From the everyday moments to the exceptional ones, we're proud to share with you the Consensus Impact Report for April 2023 - March 2024. Where every moment matters.
25 26
Impact Report 2025/26
External Ratings
12 Outstanding services FY25/26 95% services rated Good or Outstanding
FY24/25 92% services rated Good or Outstanding
We launched the Altra Family App so families can be even more involved.
23 Experts by Experience and growing!
We expanded our capacity by 53 places investing in 7 new services
98% 78% of colleagues completed Tier 1 training of colleagues completed Tier 2 training
In 2025, Consensus used the Forensic iPath to support
Forensic I-PATH
59 People we support across 18 services
of training completed hours 115,775
The people we support told us they have a great quality of life
Stronger Us Us training 86%
4% Vacancy levels less than We’ve reduced our use of agency staffing to
My Home 10/10
Feeling safe
9/10 9/10 8/10
Looking after my physical health
of colleagues completed resilience
Less than 0.5% of payroll
My work and education
Year rd 3
First Aiders for Mental Health providing our colleagues with invaluable support. 53
Ranked 37th in 2024 Ranked 16th in 2025
80%
90%
Of colleagues believe Consensus is a Great Place To Work
Ranked 30th in 2024 Ranked 28th in 2025
Achieved in 2024 Achieved in 2025
My work has special meaning: this is not "just a job"
45% of managers were promoted/recruited internally
91%
Ranked 33rd in 2024 Ranked 18th in 2025
Ranked 53rd in 2023 Ranked 17th in 2024 Ranked 14th in 2025
Of colleagues completed the Great Place To Work survey
Compliments increased by 180% during 2025/26
We are Carbon Neutral!
ZERO Electronic Waste Sent to Landfill
We achieved Cyber Essentials Plus keeping data even safer
Where Every Moment Matters .
As we reach the end of another year, I’ve been reflecting on everything we’ve experienced and achieved together. It’s been a year of progress, growth and impact but above all, a year shaped by the moments that truly matter. Every day, across our services, colleagues have shown incredible kindness, commitment and creativity supporting people to live full and meaningful lives, and helping us move forward as an organisation. That shared dedication continues to bring our purpose, vision, mission and values to life. We remain focused on providing high-quality specialist support in homes we’re proud of, creating an environment where colleagues thrive, and ensuring the people we support can live their best lives, now and into the future. There is so much to be proud of. I invite you to open this report and discover more about what we’ve achieved together over the past year. Paula Keys CEO
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 1
Throughout this report, where consent has been given, we have used real names and photographs to reflect genuine experiences. Where it has not, we have used alternative images and pseudonyms to protect people’s privacy.
Contents .
03 04 05
Our Purpose, Vision and Mission Values To Be Proud Of We’re An Upside-Down Organisation
Our Commitment to Quality
07 11
Our Quality Ratings Innovation Improving Outcomes Digital Systems Improving Outcomes Quality Of Life At Consensus Positive Behaviour Support Our Forensic Expertise Prader-Willi Syndrome Support Engaging With Families Family Feedback Stakeholder Feedback
12 13 15 17 19
22 24 25
A Great Place to Work
27 28 32 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 40 42 43
Great Place To Work Great Place To Work For Development Great Place To Work For Wellbeing Great Place To Work For Women Values Led Recruitment Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Where Recognition Matters
Where Kindness Matters Fun Around Consensus Leadership Conference Inspiring Leaders Inspiring Resilience Inspiring Colleagues
Environments to Flourish
45 47 48 49 55 56 57
Amazing New Places Creative Care A Year On 2025 Move-In Stories Our Commitment To Sustainability Consensus In Bloom Arts & Possibilities Week A Year of Fun
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 2
PURPOSE
At Consensus, our purpose is to provide high-quality specialist support to people with complex needs, in accommodation of which we are proud.
V I S I ON
Our vision is to be known for being a place... Where Every Moment Matters.
MI SS I ON To achieve this vision, our mission is to:
Provide the best quality of life for the people we support, ensuring every moment matters for every person, every day. Passionately deliver an exceptional working environment, and be a great place to work for every colleague. Sustainably grow our organisation to offer wonderful new homes and the very best environments for people to flourish.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 3
Values to be proud of .
Kindness. Commitment. Creativity. These are the values that shape us. Aligned to our purpose, vision, and mission, our values were selected by the people we support and colleagues collectively - ensuring that our values genuinely reflect who we are. Guiding us to celebrate everyday experiences and significant achievements, our values work alongside our promise of ‘Making Every Moment Matter’ to unify us. Our values drive our commitment to create a positive workforce, enhance the quality of life for those we support, and grow Consensus sustainably.
Our Values
We are kind We are committed
We are creative
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 4
People We Support
Services & Support Colleagues
We’re an Upside-Down Organisation.
