Staff Awards 2026 Shortlist

The Wellbeing Service

The Wellbeing Service strives for equity by supporting people on probation across Greater Manchester and providing welcoming, trauma-informed hubs across all ten Greater Manchester localities. In the last year, the team has supported more than 3,000 people, with 86% of those achieving a positive outcome.

Every day, the team supports people to move away from crisis and towards stability and hope. They have helped people reduce financial hardship, addressing over £1.7 million of debt and securing more than £2.2 million in previously unclaimed benefits. The team has also developed a data-based approach which successfully identifies who is being left behind and allows the team to target support to reduce inequalities, such as those with neurodiverse needs.

Living Well Rochdale

The Living Well Rochdale team fights for equity by taking support directly into communities and reaching people facing the greatest challenges. They always see the person, rather than the problem, and have an understanding of how each individual’s health, finances and lived experience are connected. In 2025/26, the team supported 2,586 residents, with 82% coming from Rochdale’s most deprived communities.

The support they provide has a lasting impact and allows people to improve their health, build confidence, and access new opportunities. One resident, who had been unemployed for more than five years due to anxiety and depression, stopped smoking within two weeks of receiving support. With encouragement from her coach, she is now pursuing her interest in journalism by volunteering at a local radio station.

By meeting people where they are and seeing the value in their strengths, Living Well Rochdale helps people make meaningful changes to their own wellbeing and lives.

Children and Parents Services (CAPS)

The CAPS Mount Road Children’s Centre team strives to provide universal and accessible parenting support for families across Manchester. They recognise the needs of each individual family, working with interpreters, respecting cultural differences and supporting parents experiencing mental health challenges to overcome barriers. This year, they have also made a real push to get Dads to attend, resulting in a huge growth in male engagement.

The team works with children and families with varying levels of need, from universal support through to children in care. Their approach helps parents feel less alone, giving them a safe and welcoming space to talk openly about parenting challenges and build confidence in supporting their children.

For one family whose two young children were living in foster care, the team went above and beyond with extra home visits, sessions and tailored strategies to build trust with the parents and support them with the transition of their children returning home.

By tackling the health, financial and social inequalities experienced by people on probation, the Wellbeing Service continues to provide the opportunities people need to build a better future.

Nominated:

• Be Well Mcr: Live Well Hubs
• Be Well: Early Help for Adults Navigators
• Data Team
• IT Team
• Living Well Rochdale: Health Checks Team
• Manchester Sensory Support Service
• Talking Therapies Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale
• The HeaRRT Research Team
• Unity Community Primary School

Co-Occurring Conditions Team

The Co-Occurring Conditions team demonstrate the Big Life Way throughout all their work. By developing strategies that bring together mental health and drug and alcohol services, they ensure commissioners are connected for more integrated support across Greater Manchester. The team also recognises that each area has different challenges and strengths, and develops plans that reflect the needs of individual communities. 

The team listens, learns, and changes, working with partners to understand where improvements are needed. Their workforce competency review engaged more than 130 staff across Greater Manchester, identifying strengths and gaps and turning them into practical recommendations for improving support.  

Above all, they see people, not problems. By putting lived experience at the heart of their work and encouraging services to work together around the whole person, the team is helping ensure people with co-occurring conditions receive more connected and person-centred support. 

Longsight Family Hub/Manchester Family Hubs team

Longsight Family Hub is deeply rooted within the communities they serve, with the team working closely with families and ensuring support is adapted around their individual needs. When families face crisis, the Family Hub team acts quickly to provide food, housing support and to connect them with the right services.  

Longsight Family Hub has developed strong connections with health visitors, housing teams, community groups and organisations, becoming a safe place for families to access support without having to navigate complex systems alone. These partnerships are what allows this small team to reach even more families and make a greater difference. 

Above all, the team are relentless and treats all families with dignity and understanding. They don’t give up when families struggle to engage and take time to understand the barriers they face and find a solution together. 

