At the end of April it was time for our annual Leadership Conference – bringing together Service Managers and Central Support Colleagues for 2 days full of learning, sharing accomplishments, networking, and embodying our values of kindness, creativity, and commitment.
And a key part of those 2 days were our awards evening, reflecting on the incredible accomplishments of the past year and raising our glasses to some outstanding colleagues who have gone above and beyond to make every moment matter at Consensus. Awarding 15 people, teams, and services with awards, we also celebrated many others who were highly commended in the 14 award categories, all nominated by their colleagues across Consensus.
So, without further adieu, meet this years Leadership Conference award winners…
Ensuring colleagues are happy, healthy and feel safe and supported every day, the evening was started by celebrating Emma Smith (Service Manager at The Beehive) winning the ‘Wellbeing Champion Award’ at Consensus. Emma is someone who weaves wellbeing into everything they do at The Beehive. Ensuring colleagues feel supported with their mental health and to speak open, Emma is helping to lead the way in what a caring & passionate manager looks like.
Also recognised for weaving wellbeing into everything they do, Lisa Parker, Lesley Gazeley, and Debbie Mitchell were also shortlisted for the award.
Working towards a more sustainable future that goes further than simply recycling, Sarah Jordan (Service Manager at Vale House) was recognised as this years Sustainability Leader. Sarah has contributed towards steps this year to create a service that is sustainable – both environmentally and socially and acted as a role model as we expand our sustainability initiatives across Consensus services nationwide.
Also recognised for spearheading sustainability and shortlisted for the award were Claudia Vaidean, Christopher Lack, Kayleigh Williams, Lisa Chambers, and Padmini Ali-Ayube.
Truly embodying the principles of Fish Philosophy ‘Choose Your Attitude, Be There, Make Their Day, and Play’ in the workplace, Lukasz Obroslak (Service Manager at Clare House) received the Fish Philosopher Award. Lukasz is always taking deliberate steps to make people’s days, introducing fun and laughter so their workplace is somewhere colleagues really enjoy being. From dancing his way on to stage to wearing an inflatable unicorn costume (yep, that’s right!) on day 2 of our conference to create some belly laughter fun, Lukasz’s passion for the Fish Philosophy is evident to everyone around him.
Natalie Turley, Chris Charles, Monica Airinei and Cara Hoyland were also shortlisted for their commitments to introducing the Fish Philosophy.
Recognising one of our Service Managers who has embraced and advocated for new systems and technology, and actively supported Consensus on their journey to new and improved ways of working, the winner of the Digital Advocate Award was Charlotte Aldridge (Service Manager at Ellsworth House). With us fully in our digitalisation journey, our colleagues help to shape how we test, implement, and continue using digital tools to the best of our advantage, and Charlotte has played a part in creating a smoother journey for everyone.
Congratulations also goes to Brendan Butcher, Elliott Goodwin, Cara Hoyland, and Kasia Polacik-Solecka who were also shortlisted in their support along the digitalisation journey.
Celebrating a Central Support Colleague or Team who consistently supports, commits, and collaboratively works with others to make Consensus a Great Place to Work, The Quality Team received the award for ‘The Best Support Act’. Impossible to pick just one person from the quality team, collectively they’ve been instrumental in making a difference at Consensus. Ensuring quality is at the forefront of everything we do and ensuring our standards lead to delivering exceptional care for the people we support, the support the team provide is appreciated by all.
Also recognised for their hard efforts, we saw Sophie Giles-Warnes, Christina Browne, Zoë Brooks, and Jo Coulson shortlisted.
Focusing this years conference on our values, we also celebrated those who embody them. First up was the Creativity Award, recognising a Service Manager who embodies the spirit of creatively, thinking differently to make a meaningful impact every day. Finding new and effective ways to support people and empower colleagues, Natalie Turley (Service Manager at Valley House) won the award. Natalie has embraced creativity at Valley House, always thinking of fun and new ways to engage the people we support and colleagues too.
Well done to Megan Hughes, Heather Sinnott, Istvan Jambor, and Melany Houghton who were shortlisted.