Central Support Team
Executive Team
An upside-down organisation puts frontline teams first, with leaders focused on providing the support, tools and environment they need to do their best work.
At Consensus, this means the people we support, and the colleagues who support them every day, are at the top of our organisation, with everyone else there to help them succeed.
One way we bring this approach to life is by listening to our frontline colleagues and acting on what they tell us. Through our annual colleague survey, we gather feedback on what’s working well and where we can improve. This has led to changes including new systems being introduced in 2025/26 and the expansion of our Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Complex Support team. By turning feedback into action, we can better support our operational teams and improve outcomes for the people we support.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 5
Best Quality of Life.
Everything we do is centred on the people we support and the quality of the lives they lead. Guided by our mission to support people to have the best possible quality of life, we have continued to focus on ensuring every moment matters, for every person, every day, driving meaningful impact across our services.
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 6
Providing the best quality of life.
outstanding services We are proud to have 12
Our mission to provide the best quality of life is reflected in our performance. In 2025/26, 95% of our services were rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, Care Inspectorate Wales, the Care Inspectorate, and Ofsted, up from 92.3% the previous year. These results demonstrate our commitment to quality and provide confidence that people are receiving the highest standard of support. Quality Ratings
services rated Good or Outstanding
FY25/26 95%
External Ratings
Supporting 706 people across 114 services
FY24/25 92% services
Recognised Accreditations
rated Good or Outstanding
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 7
Providing the best quality of life.
We are proud of all our outstanding services! We have 12 outstanding services in total. Four achieved their outstanding rating in 2025/26. Incredible Inspections
Sternhill Paddock Outstanding CQC Rating.
“The provider was exceptional at making sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in their needs.” (CQC Report, 2026) A place where colleagues share a strong commitment to enabling the people we support to live rich, self-directed lives – we’re proud to share that Sternhill Paddock, our residential service in Eakring, Newark, has been rated OUTSTANDING following their 2026 CQC Inspection.
Charnwood House Outstanding CQC Rating.
“Staff provided compassionate and personalised care as they had excellent understanding of people’s needs, preferences and backgrounds. This helped them encourage people to take part in meaningful activities and work towards their aspirations.” Following their inspection in February 2026, the CQC found that Charnwood House delivers exceptional, person-centred support, with people at the very heart of everything it does.
(CQC Report, 2026)
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 8
Providing the best quality of life.
Incredible Inspections
The Old Red Lion Outstanding CQC Rating.
“The provider went above and beyond in adapting the environment to meet people’s individual sensory needs and known triggers. We observed warm, patient and attuned interactions throughout the home. Staff consistently used kind, reassuring approaches and demonstrated a genuine understanding of each person’s preferences, histories and emotional states.”
(CQC Report, 2026)
Ty Hendy Excellent CIW Inspection.
“People have excellent well-being outcomes as they lead high-quality, active, fulfilling lives supported by caring, motivated and dedicated staff.” In October 2025 the Care Inspectorate Wales inspected and rated Ty Hendy as ‘ Excellent ’ across the board. (CIW Report, 2025)
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 9
Providing the best quality of life.
Outstanding Services
In addition to the four services receiving top ratings in 2025/26, we’re incredibly proud that all of these services continue to hold Outstanding ratings from external regulators, reflecting the exceptional quality of support they provide every day.
Ipswich North Supported Living
Ipswich Central Supported Living
Haydock House, Residential
Kingarth, Residential
Heatherington House, Residential
Wellingborough Supported Living
Holland House, Residential
Cheshire House, Residential
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 10
Providing the best quality of life.
Innovation Improving Outcomes
Sometimes people may not be able to recognise or communicate that they are in pain. Changes in wellbeing can often be identified through other signs, such as eating and drinking patterns. To help colleagues spot potential health concerns early and respond quickly, we developed our SAFER Escalation Protocol. S.A.F.E.R. Escalation Protocol
Introduced in 2025, SAFER (See it, Assess it, Flag it, Engage and Review) is our innovative approach to bringing health, quality and operational data together in one place. Through clear, easy-to-use dashboards, it gives colleagues a complete picture of wellbeing, helping them spot trends, identify emerging risks and take timely action.
By creating a single, integrated view, SAFER supports more informed decision-making and a proactive approach to care. This has already delivered positive results in areas such as sepsis detection and seizure management, helping colleagues respond quickly, keep people safe and achieve better outcomes for the people we support.
ASSESS IT
REVIEW
SEE IT
FLAG IT
ENGAGE
The Impact of SAFER
At one Consensus service, the SAFER protocol helped colleagues identify early signs of deteriorating health, including changes in behaviour, and physical changes such as blood pressure, oxygen levels and temperature. By following the SAFER protocol, colleagues could act quickly and this helped prevent serious harm to people we support. In one service, colleagues activated SAFER to get hospital treatment where a serious infection was identified and treated early. The outcome was quicker treatment and a faster recovery for the person we support.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 11
Providing the best quality of life.