Achieve

The Achieve Assertive Outreach team consistently reach people who are overlooked by other services, taking drug and alcohol support into communities across Bury, Salford and Trafford. By studying trends and listening to feedback, they focus their efforts on underrepresented groups, including people experiencing homelessness, women, minority ethnic communities, young people and those over 55.  

Building strong local relationships is central to their community-led approach. The team works alongside food banks and healthcare providers to respond to the multiple barriers people may be facing. This has been particularly important for the rough sleeper team, whose new partnerships have helped them to better engage with a transient population.  

Most importantly, the team never gives up on people. When someone returns to the service, they approach it as a fresh opportunity, finding different ways to support them and focus in on their potential. They believe that no matter someone’s background, everybody has a story and the ability to write new chapters for themselves.

Nominated:

• Be Well
• Big Issue North Leeds
• Big Life Liverpool
• HR Team
• IT Team
• IT, Development and Data Teams
• Living Well Rochdale: Chatters
• Living Well Rochdale: Community Champions
• Living Well Rochdale: CVD Team
• Living Well Rochdale: Stop Smoking Team
• Longsight Family Hub: Outreach Team
• Manchester Healthy Living Centres: Reception Team
• Manchester Sensory Support Service
• Talking Therapies East Cheshire: Step 2 Team
• Talking Therapies Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale
• Talking Therapies Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners
• Talking Therapies Stockport
• Unity Community Primary: Hive Team

Jon Henderson

Jon Henderson embodies courage in the way he makes sure the voices of the communities he works alongside are heard. His own journey with Living Well Rochdale, from client and volunteer to CVD Coordinator, gives him a lived understanding of the barriers many people can face.  

When asked by Health Innovation Manchester how the service engages “hard to reach” communities, Jon challenged the idea, explaining services need to do more to meet people where they are, building communication and trusting relationships. His words had such an impact that the team was invited to share its approach with other providers across Greater Manchester. Jon’s courage to speak up often inspires others to think differently and believe in their own potential.  

Deana Ward

Deana Ward advocates passionately for her clients on a daily basis. Working across Achieve’s core, Assertive Outreach and Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol teams, she is determined to make sure people are given a fair chance, challenging decisions and pushing for the right support when needed. 

When supporting a vulnerable client who had been written off by other services, Deana persisted in order to secure temporary accommodation and treatment from the clinical team, helping to bring some stability for the client during an incredibly difficult time. Deana draws on her own lived experience in order to, empathise for clients, motivate them and remind professionals that nobody should be defined by the challenges they face. 

Zee Parveen

Zee Parveen joined Talking Therapies Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale at a time of significant change, after the service had been without a manager for almost a year. She brought calm and compassionate leadership, helping to create stability while guiding the team through a major model change.  

Zee has kept the needs of Rochdale’s diverse communities at the heart of every decision. She has pushed to make support more accessible, including introducing courses in Urdu and closely monitoring interpreter wait times. Most recently, during an incredibly difficult period when 10 staff left the team, Zee remained calm and supported those around her. At every opportunity, Zee faces difficult situations with determination and kindness, always focused on doing what is right for both her team and the communities they serve. 

Nominated:

• Aaliyah Ahmed
• Alex Spencer
• Ella Allen
• Ethan O’neill
• Kirsty Greenwood
• Lindsay Ryalls
• Nazia Parveen
• Sally Higginbottom
• Sanya Karim
• Shazia Kazmi
• Steph Walker
• Susan Parker-Stone
• Taiyba Mahboob

Gez Marks

Gez Marks recognised that new mums would benefit from mental health support, specifically designed around the realities of caring for a newborn baby. As a result, she created a new Perinatal Skills for Wellbeing Course, giving mums a welcoming space to bring their babies, while learning CBT techniques to support their own wellbeing.  

Driven by her own lived experience and passion, Gez carefully considered and removed potential barriers for new mums, hosting sessions at a local children’s centre and timing them around the needs of mums and babies. She also organised health visitors and employment support for those anxious about returning to work, creating a supportive space where mums can make time to care for their own mental health.  

