs lead lives of choice, independence and opportunity, as active citizens in their own communities.  

Throughout the coming months, both organisations will be working closely to ensure a smooth transition for colleagues and people supported, with the intention for the merger to be complete in August 2023. 

It is anticipated that only a small number of roles may be potentially affected, with all frontline colleagues and frontline managers transferring to Community Integrated Care in line with TUPE regulations. 

Linda Gray, chief executive officer at Inspire, said: “Over the last few years, it’s been my honour to lead our charity in making great strides towards our ambition of being a care provider and employer of choice in Scotland. I’ve been proud to be involved in some huge successes: building quality Care Inspectorate grades, creating a positive reputation with our partners, and most importantly, fostering fantastic relationships with the people we support and their loved ones. We know that we can continue to achieve more of these great things by partnering with Community Integrated Care.

“Underpinning everything is our aim to ensure sustainability for our people, particularly given the environment all care providers are currently facing. Through this merger we will bring the best of Inspire and Community Integrated Care together - our goals, values and passion - so that we can continue to flourish with the benefits that come with being part of a large organisation.”