Digital Systems Improving Outcomes
Over the last two years, Consensus has implemented an integrated digital ecosystem including Nourish (digital support planning), RADAR (risk management), Altra (family engagement), My Learning Cloud (learning platform) and, most recently, Sona (people management).
Since launching in 2025, Sona has helped ensure the right colleagues are available when support is needed most, while always maintaining safe and effective staffing levels. Colleagues have greater flexibility and control over their shifts, contributing to lower turnover, vacancies below 4% and agency spend of just 0.5% of payroll. For the people we support, this means more consistent support, greater choice and more opportunities to live independently and take part in the activities that matter to them. Together, these systems give colleagues instant access to the information they need, helping them make quicker decisions, respond more effectively and divert team time to deliver even more personalised support.
“Consensus hasn't just adopted Sona, you've woven it into the fabric of how the business runs. It's not a system that sits alongside operations, it's an integral part of how shifts get planned, teams stay connected and decisions get made every day. That result is freeing up real time for your colleagues, time that's going straight back into the people you support, where it matters most." Ben Lee, VP of Customer, Sona
Using digital recording gives colleagues time back to allow them to do more of what they love - supporting people! 826,000 hours of administration time were redeployed to support people as a result of digital recording. This year
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 12
Providing the best quality of life. Providing the best quality of life.
Quality of Life at Consensus
We used our Quality of Life Framework across all Consensus services to give the people we support a clear voice in what matters most to them, tell us how we are doing and how they want to live. Focused on 10 key areas of life, it helps us understand what’s working, what needs to change, and how to shape support around each person’s goals, from everyday independence to bigger ambitions.
In July 2025, 92% of the people we support took part in our Quality of Life survey. They rated every domain as Good or Great, a powerful reflection of the consistency and quality of support being delivered. A follow-up survey in January 2026, with 81% participation, confirmed that these outcomes are not only being achieved, but sustained, demonstrating real, lasting impact on people’s lives.
Looking after my physical health
My Home 10/10 Feeling safe 9/10
9/10 8/10
My work and education
© 2026 Consensus Support Ltd. All rights reserved. Our Quality of Life Model and its contents are the intellectual property of Consensus Support Ltd. and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without prior written permission. Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 13
Transforming Lives How “We Can Do This” Becomes Something Truly Life ‑ Changing. Background In 2025, 30 year-old Jay moved to a Consensus Service as an emergency placement. Jay has complex needs linked to Severe Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and Right-Sided Hemiplegia.
When Jay arrived, he required extensive support to keep him safe and had been described as agoraphobic. He was reluctant to change his clothing, unwilling to use vehicles and had not left his home for many years. The team recognised that Jay communicated through his behaviour and were committed to understanding his needs as an individual.
What we did The team at this Consensus Service focused on building trust with Jay, taking time to understand how he communicates and what matters most to him. Using person-centred, autism-informed approaches, they introduced new opportunities at Jay’s own pace while providing the reassurance and consistency he needed. Through positive risk-taking, structured support and strong relationships, the team supported Jay to get out and about in his community for the first time in around 10 years, travel in vehicles, re-engage with activities he enjoys and develop greater confidence, independence and life skills.
The Impact Now, Jay continues to live in his own bungalow at a Consensus Service and enjoys a more active and meaningful life. He regularly goes out and about in his local community, attends a weekly community hub, enjoys swimming again and takes part in nature walks and visits to local parks. Jay’s life is no longer defined by restriction, but by opportunity, a direct result of trusting relationships, consistent support and a belief in what is possible.
*Photographs & names have been used with full consent. Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 14
Providing the best quality of life.
Moving in and moving on
Understanding and meeting needs
Our Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) team helps people enjoy everyday life, become more independent and achieve their personal goals through tailored, person-centred support. Positive Behaviour Support
Training and Consultation
Quality of Life
Making Systems Work
In 2025, the team supported 135 people, helping them make progress towards the outcomes that matter
most to them. The team also supported 65 successful transitions, helping people settle into new homes and routines with confidence.
By focusing on proactive, personalised support, the team continues to promote positive experiences, stability and quality of life. Expanded service-level support has further strengthened colleague skills and service environments, contributing to more consistent support and improved outcomes for the people we support.
© 2026 Consensus Support Ltd. All rights reserved. This PBS model and its contents are the intellectual property of Consensus Support Ltd. and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without prior written permission.
PBS support helped Richard enjoy a fuller life
PBS support helped Richard enjoy a fuller and more meaningful life by focusing on his sensory and communication needs, favourite activities, and the approaches that work best for him.
