Best of the best celebrated as Lifeways reveals annual CHOICE Awards winners

They say teamwork is the secret that makes ordinary people achieve extraordinary results. 

We embody that spirit at Lifeways by celebrating the amazing people and teams who go above and beyond to live and breathe our CHOICE values. 

We are delighted to announce nine exceptional winners of this year's Lifeways CHOICE Awards.  

These outstanding individuals have demonstrated unwavering commitment to our core values – Caring, Honest, One Team, Innovative, Courageous, Equal – in delivering amazing experiences to both the people we support and their team mates. 

Meet our winners 

Elaine Riley - Deputy Manager, Croft House, Preston, Lancashire 

While Elaine demonstrates all the CHOICE values, her ability to pull the staff team together during challenging times stands out remarkably. She ensures the team feels fully supported, helps with paperwork while maintaining her deputy duties, and motivates everyone to do their best every day. Elaine works amazingly with the people we support and ensures staff work as a cohesive team, never failing to bring out the best in everyone at Croft House.

Pauline Mdlongwa - Support Worker, Chantry Close, Doncaster 

After many years of dedicated service and considering retirement, Pauline chose to stay when her team-mate fell ill during a period of significant change. For the past 18 months, she has taken everything in her stride, continuing to deliver high-quality care while setting aside personal goals. Through stressful and exhausting times, Pauline has spread positivity throughout the service, ensuring smooth transitions, covered support hours, and organised appointments. Her selfless commitment to supporting both the ladies in her care and her team-mate Emma has been extraordinary.

Alistair Robertson - Deputy Manager, The Barn, Lincoln 

Ally goes above and beyond as a deputy manager, ensuring all the people we support can access everything they want in the community and have genuine choice in their support. As the pioneering case for the Deputy (rostering software) rollout, he has made sure staff are properly looked after during this transitional process. Ally has everyone's best interests at heart and works tirelessly both in the foreground and behind the scenes to deliver exceptional support.

Johnathon Hughes - Registered Manager, Heron Court, Edinburgh 

In just two months since joining our team, Johnathon has shown exceptional dedication to our Charter for Involvement, ensuring that the voices of those we support are not only heard but actively acted upon. His commitment to improving the Heron Court service in Scotland has been remarkable, bringing people together and fostering strong teamwork. Team-mates now feel listened to, valued, and comfortable approaching the leadership team, which has significantly aided staff retention. Johnathon truly embodies our One Team value and has made a significant impact in a remarkably short time. 

The 518 Stretford Road Team, Stretford, Manchester

This exceptional team of 12 staff members joined Lifeways in July 2024 and demonstrated incredible determination and resilience while being moved between various Manchester services before their permanent base was ready. Despite not having a stable location or the opportunity to work consistently with their designated team members, they showed remarkable strength and team spirit. The team supported each other through work chats and training sessions, maintaining contact and mutual support throughout the transition. Their resilience and commitment as they finally come together at Stretford Road is truly inspiring. 

Ashia Milliken - Service Manager, Haddon Court, Peterborough

Through significant changes and challenges over the past year, Ashia has been fundamental in supporting her team and service. She enthusiastically embraced new systems and successfully supported the team's adoption of both Deputy and Nourish projects within demanding timeframes. During a difficult period, she oversaw the entire Peterborough service while maintaining the high standards we expect. Ashia consistently goes above and beyond for both the supported individuals and her staff team, often working outside of normal hours, with an unwavering focus on achieving outstanding results. 

Renu Chambers - Regional Quality Manager, North West Region (Remote)

Renu consistently works collaboratively with other support functions and provides invaluable hands-on support to operations teams. She stands up fearlessly for the people we support, advocating strongly for their rights to live in clean, safe environments. She escalates issues to those who can use their voice to make meaningful change on behalf of the people we support. Renu doesn't accept excuses and persistently pushes forward to achieve the same quality of life standards for the people we support that everyone deserves. She's the kind of team-mate you always want on your team because she demands the best and will stand up to achieve it.

Adrian Coles - Area Manager, South West Region 

Adrian truly embodies every single one of Lifeways' values, but over recent months, their One Team ethos has particularly stood out. They have been a constant positive and supportive point of contact for recruitment efforts while hiring for different roles across the South West region. Adrian is a fantastic team mate and Area Manager, consistently working flexibly and proactively across operations and with various support functions. They are a genuine Lifeways champion and an amazing person to work alongside, bringing positivity and dedication to everything they do.

Andrea Kinkade, Chief Executive at Lifeways, said: “Our CHOICE Awards represent the very best of what makes Lifeways special - our people. Each annual winner was chosen from hundreds of nominations made throughout the year and each has shown exceptional dedication to improving the lives of those we support while fostering positive, collaborative working environments.  

“Their stories demonstrate the profound impact that committed, caring individuals can have on both the people we support and their team-mates. Congratulations to all our winners! Your commitment to excellence makes a real difference every day, and we are proud to have you as part of the Lifeways family.”

Hear what some of our winners had to say about working for Lifeways

 

If you want to become part of the Lifeways team, check out our latest opportunities here: https://lifeways.co.uk/careers