David Lewis is a modern, forward-thinking charity with a track record and reputation built over 100 years. We provide a range of educational, residential and medical services to support adults and young people with complex needs, including learning disabilities, epilepsy and autism. We are based in Cheshire, but through our residential services, support people from across the UK.
What Does David Lewis Offer?
Our extensive portfolio of services includes:
- A specialist school and further education college
A specialist school and further education college offering residential and day placements for young people from the age of fourteen upwards. - Residential services
Residential services for adults, either living in accommodation at our Warford site or in one of our community houses in a local town or village. - Adult day services, providing opportunities to develop both social skills and vocational skills vocational skills with the potential to lead to employment opportunities.
- Access to nursing and medical care, appropriate to an individual’s needs.
Our team of circa 900 highly-trained personnel deliver services both in the community and at our Warford site, where there is access to outstanding facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall and gym, sensory gardens, animal centre and café.
Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
To provide an excellent service to individuals with learning disabilities, supporting the meaningful transformation of their lives and the achievement of their aspirations
We will do this by enabling individuals to gain independence, positive identity, self-esteem and personal control over their lives via specialised support packages delivered in a variety of community locations.
Our Vision
We wish to be:
- Recognised as a responsible and ethical organisation which acts consistently with our mission and values.
- Acknowledged as a provider and employer of choice, demonstrating integrity, accountability and a culture of continuous improvement.
Our Values
We are: Connected – Action Focused – Passionate – Empowering. CAPE
We Are Connected
We work in partnership and side by side with the people we support to ensure that we meet people’s needs and aspirations.
We work together to empower one another.
We will achieve success together.
Partnerships internally and externally are important to our success.
We are prepared to learn from others.
We are curious.
We Are: Action focused
We do what we say we will do.
The quality, safety and experience of the support, care, and education we provide is our first priority.
We will all positively role-model our values and behaviours.
It is our individual and collective actions that bring about positive change.
If we see it, and think it could be better, then
we do something about it.We will build on our strengths and make
changes when something is not working.
We Are: Passionate
We are passionate about making a difference everyday for and with the people we support.
We are passionate about putting the people we support at the heart of all we do.
We are passionate about making our charity the best place to work.
It is our passion for delivering the best that pushes us to strive to do better.
We Are: Empowering
We empower our colleagues and the people we support in everything they do.
“I” have the power and the authority to make a difference.
We empower leaders, teams and individuals to make changes that improve what they do and the impact they make.
We all have a voice.
We will regularly seek and act on feedback
from the people we support, their families,
our colleagues and our partners.
Quality Assurance
It is essential that people that use our services benefit from care, treatment and support that is both safe and of a high-quality. Our approach to Quality Assurance ensures that services are meeting essential standards of quality and safety, respecting dignity and empowering people to achieve positive outcomes. We demonstrate this by:
Staff
- Rigorous selection process.
- Continuous staff training, supervision and appraisal.
- Creating a culture of support.
- Open access for support staff to senior management.
- Whistleblowing and other relevant policies.
People who use our Services
- Robust safeguarding procedures in place.
- Positive balance between duty of care and choice.
- Thorough initial assessment.
- Ensuring a smooth transition.
- Creating a sense of home and belonging.
- Continuous review of changing need.
The Homes
- Fully accessible and adapted to meet the needs of the residents.
- Quality controls to ensure that all areas are clean, tidy and homely.
- Well-planned nutritious menus every day.
- Monthly quality assurance visits.
- Encourage and support the personalisation of bedrooms.
Management
- Senior team that can deliver the vision, embedding safety and quality into everything we do.
- Ensuring good communication throughout the organisation.
- Ensuring relevant policies are in place and reviewed regularly.
- Investing in IT systems.
Charity Details
Legal Entity
We are the David Lewis Centre, trading as David Lewis, a UK registered company and charity, with registered company number 02537501 and registered charity number 1000392. Our registered office and correspondence address is:
Mill Lane
Warford
Alderley Edge
Cheshire
SK9 7UD
You can use the ‘Related Information’ link below to download a PDF copy of our Annual Accounts.