John Claridge

John Claridge has used creativity and strong partnership working to help develop the Thorn Cross Community Hub, the first initiative of its kind at the prison. He has built trusted relationships and brought people together to turn an ambitious idea into real, practical support for residents.  

Despite plenty of challenges, John remains determined to find solutions. From securing support to finding furniture for the space, his resourcefulness and strong communication have helped move the project forward. The result is a safe space and a meaningful new way for residents to engage with support at HMP Thorn Cross, all thanks to John’s fresh thinking and creativity. 

Adam McCarthy

By taking on new responsibilities, Adam McCarthy has transformed the way Living Well Rochdale uses data, turning complex information into something to monitor and act on. Adam developed accessible dashboards and neighbourhood-specific reports that allowed teams to identify trends and better understand the needs of communities.  

When faced with ongoing waiting lists, Adam looked beyond existing methods to find a practical solution. Adam’s strong sense of curiosity means he rarely accepts that things should stay as they are, working hard to find practical ways to improve processes for both staff and residents.

Nominated:

• Adam McCarthy
• Amy Smyth
• Ben Cook
• Bronte Schiltz
• Gez Marks
• John Claridge
• Laura Rogers
• Marie Flaherty
• Mohammad Moheeb
• Nik Butler
• Nur Zulfikar
• Paige Gaffney
• Shabaz Ahmed
• Steve Finbow
• Suhail Aslam
• Tasha Hurst
• Teagan Wright
• Tom Hermawan

Rob Wood, Achieve

Rob has demonstrated outstanding honesty, integrity, and self-awareness during a particularly challenging time. Despite facing significant personal difficulties, he remained committed to providing the best possible support to his clients and colleagues, always putting their needs first. 

He recognised that his personal circumstances were affecting his wellbeing and understood the importance of addressing this before it impacted the quality of support he provides. Rather than struggling on in silence, he made the difficult but responsible decision to seek help. 

Rob showed real courage by openly discussing his situation with his manager, Mandy. This honesty ensured that appropriate support could be put in place, benefiting both himself and the people he supports. His actions demonstrated accountability, professionalism and a genuine commitment to doing the right thing.

India Joseph, Talking Therapies (Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale)

Following her return from maternity leave, India was honest about the challenges she experienced transitioning back to work. By sharing her experiences, she helped raise awareness of the support colleagues may need during this period and contributed to creating a more understanding and supportive environment for others returning in the future. 

India also shows honesty and courage in her day-to-day work. She is confident in sharing her views during PWP meetings and is willing to respectfully challenge others when needed, helping to encourage balanced discussions and thoughtful decision-making. 

Through her openness, integrity and commitment to doing the right thing, India continues to make a positive impact on both her colleagues and the people she supports. She consistently demonstrates integrity through her openness, authenticity and commitment to her values.  

Cherelle Stewart, Talking Therapies (Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale)

Cherelle has shown exceptional courage, honesty and integrity since stepping into the Team Leader role during a period of significant change and uncertainty for the service. Despite being new to management, she has embraced the challenges of leadership with determination, professionalism and a genuine commitment to doing what is right. 

What stands out most is her willingness to tackle difficult conversations and decisions head-on. Whether discussing capacity, performance or service pressures, Cherelle approaches these situations with honesty, fairness and compassion, balancing support with accountability. She is also not afraid to stand up for what matters, championing safe, ethical and high-quality care even in challenging circumstances. 

Cherelle is open and reflective in her leadership, acknowledging when things could have gone differently and using those experiences as opportunities to learn and grow. Her honesty, resilience and commitment to supporting both colleagues and clients have made a significant difference to the team. 

Nominated:

• Hina Nazir
• James O’Hara
• Jenny Cobban
• Juliet Whalen
• Kelly Nicholl
• Rachel Kelly
• Riley Draganov
• Sharon Podmore
• Tracey Hildich

Claire Rooney, Living Well Tameside

Claire consistently demonstrates a person-centred, “never give up” approach, always putting the needs of service users at the heart of everything she does. No matter how complex the circumstances or how challenging the situation, she remains focused on finding solutions, helping people feel heard, valued and supported. 