Through tailored sensory support, communication tools, engaging activities and consistent person-centred support, Richard was able to take part in more of the things he enjoys, build
positive interactions with those around him, and have greater opportunities for choice and independence.
As a result, his wellbeing
improved, he became more engaged in everyday life, and experienced an enhanced quality of life.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 15
George’s Journey: Thriving with the Right Support Background George moved to a Consensus service in October 2025. Before this, he had lived in a number of residential, supported living and nursing-led settings, having experienced different environments and support approaches. George arrived at Consensus at a point in his life when he was ready to focus on building greater independence, developing routines that worked for him and achieving his personal goals.
The Impact Since moving into his own flat, George has thrived,
What we did George was supported by the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) team and his support colleagues to build a life around his goals, strengths and interests. By taking the time to understand what was important to him, the team worked alongside George to develop support that reflected his preferences, aspirations and individual needs. A key part of this was co-producing George’s traffic light plan, ensuring his views and experiences shaped how support was delivered. The PBS team also worked closely with colleagues to provide consistent, person-centred support and create opportunities for George to pursue the things he enjoys, including going to the gym, healthy cooking, volunteering and attending church. George has played an active role throughout, helping to shape his own support and contributing to staff training alongside the PBS Practitioner, sharing valuable insights that help colleagues support him in the way that works best for him.
developing greater independence and positive, consistent
routines. He volunteers weekly at the local food bank and wildlife centre, attends church every Sunday, and is exploring a Christian camp. George is actively involved in decisions about his support and is helping to shape the development of his staff team. Through increased confidence, he continues to lead a fulfilling life that reflects his goals, interests and identity.
George “I feel a lot happier in myself now. I’m doing things I didn’t think I could do before, and that makes me feel proud. My life feels better because I’m trying new things and feeling more confident every day.”
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 16
Providing the best quality of life.
Forensic Expertise
At Consensus, we have extensive experience supporting people with learning disabilities and complex needs who require forensic support. Across our eight dedicated forensic services, we help people build safer, more independent lives, achieve their goals and play an active role in their local communities. Supporting people to move successfully into community- based living is at the heart of our approach. We focus on building confidence, independence and stability, helping people develop the skills, routines and relationships that matter most to them. To strengthen this approach, we use our Forensic Pathway to provide a more joined-up, trauma-informed and person-centred framework for support. Combined with active support, it helps people turn goals into everyday achievements, enabling them to grow in confidence, increase their independence and enjoy a better quality of life.
8 Consensus Specialist Forensic Services support 59 people.
One person moved into a Consensus Service after 29 years in a secure setting.
Another supported person now enjoys cooking and shopping for himself after 7 years in a secure placement.
The Forensic iPath
Integrated Support
Psychologically-Informed
Active Support
© 2026 Consensus Support Ltd. All rights reserved. The Forensic iPath and its contents are the intellectual property of Consensus Support Ltd. and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without prior written permission.
Trauma-Aware
Holistic
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 17
Forensic Expertise
Supporting Janet’s Transition and Recovery
Background Janet moved to a Consensus service in September 2025 following 15 years in a secure setting. She has a mild learning disability and schizoaffective disorder, with a history that has affected her sense of safety, trust, and emotional regulation. She has also had involvement with the criminal justice system during periods of mental health instability.
What we did Janet’s transition was carefully planned using a multi ‑ agency approach, with risk assessments and gradual introductions to reduce anxiety. A trauma ‑ informed, person ‑ centred approach ensured she felt safe and respected, supported by a consistent key worker team. Staff prioritised building trusting relationships while maintaining clear boundaries. Structured routines, emotional regulation support, and regular key worker time helped provide stability. There was also a strong focus on developing daily living skills and promoting independence, with safeguarding embedded throughout. “Since living at my new home, I want to say how much I love it here. The staff are lovely and so are the managers. The staff help me keep my home clean, this is my first home in 35 years and staff help me cook, clean and they also make sure I shower and eat well. I also get to go shopping to get my nails done and for drives. I really like it here and I like my daily hugs from the staff. I don’t ever want to move.”
The Impact Janet has made significant progress, with incidents reducing to just one since moving in. She is better able to communicate her needs, has formed positive relationships, and actively engages in service life and the community. She has become more independent, made positive lifestyle changes, reconnected with family, and remains settled with a strong sense of safety and belonging.
Conclusion Janet’s progress demonstrates how consistent, trauma ‑ informed support can enable stability, build confidence, and support individuals to live more independent and fulfilling lives.
Janet
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 18
Providing the best quality of life.