New for this year, we also celebrated the Kindness Award, with not one, but two incredible winners – Emmanuel Uwimana (Service Manager at De Parys) and Emily Ruiz (Service Manager at Frinton House). Both demonstrating empathy, understanding, and compassion, their kindness is contagious, inspiring others to pass it on – always with a beaming and infectious smile on their faces.
Congratulations also goes to Donna Oliver-Fitch, Monica Airinei, and Gill Greenall who were shortlisted for the award.
Recognising our final value, Daniel Moase (Service Manager at Grammar School House) won the Commitment Award. Consistently going the extra mile, Daniel finds solutions where others see obstacles. Committed to making every moment matter for colleagues and the people we support, his unwavering dedication to your values and relentless drive to make a difference sees him as a role model.
Also recognised for their hard efforts, we saw Mavis Musarambane, Olanike Owopetu, Steven Fisher, Monika Bielskyte, and Chris Woolgar shortlisted.
Winning the ‘Rising Star Award’, Tina Fitzjohn (Service Manager at Fletton Avenue) was recognised for her journey since joining Consensus. Having been in her role for less than a year, Tina has gone above and beyond and acts as an inspiration to her team. One of the people she supports at Fletton Avenue, Mani, expressed his happiness in having her running Fletton Avenue on day 2 of our conference when he shared how our values impact him – “Tina, we love you. I’m so happy to have her as our home manager, give Tina a round of applause please everyone!”. The gratitude from Mani speaks for itself.
Alongside Tina, we recognised Emma Bilton, Denise Wareing, Anthony Keogh, Andreea A Sosa, and Cheryl Parker who were also shortlisted for their journey at Consensus.
Celebrating a service in the North, South, and from Creative Care who we recently acquired, we recognised 3 teams who work collaboratively to ensure the support they deliver makes a real and meaningful difference – ensuring every moment matters within their services.
Sternhill Paddock from Creative Care were celebrated for working together as a strong and supportive unit, showing compassion, kindness, and honesty in everything they do. Their collaborative approach ensures that the support they provide is meaningful and has a real impact.
Winning for the North, Ty Hendy were celebrated for making every moment matter for the people they support. Embodying our values and working as a team with such ease and appreciation for one another, everyone takes pride in what they do.
And winning for the South we had Church View. One of our newly developed services, Church View has acted as a role model service in what a new development should look like – working tirelessly to welcome new people into their wonderful and uniquely developed homes.
Celebrating a manager who has gone above and beyond in their role, Katrina Pender received the ‘Manager of the Year Award’. Working as a peri-manager across multiple services, Katrina’s exceptional support, leadership, and morale has helped many a service to transform how our colleagues work together, and ensure every moment matters for the people we support.
A big congratulations to those shortlisted too, including Monica Airinei, Charlotte Edwards, Lorraine Hewlett, Pamela Mitchell, Daniel Moase, Lesley Gazeley, Claudia Vaidean, and Rachel Deku.
And finally, a very special surprise additional award for the evening, was the Natalie Kennedy Award. In remembrance of our late colleague Natalie, who passionately worked as part of the Consensus Team for 2 years, this award recognised a Service Manager who embodied Natalie’s unique drive and commitment, in harmony with her incredible kindness and thoughtfulness.
With Monika Bielskyte winning the award. Her undivided passion to supporting people to flourish alongside her kindness and thoughtfulness in every interaction shines throughout Consensus.
An evening full of laughter, celebrations, embodying our values, and reflecting on outstanding people and stories that embody making every moment matter at Consensus; it’s not only our winners that make Consensus a great place to live and work, it’s every single colleague.
Working together to inspire positive outcomes, celebrate every achievement, and embrace every moment; we are committed to ensuring every moment matters – we are creative, we are kind, we are committed.
None of this would be possible without thanks to our wonderful sponsors. JKS Contracting, Octopus Networks, Radar Healthcare, Neuven, CMS UK, Daisy Communications, Acute, JEM Property, Stirling Square, Compass Associates, Realise, and Newline. – thank you for supporting us to make every moment matter.