Financial Accounts 2022
Annual Review
Public Benefit Statement
David Lewis provides public benefit through a holistic approach to the provision of specialist residential, education and day services commissioned by local authority and NHS commissioners not otherwise available to people with complex medical, mental health and learning disabilities.
David Lewis provides public benefit through a holistic approach to the provision of specialist residential, education and day services commissioned by local authority and NHS commissioners not otherwise available to people with complex medical, mental health and learning disabilities.
CQC Regulated Service Ratings And Reports
The latest check of our services can be found via the following links to the Care Quality Commission’s website:
Terms & Conditions
Your access to this website is subject to these terms and conditions. By using this website you agree to be bound by these terms. We may change these terms and conditions at any time, and by continuing to use the website, you agree to these changes.
The material contained in this site is provided for general information only and does not constitute professional advice.
David Lewis is providing this site on an ‘as is’ basis and makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to this site or its contents and disclaims all such representations and warranties. In addition, David Lewis makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the information and related graphics published in this site. The information contained in this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. All liability of David Lewis howsoever arising for any such inaccuracies or errors is expressly excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Neither David Lewis nor any of its employees or other representatives will be liable for loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use of this site and we hereby expressly exclude all conditions, warranties and other terms which might otherwise be implied by statute, common law or the law of equity.
We also expressly exclude any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage incurred by any user of our site or in connection with the use, inability to use, or results of the use of our site, any websites linked to it and any materials posted on it, including (without limitation):
- loss of income or revenue;
- loss of business;
- loss of profits;
- loss or corruption of data; and
- loss of goodwill
Whether caused by tort (including negligence), breach of contract or otherwise, even if foreseeable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the exclusions and limitations in the clause are intended to limit any rights you may have as a consumer under local law or other statutory rights which may not be excluded nor in any way to exclude or limit David Lewis from liability to you for death or personal injury resulting from our negligence or that of our employees or agents.
Although we use anti-virus software to protect the website content, we cannot guarantee that the downloads are free from viruses and advise you to take your own virus precautions.
You agree not to post or transfer to our website, any material which is obscene, misleading, inaccurate, defamatory or in breach of any copyright or intellectual property rights or that will cause any damage to data, software or the performance of any computer system.
Although we have given you links to other websites, we are not responsible for any information they contain. David Lewis makes no representations as to the security, quality or property of any website which may be accessed through this website.
The content of these web pages is © David Lewis except where otherwise stated. Unless we agree otherwise you may only print or copy items for your personal, non-business use.
Any questions regarding this site should be sent to enquire@davidlewis.org.uk.
Use of this website is subject to English and Welsh law.
Gender Pay Gap
The Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017 requires David Lewis, as an organisation that employs more than 250 people, to publish specific information relating to gender pay gaps.
The results below relate to the 5th of April 2022 during which there were 698 full pay relevant employees, 66% of whom were female and 34% male.
Note, occupations such as care where women are overrepresented typically produce lower pay gaps.
- Our mean gender pay gap was 2.89%
- Our median gender pay gap was 1.07%
- The proportion of males and females in each quartile band is:
| Quartile | Women | Men |
| Upper (75-100%) | 69.54% | 30.46% |
| Upper middle (50-75%) | 62.64% | 37.36% |
| Lower middle (25-50%) | 69.71% | 30.29% |
| Lower (0-25%) | 66.29% | 33.71% |
“As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring that our staff are not discriminated against because of their gender. We never pay differential rates based on gender, only based on the job role itself.
Our results indicate that a lot of employees are concentrated around the same or similar rate of pay with no significant positive or negative percentage mean or median gender pay gap.
Females are more than proportionately represented in our upper pay quartile.”
We continue to be committed to recruiting more male and female carers into David Lewis and will continue to recruit and promote based on merit.