Prader-Willi Syndrome
With more than 40 years of experience supporting people with Prader-Willi syndrome, this remains one of our specialist areas. We deliver strong, person-led outcomes through highly individualised support that helps the person build independence, maintain their wellbeing and enjoy a good quality of life. We marked Go Orange Day, an annual awareness campaign led by the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association UK (PWSA UK), bringing colleagues and the people we support together to raise awareness of Prader-Willi syndrome and celebrate inclusion.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 19
Life-Changing Outcomes from a Consensus Specialist Prader-Willi Syndrome Service Focus on Food and Food Security is a Central Element of Supporting People with Prader-Willi Syndrome
As a result, people are becoming more adventurous with food, showing greater confidence and engagement in daily life. Food Security, not Food Restriction Fairness, Choice & Food Security The focus is on food security, choice and positive relationships with food. Rather than bulk-buying fizzy drinks, people can choose to buy one themselves if they wish. The money saved has been reinvested into a wider and more varied menu, giving people more choice at mealtimes. More fresh ingredients are used right across the menu, creating opportunities to develop cooking skills and confidence in the kitchen. Mealtimes better reflect everyday routines, with greater variety, including dishes inspired by different cuisines and healthier alternatives to popular takeaways. A consistent approach to meals ensures everyone has access to the same range of options while supporting individual preferences and goals.
In one of our specialist PWS services, mealtimes have become a foundation for wellbeing, independence and everyday life skills. By redesigning how food is planned, prepared and enjoyed, people are more involved in cooking, trying new foods and making choices about what they eat.
Weight in KGs for the people living at this specialist Prader-Willi Syndrome Service
99.9
(kg)
95.4
93.4
88.9
80.9 79.4
76.2 75.6
74.9 72.3
The service has seen positive health outcomes, including reductions in weight for people living there and improved quality of life scores, demonstrating a
68.4 64.8
63.4
52.4
sustainable approach to wellbeing.
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 20
Prader-Willi Syndrome
From Restriction to Possibility: Lydia’s Journey to Independence and Wellbeing
Background
Lydia is 28 and has Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), ADHD, autism, severe IBS and anxiety. She moved into a Consensus residential specialist service in October 2024. At the time, her health and wellbeing were making it difficult for her to enjoy many of the things that mattered to her, including horse riding, and limiting opportunities to be active and involved in her community.
The Impact
What we did
Her support focused on education, informed choice, inclusion and building independence. Food planning is co- produced with Lydia, helping her develop knowledge, confidence and food security, while activities are shaped around her interests, goals and social connections. Strong, trust-based relationships, personalised activity planning and access to ADHD medication have helped Lydia make progress at a pace that works for her.
Today, Lydia is leading a full and active life. She volunteers in her local community, attends activities independently, plays football twice a week and works as a paid Expert by Experience, helping to deliver Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training to Consensus colleagues by sharing her lived experience and insights. She has also returned to horse riding, something she had long wanted to do. Alongside these achievements, Lydia has made significant progress towards her personal health and wellbeing goals, including a sustained reduction in weight of 13.94kg. She has grown in confidence and independence, developed new skills and relationships, and is enjoying greater choice, stability and participation in the life she wants to lead.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 21
Providing the best quality of life.
Families know the people we support best, so working in partnership with them helps us provide more personalised support and better outcomes. We continue to seek new ways to strengthen these relationships, using feedback, technology and different communication channels to make it easier for families to stay informed, involved and connected. Engaging with families
This year, we launched the Altra Family App, creating new ways to strengthen communication with families. Designed to keep people connected, it makes it easier to share updates, celebrate moments, and ensure those closest to the people we support feel informed, involved, and reassured.
They keep us very informed about our son, we’re really pleased with Altra, where different staff, who look after him, tell us what they have been doing with him each day. This is really reassuring for us.
Parent to a person we support
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 22
Providing the best quality of life.
Family Days Across our services, Summer Families Days bring people together to connect and spend quality time with loved ones. These events make a real difference, strengthening relationships, creating shared memories and helping families feel more connected to the support their loved ones receive.
95% of services held a Family Day in 2025
From relaxed gatherings to bigger celebrations, these days are always something special, including the occasional surprise visit from Mickey Mouse, bringing smiles all round.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 23
Providing the best quality of life.
Compliments increased by 180% during 2025/26
Family Feedback
Alongside the views of the people we support, feedback from families provides valuable insight into the impact of our support and the difference it makes to people's lives.
“To know he’s somewhere we don’t have to worry, safe, content, active and fulfilled, means everything. Our lives went from chaos and breaking point to watching our son grow, develop and live like any other lad his age, doing what he wants to do. At Consensus, he has real choices; if the team can make it happen, they do. That’s what makes it brilliant, and we can’t thank the staff enough.” Family Feedback, Ipswich Supported Living Service
“We came home feeling delighted with Toby's care and considering ourselves very fortunate to have found him such a wonderful second home!