Claire has built strong relationships with colleagues across Social Care and Mental Health services, as well as developing an excellent partnership with the Consultant Psychiatrist within the Neighbourhood Mental Health Team. Through these relationships, she brings together different perspectives and expertise while maintaining a clear focus on what matters most to the individual. 

Since qualifying as a Multi-Modality Practitioner, Claire has continued to develop her skills and use them thoughtfully to provide holistic, person-centred support. She is also generous in sharing her knowledge and experience with colleagues, helping to build confidence and encourage new ways of thinking. 

Linda Adaka, Mental Health in Prisons

Linda has made an exceptional impact since joining the Well-being in Prison service, helping to transform engagement with wellbeing and mental health support across the estate. She has helped create a thriving, resident-led service where people feel encouraged to take ownership of their wellbeing and support one another. 

A particular strength of Linda’s is her ability to listen to residents’ ideas and turn them into meaningful action. This was demonstrated through the development of a resident-led Black History Month programme, inspired directly by feedback from residents about how they wanted their culture and experiences to be recognised. Linda helped create a series of highly successful events that celebrated identity, culture and wellbeing in a meaningful and inclusive way. 

Linda’s positive influence extends beyond residents. She has built strong relationships with colleagues and partner teams, earning praise for her calm, proactive and collaborative approach. She has also responded creatively to residents’ needs, establishing initiatives such as a men’s forum and adapting sessions to ensure more people could participate.  

Sally Goulden, Achieve 

Sally has been a driving force in strengthening relationships across hospital services, using collaboration, enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to improving support for patients. By building trust and strong partnerships with hospital teams, she has helped increase awareness of the service and significantly improve access to support. 

A key achievement has been her role in expanding hospital engagement from a largely reactive offer to a proactive and visible presence across a wider range of settings, including general wards. Her willingness to listen, share expertise and work closely with others has not only increased referrals but also improved understanding among hospital staff about the support available. 

Sally’s positive attitude, resilience and dedication to continuous improvement have made a lasting difference to both patients and colleagues. Through her ability to bring people together, inspire confidence and drive meaningful change, Sally has helped strengthen services and improve outcomes. 

Nominated:

• Aadila Ambreen
• Adele Beswick
• Alex Spencer
• Amanda Wrigley
• Ashlie Greenwood
• Balinder Power
• Ben Rydings
• Chantelle Coote
• Charmaine Gregory-Schierenbeck
• Claire Hesbrook
• Dan Stroker
• Deana Ward
• Elaine Barrett
• Jade Winter
• Jon Shepherd-Smyth
• Joseph Barratt
• Joseph Campbell
• Kim Ashworth
• Leah Chikamba
• Meg Lewis
• Neilla Jenkins
• Nic Secombe
• Nicole Linnell
• Nik Butler
• Nina Valvi
• Paula Albiston
• Priti Butler
• Rachel Kam
• Rachel Kirkham
• Rebekah Cheshire
• Sabia Begum
• Simon Kweeday
• Stephanie Walker
• Suzy Schwenk
• Zawar Khan

Lynn Bennett, Achieve

Lynn goes above and beyond to support people in a thoughtful, compassionate and deeply personal way. She understands that small acts of kindness can make a huge difference during difficult times and is always looking for ways to support the wellbeing of the people around her. 

A powerful example of this was her support for clients experiencing extended hospital stays. Recognising the challenges they faced, Lynn provided practical comforts and helped arrange support for family pets, understanding the wider impact illness can have on both individuals and their loved ones. Her ability to listen, learn from others’ experiences and turn those insights into meaningful action is truly inspiring. 

Whether providing puzzle books, teddy bears or simply taking the time to understand what someone needs, Lynn consistently demonstrates empathy, creativity and care. Her thoughtful approach not only makes a lasting difference to the clients she supports but also inspires colleagues to look beyond immediate needs and recognise the value of small gestures.  