Our Patrons
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, GCVO
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh has been a Patron of David Lewis since 2007 and has visited the charity on a number of occasions to meet the people we support, our teams and see at first hand some of the great work David Lewis does.
The Viscount Ashbrook
Viscount Ashbrook has been a Patron of David Lewis for a number of years. Lord Ashbrook who lives at Arley Hall has always taken a close interest in the work of the charity and has attended a number of events at our main site in Warford on a number of occasions.
Meet Our Executive Team
John Heritage, CEO
John joined David Lewis as our Chief Executive in October 2021.
Before joining David Lewis John held a number of Operational and Commercial Board level roles in the NHS and charity sectors including being recently Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer of a mental health, community and learning disability Trust.
John is a Board Member of VODG, a membership body representing voluntary sector organisations working alongside disabled people.
John is also a Governor of St Helens and Knowsley Colleges; a Leadership Fellow at St Georges House, Windsor Castle and a Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Society at Salford University where he contributes to the delivery of programmes for health and care leaders of the future
John is passionate about David Lewis being a person centred organisation for both the people we support and our colleagues and it being an organisation that works in partnership with commissioners, other providers and most importantly families and those we support to continually improve the quality of what we provide to best meet people’s needs.
You can follow John on Twitter @DavidLewisCEO
Angie Fisher, Director of Education
Angie has worked in SEND education with children and young people with complex learning difficulties for over 25 years.
Angie joined David Lewis as a member of the college leadership team nine years ago and in 2014 joined the exec team as the Director of Education responsible for the school and college day and residential education provisions. David Lewis College is proud to be the only “Outstanding” Independent Specialist College in the North West.
Angie is also a North West OFSTED inspector for High Needs. Her comprehensive knowledge of the Ofsted Education Inspection Frameworks is hugely beneficial for validating plans for continuous improvement within our education settings.
Passionate about learning, Angie has a clear vision for the school and college, and is committed to ensuring students develop the skills they need to be the best they can be. “We support our students to develop their ability to communicate their wants and needs, develop their skills for independence and work and prepare them for adulthood and life beyond education.
Neil Edwards, Director of Finance & Estates, Company Secretary
Neil joined David Lewis in January 2017.
Before joining David Lewis Neil had senior finance roles in the FMCG and manufacturing sector. Since joining DL, Neil has taken on additional responsibilities including oversight of our reception, night security, stores, laundry, kitchens, fundraising, cleaning and estates teams.
Outside of work, Neil spends as much time as he can playing sports and has a passion for the natural world and conservation.
Since joining David Lewis Neil has been impressed and continues to be so of the high standards we practice and the dedication, hard work and care demonstrated by all DL staff. Neil remains incredibly proud to work for DL.
Victoria Entwistle, Director of Clinical Services, Quality & Compliance
Victoria joined David Lewis in January 2020 as the Director of Clinical Services.
Qualifying as a Registered Nurse (General) in Durham in 1991, she moved down to Greater Manchester in 2000. Having worked in the NHS for 25 years and moving to the Charity sector prior to David Lewis, her nursing career to date has focussed in areas of Cardiology, Acute medicine and Palliative and end of life care. The latter being something she is passionate about to improve care provided to people facing life limiting conditions.
Victoria holds a Degree in BSc (hons) Nursing and has additional qualifications in Coronary Care Nursing, End of life care and MSc module of Specialist Palliative Care. She also has additional leadership and management training. Victoria had been registered with the CQC since 2015.
Victoria has a long held pride in ‘doing the right thing’ in healthcare, to authentically and with integrity ensure that care is provided to the very best quality. That, through strong leadership, we have a continuous positive culture of learning. Victoria has presented at local and national conferences in various topic and is keen to promote David Lewis as an employer of choice.
Putting our people first and providing person centred care at the core of all that we do at David Lewis and is what drives Victoria’s passion to be the best we can everyday.
Outside of work Victoria is very proud of her two daughters and enjoys keeping fit at the gym and a keen cook.