Our thanks to all the staff who care so well for Toby we look forward to getting to know you all even better.” Family Feedback, West London Residential Service
Family Feedback, West London Residential Service “We have every confidence in the Team at Strawberry Fields, they genuinely care for our son, and have his best interests at heart. Thank you for all you do.”
Family Feedback, Strawberry Fields, Residential Service
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 24
Providing the best quality of life.
Feedback from Local Authorities, Integrated Care Boards, schools and other partners help us understand how we are doing against their needs and priorities, enabling us to shape services that deliver better outcomes and make the best use of resources.
Stakeholder Feedback
"In our monitoring of Consensus services to date, we have seen a clear and evidenced commitment to continuous improvement, including learning shared in a structured way across services, and sustained, year-on-year gains in staff engagement. The services we have monitored were found to be meeting the standards we assess against, and the people and families we spoke with were positive about their care."
Contract & Quality Officer, North Northamptonshire Council
“At Bladon House School, we recognise the importance of a well-planned and person-centred transition from children’s services into adulthood. Our partnership working with Consensus has been invaluable, particularly in supporting young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome through a robust pathway that is tailored to their individual needs. Consensus demonstrates a clear understanding of the complexities associated with Prader-Willi syndrome and works collaboratively with education, families, and the young person to ensure continuity of care. Their commitment to effective transition planning, co-production, and genuine partnership working helps create positive outcomes and gives young people the best opportunity to develop the confidence and skills they need for a successful adult life.”
Matt Cousins, Head of Care, Bladon House School
“In the last 12 months we have seen some great examples of really positive experiences supporting young people to transition from children’s services to their own home as an adult. We know this is really challenging to get right but the whole [Consensus] team has pulled together around the person to make the experience positive and we are seeing the positive impact of getting it right from the beginning of that person’s journey to great independence.”
Nottingham Local Authority
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 25
Great Place to Work.
Everything we do is made possible by our people and the kindness, commitment and creativity they bring each day. Guided by our commitment to being a great place to work, we continue to support, develop and celebrate our colleagues so they feel valued, empowered and able to thrive.
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 26
year running rd 3
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
In 2025, we were proud to be recognised as a Great Place to Work® for the third consecutive year, named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ across Women, Wellbeing, Development and Healthcare. But these aren’t just badges. They show that our colleagues feel trusted, supported and valued. You can see that in the numbers too, a vacancy rate of just 4% and agency We’re a Great Place to Work®
Ranked 30th in 2024 Ranked 28th in 2025
use at less than 0.5% of payroll. When people feel valued, they stay, they care, and that drives consistent, high-quality support for the people who live in our services.
Ranked 53rd in 2023 Ranked 17th in 2024 Ranked 14th in 2025
Of colleagues contributed to our survey
Ranked 37th in 2024 Ranked 16th in 2025
91%
My work has special meaning: this is not "just a job"
Achieved in 2024 Achieved in 2025
90%
You are made to feel welcome when you join the company
90%
89%
I am offered training or development
Ranked 33rd in 2024 Ranked 18th in 2025
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 27
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
We’re a UK’s Best Workplaces for Development™ 2025 Being a UK Best Workplace for Development, colleague progression remained a priority this year with more training programmes developed and more investment in our people like never before.
Stronger Us Us
We launched the Stronger Us programme!
Designed to support colleague wellbeing, resilience and teamwork, recognising that a confident, supported workforce is essential to delivering high- quality care. of colleagues completed this training 86
Our commitment to fair pay continued in 2025/26, with support workers earning an average of 4% above the National Living Wage . 93 colleagues were promoted
of training completed hours 115,775
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 28
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
We’re a UK’s Best Workplaces for Development™ 2025 The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the national standard for health and social care, helping to ensure colleagues have the skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate support for autistic people and people with a learning disability. We are proud to share that 98% of colleagues completed the Tier 1 Oliver McGowan eLearning, and 78% of colleagues completed the face-to-face Tier 2b training – delivered by one of our 23 incredible Experts by Experience.
of colleagues completed the Oliver McGowan elearning in 2025 of colleagues completed the face-to-face Tier 2b training. 98% 78%
23 Experts by Experience, and growing!
We asked some of our Experts by Experience why this role is important and how it supports colleagues in caring for the people we support. Scan the QR code to hear what they had to say!
“My role entails training Consensus staff so they can support us and make us live our lives for longer.” Gurveer, Expert by Experience
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 29
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
Leadership Academy
The Consensus Leadership Academy has continued to support career development and help colleagues gain the skills and confidence to step up into a new role.
Elevate
Supporting Deputy Managers into Service Manager roles.
19 Graduates 37% Already Promoted
Inspire
39 Graduates 23% Already Promoted
Aspire Supporting Team Leaders wanting to progress into Deputy Manager roles. Helping our Support Workers to develop into Team Leadership roles.
