Last week at our annual Leadership Conference, we spent the evening of day 1 celebrating at our Award Evening; recognising some of our fantastic colleagues who are at the heart of the greatest moments at Consensus, recognising 14 winners across 13 categories, alongside many highly commended colleagues nominated by their peers.
We also celebrated the Greatness Award, recognising colleagues at the heart of those standout “greatness moments” at Consensus, chosen from our Every Moment Award winners. These amazing individuals will be announced separately – celebrating those who consistently create special moments for the people we support and their colleagues.
But this year, our awards were truly special, as we welcomed actress, model, and Strictly superstar Ellie Goldstein to the stage to talk about her journey of personal resilience as her story of determination, confidence, and breaking barriers inspired everyone in the room. Ellie’s speech was truly one of those moments that stayed with us long after the night ended. Ellie also joined us in presenting the awards to each winner, so, meet this year’s Leadership Award winners;
Celebrating a team driving meaningful environmental and social change, Ty Cwtch were recognised for their actions towards creating a more sustainable future. At Ty Cwtch, they’ve been collecting food and donating to charities & food banks, alongside ensuring they recycle everything in their service. Their latest initiative really has gone above & beyond to make a difference, as they’ve been reusing plastic bottle and filling them with soft plastics, to donate these to charity which are then shipped to countries in Africa, to help build schools and houses. An amazing example of initiation and initiative at Ty Cwtch.
Also recognised for spearheading sustainability and shortlisted for the award were Gretton House, Parklands, The Woodlands, and Ipswich Supported Living.
Truly embodying the principles of Fish Philosophy – Choose Your Attitude, Be There, Make Their Day, and Play – in the workplace, Chris Woolgar (Service Manager at Strawberry Fields) has been awarded this year’s Fish Philosopher Award. With seven years of dedicated service, Chris consistently brings energy, positivity, and presence to his role, creating an environment where both colleagues and the people we support feel valued and uplifted. Passionate about making every moment matter, he leads by example; encouraging fun and a genuine sense of enjoyment across the service.
Never afraid to embrace his playful side, Chris brings the ‘Play’ principle to life – from dressing up in inflatable fish costumes and acting the “silly sausage,” to leading his team in creative, joy-filled activities that put smiles on faces. He has also gone above and beyond by delivering FISH! workshops, ensuring his team fully embraces the philosophy in their everyday work. As the South 1 FISH champion, Chris’s enthusiasm and commitment have created a ripple effect of positivity, making him a truly deserving and inspiring winner of this year’s award.
Donna Oliver-Fitch, Heather Sinnott, Pamela Paterson, and Padmini Ali-Ayube were also shortlisted for their commitments to introducing the Fish Philosophy.
Recognising a Service Manager who has embraced and championed new systems and technology, and actively supported Consensus on its journey to improved ways of working, the Digital Advocate Award this year goes to Chloe Horton (Service Manager at Charnwood House). Chloe has thoughtfully introduced assistive technology into her service, always focusing on what will make things safer and better for both colleagues and the people we support. She has taken the time to understand the tools, guiding her team through change and ensuring they are used in a way that truly adds value day to day.
What stands out most is Chloe’s people-centred approach – using technology with purpose to create safer environments, build staff confidence, and improve outcomes for the people they support.
Congratulations also goes to Cara Hoyland, Daniel Moase, Elliott Goodwin, and Martyn Shepherd who were also shortlisted in their support along the digitalisation journey.
Awarded to a leader who champions growth, learning, and opportunity, the Development Champion Award goes to Dawn Greenfield (Service Manager at Courtwick Park). Dawn’s passion for developing people is clear in everything she does; through her coaching and belief in others, she has built a confident, capable team who take pride in their work and support the wider organisation.
Her commitment extends beyond her team, creating meaningful opportunities for the people we support through inclusion, shared experiences, and community engagement. With warmth, energy, and a constant drive to help others grow, Dawn truly embodies what it means to make every moment matter.
Congratulations also goes to Emma Field, Helen Downs, Kimberley Little, and Margaret Elliott who were also shortlisted in their support along the digitalisation journey.
Celebrating a Central Support colleague who consistently collaborates, supports, and strengthens services across Consensus, this year’s ‘Best Support Act’ Award goes to Jo Coulson (Senior L&OD Business Partner) and Lou (Head of Quality Assurance). Both have made a significant impact in driving quality, development, and improvement across the organisation.