Cara Duffy, Talking Therapies East Cheshire

Whether as a line manager or case manager, Cara demonstrates thoughtfulness through the genuine care and support she shows. She always makes time for people, creating an environment where colleagues feel comfortable being open and honest about both work and personal challenges. 

When additional screening assessments were introduced at a time when the team was already managing significant workloads, Cara made sure colleagues were consulted, supported and given the opportunity to share their views. Recognising the pressure this could create, she helped ensure the change felt considered and manageable, rather than something imposed without discussion or support. 

Through her compassion, responsiveness and unwavering commitment to her colleagues’ wellbeing, Cara has created a supportive team culture and made a lasting difference to those around her. 

Sakeena Raza, Longsight Community Primary 

Sakeena’s warm, nurturing nature helps every child feel safe, valued and understood, creating an environment where children can thrive. She takes the time to build strong relationships and ensures each child receives the support, encouragement and reassurance they need. 

A strength of Sakeena’s is her ability to listen and adapt her approach to meet individual needs. She understands that every child is different and regularly reflects on how best to support them, whether that means changing how she explains a task, offering additional reassurance or finding new ways to help them succeed. 

Her thoughtful approach extends to colleagues too, as she is always willing to lend a hand and support those around her. Sakeena often anticipates what others need before being asked and consistently goes above and beyond to help. Through her kindness, empathy and dedication, she makes a meaningful difference to both the children and colleagues she works with every day. 

Nominated:

• Amanda Wrigley
• Amina Oduntan
• Anita Yongo
• Anne-Lise Loyraux
• Asma Akhtar
• Balinder Powar
• Cara Duffy
• Chantelle Cootes
• Cherelle Stewart
• Ella Allen
• Faiza Butt
• George Hatton
• Hayley Street
• Isha Braithwaite
• James Starkey
• Jo Yeomans
• Joanna Nicholls
• Karen Welsh
• Kate Gillibrand
• Lynn Bennett
• Maariyah Younis
• Maria Stone
• Nazia Parveen
• Paula Ungureanu
• Rahim Karim
• Remi Gonthier
• Rene Murabukirwa
• Rosa Gillette
• Sakeena Raza
• Sam Singh
• Serafina Parmar Hill
• Shannon Shufflebottom
• Sharon Pearson
• Sophia Farago
• Vicky Aaku

Donna Clarke, Energise 

Through her kindness, dedication and commitment to valuing everyone as indiviDonna has helped create a more inclusive and welcoming community. She ensures that everyone who visits the Energise Centre feels welcomed, respected and valued, treating everyone with kindness and creating an environment where people feel comfortable and heard. 

A great example of Donna’s inclusive approach was her idea to introduce a men-only group after recognising that men were underrepresented within the service. By listening to people’s needs and responding thoughtfully, she helped make the centre more accessible and welcoming, leading to a significant increase in male participation. 

Donna also goes above and beyond to support the wider community. She promotes the service at local events, encourages volunteering opportunities and has worked with a local library to create a free book corner and activity area for children and families. Her ability to recognise different needs and take practical action to address them has made a real difference to those who use the service. 

Lauren Solomon, Talking Therapies Stockport

Lauren demonstrates what it means to value difference through her inclusive, thoughtful and adaptable leadership. Leading two very different Talking Therapies services, she has taken the time to understand each team’s unique culture, strengths and needs, ensuring people feel listened to, respected and supported. 

Rather than assuming one solution would work for everyone, Lauren carefully considered the needs of the Stockport team when introducing a new service model, providing additional support, training and reassurance to help colleagues feel confident and involved in the change. 

Lauren also goes above and beyond to ensure individuals can work and learn in ways that suit them, whether that means adapting information, offering additional support or allowing people the time they need to succeed. Through her fairness, flexibility and genuine appreciation of individual differences, Lauren has helped create a more inclusive and supportive culture. 