23 Graduates
22% Already Promoted
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 30
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
Elevate Leadership Academy Graduates
We're already seeing the impact our academies are having across Consensus, helping talented colleagues build their leadership skills and giving them the opportunity to shape the future of our organisation.
Andreea, Helen, Ngoni and Nico graduated from our Elevate program and were promoted into Service Manager roles.
Ngoni
In 2025-2026, 45% of Service Manager roles were filled through promotions of existing talented colleagues.
Helen
Andreea
Nico
Chris
Inspire
Chris, and Sophie stepped up into their first deputy manager roles after graduating from Inspire.
Sophie
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 31
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
We’re a UK’s Best Workplaces for Wellbeing™ 2025
At Consensus, we’re building a workplace where colleagues feel supported with their wellbeing. Our 53 Mental Health First Aiders provide confidential support and signpost help, while 36 wellbeing champions keep wellbeing visible through conversations, resources and awareness activities. We also provide dedicated menopause support, including training, a clear policy and the ‘Ask Mary’ scheme, which allows colleagues to discreetly ask for Mary and take a no- questions-asked break when they need time out for any female health or wellbeing issue. By making support easy to access, we're reducing stigma, building resilience and helping colleagues thrive.
53
First Aiders for Mental Health providing our colleagues with invaluable support.
We’re a UK’s Best Workplaces for Women™ 2025 With 65% of our workforce being women, we are particularly proud to have maintained a zero gender pay gap.
This reflects our commitment to creating a fair and inclusive workplace where colleagues are rewarded equally for the work they do. We're also committed to helping colleagues develop and progress their careers. Katy Preedy is a great example. She was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2026. Having started her career as a support worker, she progressed through a range of frontline and leadership roles over 14 years, demonstrating the opportunities available at Consensus to grow and succeed.
Katy Preedy
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 32
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
4% Vacancies less than
Values-Led Recruitment Providing consistent teams for the people we support
8% Reduced colleague turnover by points
At Consensus, our culture is central to our success, creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, included and motivated to stay. This is reflected in our retention levels, with agency usage below 0.5% of payroll and vacancy levels under 4%. This consistency is driven by a values-led recruitment approach and a rigorous
696 New colleague starters
selection process, ensuring we appoint people who can deliver high-quality, person-centred support. In the past year, we have welcomed 696 new colleagues to Team Consensus.
Less than 0.5% of payroll We’ve reduced our use of agency staffing to creating even more stable and familiar teams
Our Values
80% And now of Consensus colleagues agree this is a great place to work.
*Great Place to Work Survey 2025
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 33
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
In 2025, we continued to build a more inclusive organisation, strengthening our Disability Confident foundations, listening to people with lived experience, and progressing towards Disability Confident Leader status.
84% of colleagues agree “ I can be myself here” Great Place To Work Survey 2025
We went big on Pride in 2025/26. Teams took on our Doorstep Challenge, transforming entrances into bright, welcoming spaces that celebrated inclusion and belonging. A Pride Bake Off brought people together, sparked conversations, and showed that inclusion can be joyful as well as meaningful. We're proud of the progress we've made, and we know there's always more we can do. That's why we're rebuilding our website with accessibility at its heart in 2026, continuing to grow our Pride network, and embedding our EDI Charter so inclusion is part of everyday practice across Consensus.
Southwold House
46 The Grove
Pride Doorstep Challenge Entries!
Annie in the recruitment team baked the winning entry for Pride bake off at Central Support!
Charnwood and Sternhill Paddock held a Pride celebration.
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 34
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
Where Recognition Matters
Recognising our colleagues who make every moment matter, our Every Moment Awards launched in June 2023 to show appreciation to those who go above & beyond to make Consensus a Great Place to Work for their colleagues, and a great place to live for those they support. Since launching, we’ve recognised an incredible 112 Every Moment winners. This year, the very best were shortlisted for our Greatness Awards, with five overall winners.
Recognising those who have gone above and beyond to be at the heart of the greatest moments at Consensus.
Recognising those who make every moment matter through everyday kindness.
Gopika
Olalekan
Liz
Lorraine
Olu
Augustis
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 35
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
g rae wa tanreds s Introducing our... Winners!
For our Greatness Awards, all shortlisted finalists were invited to our annual Leadership Awards Evening, where colleagues came together to celebrate their achievements and reveal the Greatness Award winners.
Recognising a leader who has transformed a service through his leadership, Chukwuma was celebrated for his kindness, compassion and unwavering support, which have had a lasting impact on everyone around him. Celebrating two people who go above & beyond to deliver person- centred support, Temitayo & Amber ’s extraordinary commitment saw them recognised for ensuring every moment matters. Dedicating their time to creating truly meaningful moments, both Jade & Shannon won this award for making a lasting difference in the lives of the people they support.