Jo has delivered outstanding leadership programmes over the past two years, consistently receiving excellent feedback for her engaging and empowering approach. Her training builds confidence, reflection, and renewed purpose, with colleagues describing her as inspiring, knowledgeable, and a credit to Consensus.
Lou has played a key role in supporting service improvement and inspection readiness, helping teams navigate challenges with clarity, empathy, and direction. Her guidance has helped transform services and build confidence in managers, contributing to real and lasting improvements in quality and outcomes.
Also recognised for their hard efforts, we saw Hannah Jenkinson, Harvey Hibble, Kayleigh Turner, Tim Panther, and Victoria Nemar shortlisted.
Well done to Helen Downs, Jamie Hale, Megan Hughes, Natalie Turley, Steven Fisher, and Tracey Hardwick, who were shortlisted.
Congratulations also goes to Cara Hoyland, Donna Oliver-Fitch, Jennifer Hartridge, Julie Cariga, and Mavis Musarambane who were shortlisted for the award.
Recognises someone whose dedication goes beyond their role, showing up, stepping up, and making every moment matter through unwavering support, the Commitment Award celebrates outstanding consistency and impact. This year’s winner is Melany Houghton (Service Manager at Ipswich Central Supported Living).
Mel consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment, leading with high standards and a strong focus on person-centred care. Despite managing multiple services, she remains hands-on, supportive, and proactive, ensuring colleagues and the people we support feel valued while continuously driving quality and improvement.
Also recognised for their hard efforts, we saw Anthony Keogh, Jonathon Booker, Lesley Gazeley, Megan Hughes, and Susan Latim Anywar shortlisted.
Recognises someone who has flourished in their role, growing in skill, confidence, and impact, the Rising Star Award goes to Lucy Pickering (Black Bull Lane). Lucy stepped into a complex, newly established service and quickly brought structure, positivity, and determination, driving meaningful improvements for both colleagues and the people we support.
She leads with strong values, a willingness to learn, and a focus on continuous improvement. Lucy is deeply committed, often going above and beyond to ensure the best outcomes, and her growing confidence and impact clearly mark her as a rising star with a very bright future ahead.
Alongside Lucy, we recognised Andreea Sosa, Chloe Horton, Jamie Hale, and Tracey Hardwick who were also shortlisted for their journey at Consensus.
Also recognised for weaving wellbeing into everything they do, Andrea Higgs, Kayleigh Williams, Pat Haley, and Rachel Deku were also shortlisted for the award.
Celebrates a team that works collaboratively to deliver exceptional support and create meaningful, positive impact every day, the Outstanding Team (North) Award goes to The Old Vicarage, Ollerton.
Despite years of instability and change, the team has remained committed to the people they support, consistently delivering person-centred care with resilience, compassion, and professionalism.
Through rebuilding their culture and working together with a shared purpose, they have strengthened relationships, improved morale, and created a more positive, supportive environment for both colleagues and the people they support.
Honours a manager who inspires others, leads with excellence, and makes a significant positive difference to colleagues and the people we support, the Manager of the Year Award goes to Anthony Keogh.
When Anthony joined the service, he stepped into a challenging environment and quickly took ownership, stabilising the team, improving leadership, and rebuilding trust and relationships. He consistently leads by example, often picking up additional shifts, supporting colleagues directly, and ensuring continuity of care for the people we support.
Anthony is deeply committed to improving outcomes and empowering both colleagues and the people we support. Through his leadership, the service has seen significant cultural and operational improvement, stronger family relationships, and meaningful progress in people’s independence and wellbeing — making him a truly deserving winner of this year’s biggest award.
A big congratulations to those shortlisted too, including Andreea Sosa, Charlotte Aldridge, Chris Kightley-Lack, Emma Smith, Emmanuel Uwimana, Gill Greenhall, and Kayleigh Williams.
A surprise addition on the night, we couldn’t help but recognise a colleague who really did go above & beyond to embody this year’s award theme of Sparkles. Welcoming Lukasz Obroslak (Service Manager at Clare House) to the stage, his shirt stole the show – dazzling us all!
An evening filled with celebration, laughter, and recognition of the incredible people and stories that bring our values to life – well done to all our winners.
And none of this would be possible without thanks to our wonderful sponsors – thank you for supporting us to make every moment matter.