Nicola Keogh, Living Well Rochdale

Nicola has an incredible ability to see the potential in people and help them recognise strengths they may not see in themselves. Leading a diverse team of staff and volunteers, she creates an environment where people feel trusted, supported and empowered to contribute their ideas, experiences and expertise. 

Her belief in lived experience and community knowledge has helped both people and projects thrive. Several colleagues who started as volunteers, Community Champions or service users have grown into valued roles thanks to Nicola’s encouragement and support. 

By listening to different perspectives and empowering others to lead, Nicola has helped create meaningful initiatives and lasting community impact. Through her inclusive leadership and belief in others, she has made a profound difference to the people and communities she serves. 

Nominated:

• Aadila Ambreen
• Anne-Lise Loyraux
• Asma Akhtar
• Dawn Wyatt
• Hayley Street
• Kerry Kelly
• Kshitija Umak
• Nathan Bibbon
• Nina Valvi
• Sara Gray
• Shannon Shufflebottom

Laura Oliver, Unity Community Primary

Laura has made an exceptional difference since joining Unity, transforming the support available for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. She is relentless in her commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive, working closely with staff, families and external agencies to put the right support in place and help children reach their full potential. 

What stands out about Laura is her determination to go above and beyond. She takes a strengths-based approach with families, building trust and helping them access the support they need and deserve. Her leadership in developing The Hive, Unity’s specialist SEND classroom, has been particularly inspiring. Through passion, creativity and resilience, she worked tirelessly with children, families and colleagues to create a high-quality provision that has been praised by Ofsted, the Local Authority and quality assurance visitors. 

Always ready to step in, support colleagues and put children first, Laura embodies the Big Life values and is a truly Outstanding Employee.  

Dan Stoker, Manchester Sensory Support Service

Dan works tirelessly to improve the lives of visually impaired and blind children across Greater Manchester. Alongside managing his full caseload and day-to-day responsibilities, he identified a gap in opportunities for children with visual impairments and took the initiative to organise a large-scale sports day for more than 100 children. 

He created an inclusive opportunity for children to be active, build confidence, make friends and connect with others who share similar experiences. By removing barriers to participation, he helped ensure children who often face exclusion had the chance to take part, thrive and feel a genuine sense of belonging. 

The scale of what Dan achieved, whilst continuing to support the children and families on his caseload, is remarkable. His passion, creativity and determination brought together colleagues, partners and families to deliver an event with a lasting impact. Through his commitment to inclusion and his unwavering focus on improving outcomes for children, Dan is absolutely an outstanding employee.  

Sharon Pearson, Living Well Rochdale

Sharon exemplifies what it means to work in the Big Life Way. Her commitment to helping people improve their health, wealth and life is evident in everything she does, always going the extra mile to ensure service users receive the support they need to achieve their goals. 

Since moving from a coaching role into the Training Coordinator position at Living Well Rochdale, Sharon has made a significant impact, helping to increase referrals into the service through engaging, empathetic training. Drawing on her experience as a coach, she creates a welcoming environment where people feel heard, understood and inspired to make positive changes in their lives. 

Sharon’s influence extends beyond training. She has used her voice to advocate for improvements on behalf of service users and partners, including raising concerns from school nurses with commissioners to help strengthen support around vaping. At the same time, she continually reflects on and improves her training based on feedback, ensuring people receive the best possible experience. Humble, compassionate and dedicated, Sharon quietly changes lives every day and is undoubtedly an outstanding employee.  

Nominated:

• Ade Egbe
• Calum Awcock
• Cherelle Stewart
• Colyn Alcock
• Danny Wilson
• Emma Turner
• Jess Corbett
• Joseph Campbell
• Kieran Sidhu
• Lauren Solomon
• Lukasz Stachor
• Mo Chunara
• Naheed Asif
• Nic Secombe
• Rahim Karim
• Rukhsana Ahmed
• Serafina Parmar-Hill
• Sophia Farago
• Susan Parker-Stone
• Tina Lee
• Vicky Aaku