Values in Action
Above & Beyond
Moments of Meaning
n
Chukwuma
Shannon
Jade
Temitayo & Amber
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 36
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
Kindness Receive Kudos for
In 2025/26, we launched Kudos for Kindness, giving colleagues a new way to recognise and celebrate the everyday acts of kindness that make a difference across Consensus. With 229 nominations received during the year, the scheme helped shine a light on colleagues who go above and beyond for others, strengthening a culture where kindness, appreciation and recognition are part of everyday life. Where Kindness Matters
Long Service Heros
colleagues celebrated long service milestones in 2025/26
5 10 15 20 25
years celebrated by 67 colleagues
134
years celebrated by 44 colleagues
We’re proud to be a place that people not only want to join, but also want to stay. For those reaching remarkable long service milestones, we proudly dished out £15,300 last year for milestone celebrations!
years celebrated by 12 colleagues
years celebrated by 7 colleagues
years and over celebrated by 4 colleagues
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 37
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
This year, FISH! Philosophy has continued to make a difference in Consensus services. We embrace the four elements of the FISH! Philosophy every day. We Play , we Make Their Day , we Choose Our Attitude , and we are There for each other. Another reason we are a Great Place to Work!
FISH! Philosophy Fun
At our Strawberry Fields service, colleagues swapped their usual clothes for colourful fish costumes, bringing a wave of laughter across the service.
At Heatherington House , a “Make Their Day” jar held kind messages from colleagues and the people we support. Reading them together created a moment of appreciation and made everyone’s day.
At the summer families day, colleagues and the people we support from Blossoms dressed as superheroes, choosing a fun and positive attitude. Their energy made the day special for everyone.
75% of colleagues have fun at work
At Stanley Park Road, Ali’s support worker “was there” in the moment, joining him in a fun foam fight. It showed the power of being present and sharing joy together.
Great Place to Work Survey 2025
*Consent has been given by the people we support to use their names & photographs
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 38
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
For two days, 150 leaders from across the UK came together to focus on how we can have even more impact, using dedicated time to align on priorities, share ideas, learn from each other and strengthen the relationships that help us work better together. Leadership Conference
This year, we continued to build on our strong performance, with more services achieving Good and Outstanding ratings, more services opening, and an even stronger, more confident workforce. This means better support, every day, for the people who rely on us.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 39
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
Every year at our Leadership Awards, we celebrate the inspiring leaders across Consensus who make a difference every day — driving innovation, championing positive change, and leading with kindness, commitment, and creativity. We’re proud to introduce this year’s winners! Inspiring Leaders
The Kindness Award Marie Anthony
The Rising Star Award Lucy Pickering
The Development Champion Dawn Greenfield
The Sustainability Team Ty Cwtch
PHOTO TBC
The FISH! Philosopher Chris Woolgar
The Creativity Award Stacey Rogan
The Mary Walker Wellbeing Award Heather Sinnott
Impact Report 2025/26 | Consensus 40 supporting others was not just part of her role, but a way of being. Inspired by her, we created this award to recognise someone who goes above and beyond to support the happiness and wellbeing of their colleagues. We dedicated an award in memory of our late colleague, Mary Walker, who embodied kindness, care, and compassion in everything she did. As our original wellbeing coach, Mary showed that
The Digital Champion Chloe Horton
The Commitment Award Melany Houghton
Be a great place to work for every colleague.
Inspiring Leaders Our leadership awards recognise the leaders and teams who have led the way in creative, compassionate support and been role models for their colleagues.
The Manager of the Year Award Anthony Keogh
Dedicated, hard-working, and always going above and beyond - Anthony Keogh, service manager at Cheshire House residential service, was recognised as our Manager of the Year for his commitment to transforming a service into a safe place where people can flourish in their goals. From building relationships to recognising areas of improvement, Anthony embodies our core values to make every moment matter for the people he supports.
Best Support Act Award Jo & Lou
In our central support team, we have outstanding colleagues who support our services to make every moment matter for the people they support. This year, we had 2 incredible winners that dedicate their time to going above & beyond to support service managers - well done to Jo from our Learning and Development Team & Lou from our Quality Team.
Outstanding Team Award North The Old Vicarage, Ollerton
A place with a growing culture of appreciation, where the team focus on opportunities, achievements, and meaningful opportunities for the people living there, Kiara Richardson and her team at The Old Vicarage, Ollerton, were celebrated as our Outstanding Team for the North.
Outstanding Team Award South Camberley Supported Living
A team dedicated to growing, strengthening, and evolving to truly improve the lives of those living there, the culture rooted in respect & resilience saw Claudia and her team from Camberley Supported Living celebrated as our Outstanding Team for the South.
Consensus | Impact Report 2025/26 41
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