Lara Bywater is Managing Director of LDC Care Co Ltd, a family-run provider delivering specialist residential and supported living services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs across Kent and Medway. With more than two decades of experience in adult social care, Lara is recognised for her passionate and practical leadership, championing person-centred support that empowers individuals to live fulfilling and independent lives.
Working alongside her brother and the wider leadership team, Lara has helped grow LDC Care from a single residential service into a diverse organisation supporting individuals with increasingly complex needs through innovative and compassionate models of care. Her work focuses on creating environments where people are supported to thrive, while also building strong workplace cultures that prioritise staff wellbeing, inclusion, and professional development.
Lara is also an active voice within the wider social care sector. She is a Director of the Kent Integrated Care Alliance and The Outstanding Society, and regularly contributes to national conversations on workforce development, quality improvement, regulation, and human rights in care. She has spoken at industry-leading events including the Care Show and has contributed to sector-wide initiatives aimed at improving retention, wellbeing, and equality across adult social care.
At the LaingBuisson conference, Lara brings a frontline leadership perspective shaped by operational experience, innovation, and a commitment to improving outcomes for both people receiving support and the workforce delivering it.