You can follow Victoria on Twitter @vix_e
Sue Hunt, People and Culture Director
Sue joined the Trust in November 2022 after 24 years working in the NHS, most recently as Associate Director of Workforce at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. Starting her career as a wonderfully naive 21 year old graduate, she knew she would only ever be able to work for an organisation that had improving lives at its heart.
Starting her career in operational management of clinical services, her passion for people and culture developed and she moved into Human Resources. Having worked in acute and community services aswell as in strategic regional organisations, she truly found her home when she started working with some of the most vulnerable and amazing people in society.
Staff are the greatest asset in most organisations, but at David Lewis they really are the beating heart of the charity. Without their dedication, commitment, skill, care and compassion we could not change lives for those we support.
Her proudest professional moment was leading a collaborative effort of multi disciplinary professionals to deliver the Covid vaccination programme for an NHS trust of 4000 staff and vulnerable service users – we truly made a difference!
Inspired to deliver for the people we support, committed to making the working lives of our staff the best it can be and fostering a culture that strives for excellence, belonging and opportunity for all.
Her mission is to ask lots of questions, actively listen to the answers and commit to act. Intolerant of complacency and rudeness; passionate about innovation and compassion; driven to make a difference to the lives of our staff and those we support.
Sue lives locally with her husband and 3 children who keep her busy when not at work. As a mum of twins boys and a teenager daughter, multi tasking and taxi driving is my speciality! On the rare occasion she gets to relax, Sue loves countryside walks, holidaying in her motorhome and reading.
You can follow Sue on Twitter @culture1stSue
Simon Messenger, Director of Adult Residential & Day Oppertunities.
Simon Joined David Lewis in August 1998 as a care Officer within the Education Service.
After study for and gaining his DIPSW in social work Simon has worked in the residential School, College and adult services, holding a number of roles and been a Registered Manager with OFSTED & CQC before being promoted to Director of Adult Residential & Day Services.
This is a role that he is very proud to hold and can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience as well as direction, leadership and innovation to the service. This also supports his passion for the service to be person centred, progressive and having the individual at the heart of everything we do.
Simon retains a strong interest in epilepsy, autism and being able to support those who can challenge and strongly believes in the David Lewis Mission, vision & Values working with individuals, families and building healthy partnerships with all stakeholders and to open up our services and develop further into the local communities.
Meet Our Trustees
Stephen Devlin, Chair
Stephen retired from his role as a senior partner from a firm of solicitors in recent years. He is a member of the Law Society and recently he has been appointed to the role of Deputy District Judge.
Stephen became a David Lewis Trustee in December 2014 and served as Chair of the Governance Committee until September 2021 when he then assumed the Chair of the Trustee Board.
Darren Karl Cornwall
Darren is a certified accountant who has spent his career to date working as a Finance Director predominantly with fast growing companies in a range of business sectors in the UK and overseas. He is an experienced and commercially-minded advisor to entrepreneurial and growing businesses.
He has been working with David Lewis as a Trustee since late 2016, is Chair of the Finance Committee and current Vice-Chair of the Trustee Board.
George Devlin
George became a Trustee of David Lewis in April 2016 and serves as a member of the Education Committee.
He was recently appointed as the Lay Member for Patient and Public Participation on Trafford CCG Governing Body, is chair of governors in two Trafford schools and is active in a range of other roles in Trafford and Manchester.
Originally from Glasgow, George and his family have lived in Trafford since 1993 – he and his wife have four children and five grandchildren.
Alistair Hollows
Alistair is a Chartered Accountant who runs a management and risk consultancy for wealth management companies. He worked for KPMG in Africa and Canada before returning to the UK taking up a regulatory role with his professional body (ICAEW) which led to working in the Financial Services Sector.
He joined the Board of Trustees in January 2018 and is also a member of the Finance and the Education Committees.
He is on the Audit and Risk Committee of Torus Housing Group, is Non-Executive Director of a football agency and on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Professional Excellence at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is a past President of the Manchester Society of Chartered Accountants and past National Council Member of the ICAEW.
His sister-in-law lives in sheltered housing in Trafford and is a long-term service user of Stockdales.
Linda Feerick
For the past 15 years Linda has been a Business Coach, working with senior leaders and teams to support them in their roles. She is also a Partner at Alliance Coaching and was previously an Honorary Teaching Fellow at Lancaster University.
Linda joined David Lewis as a Trustee in December 2017 and is currently the Chair of the Education Committee. Her favourite part of the role is the visits to the various departments, where she gets to see first hand what goes into delivering the best care for our people.
In addition to her Trustee role, Linda also supports various charities on an ad hoc basis, including having completed Oxfam TrailTrekker in 2013, working pro bono with her local Hospice and supporting young people starting their own business.
Born in Rochdale, married with two adult children Linda likes to travel (recent highlights include India, Easter Island and Australia). Her three favourite pieces of advice are: you get what you tolerate; kick every ball that comes your way; you can’t get everyone to like you.
Geoff Loughlin
Geoff has worked for many years in senior positions in the Housing sector, most recently as Executive Director of Wulvern Housing in Crewe. Geoff joined David Lewis as a Trustee and Governance Committee member in early 2018. He previously completed the maximum nine year term as a non-Executive Director and Trustee of New Charter Housing Trust. At New Charter, Geoff was a member of the Group Board and Chair of the NC Homes and Aksa subsidiary Board.
For the past few years, he has been self-employed on a part time basis, providing coaching and mentoring services to Boards, Exec Directors and Senior Managers in the Housing and Charity sectors.
Geoff is currently Chair of the Governance Committee.
Susan Tebby-Lees
Susan is a practicing GMC registered NHS Consultant Radiologist working at Macclesfield Hospital. She has 32 year’s experience as an NHS doctor and has specialised in radiology since 1992. Susan is also a strong advocate for postgraduate education and professional development as Director of Medical Education for Macclesfield Hospital.
Susan joined David Lewis as a Trustee in January 2019 and is delighted to have the opportunity to be involved in such a highly reputable charitable organisation. Susan hopes to be able to add value by virtue of her background and looks forward to her journey with David Lewis.
Tricia Kalloo, Vice Chair
Tricia Kalloo is Chief Executive of Wellness International. Wellness International Ltd. is an occupational health and wellbeing provider specialising in preventative corporate healthcare operating across the UK based in Cheshire.
Tricia is a former vice chair and non- Executive Director at North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trusts and a former vice chair and non-executive director at Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Tricia is also a qualified cognitive behavioural therapist and coach.
Carole Spencer
Carole Spencer is Director of System Partnerships at the North West Innovation Agency where she leads on the Agency’s strategy for the spread and adoption of innovations across health and care systems.
Carole has more than 25 years of NHS experience, with provider trusts, commissioners and in regional and regulatory roles. Carole has significant experience in the planning and management of large scale change as Strategic Development Director of several large acute NHS providers across the North West.
Dr Victoria Halliwell
Vicky Halliwell is Deputy Dean in the School of Health and Society at Salford University where she is responsible for a range of cross-school functions including strategy, people, major change projects and campus developments.
Vicky originally qualified as an Occupational Therapist and worked as a Head of Department for Therapies at Bridge College, part of the Together Trust before entering Academia where she has undertaken a range of academic teaching and leadership roles prior to her current role. As well as her role at Salford Vicky also chairs the Greater Manchester Allied Health Professions Council where she leads on local and regional workforce planning.
Lisa Ellis
Lisa is Associate Director of Quality & safety Improvement for St Helens as part of the Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Integrated Care Board where she has responsibility for quality, safety and safeguarding of NHS and Care services across St Helens.
Prior to her current roles Lisa has worked as an Assistant Director in NHS provider Trusts as well as within Health Education England. Lisa continues to be registered as a General Nurse and Health Visitor.
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