David Lewis is a modern, forward-thinking charity with a track record and reputation built over 120 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 children and young people from age eleven 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 1100 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.
Our Organisational Structure
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 2024
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 April 2023 during which there were 865 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 1.89%
- Our median gender pay gap was (1.12%) in favour of female employees
- The proportion of males and females in each quartile band is:
| Quartile | Women | Men |
| Upper (75-100%) | 72% | 28% |
| Upper middle (50-75%) | 61% | 39% |
| Lower middle (25-50%) | 67% | 33% |
| Lower (0-25%) | 62% | 38% |
“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 evaluation of the job role itself.
We recognise that part time work and those working term time only in our school and college is a factor that impacts more on female staff.
Females now account for 72% of staff in the upper quartile of pay across the charity; an 8% over representation of females compared to 66 of the total workforce being female.
Similarly, females account for 62% of staff in the lower quartile of pay across the charity; a 4% under representation of females compared to 66% of the total workforce being female.
The charity reviews pay on an annual basis with consideration given to minimising the gender pay gap. From April 2024, an equality impact assessment of the charity’s pay recommendations will be undertaken to ensure decisions minimise any inequality across the charity.”
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, Chief Executive
Before joining David Lewis John held a number of Operational and Commercial Board level roles in the NHS and charity sectors including Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer of a mental health, community and learning disability NHS Foundation Trust.
John is a Board Member/Trustee of Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) a national membership body representing voluntary sector organisations working alongside disabled people.
John is also a Board Member of Rugby League Cares (the charity for Rugby League ) and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund; 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 post-graduate and under-graduate 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 an organisation that works in partnership with commissioners, other providers and most importantly families and those we support to continue to improve the quality, breadth and depth of what David Lewis delivers.
John is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in the field of Health and Social Care with a focus on the models and impact of integrated health and care services for people with a learning disability, autism, epilepsy and complex support needs.
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
Tricia Kalloo, 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.
Geoff Loughlin, Vice Chair
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.
Paul McKevitt
Paul is a highly experienced retired Deputy Chief Executive, Finance Director and Section 151 Officer in the public sector with 15 years’ executive level experience at Wigan Council. He also held roles during this period as Treasurer of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Treasurer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and Finance Director of Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group.
Paul was recognised for his work as the Winner of Public Sector Finance Leader of the Year and CIPFA Grand Prix Award 2022. He now working as an independent consultant with a range of public sector organisations.
Paul Walker
Paul has over 40 years of experience working in the legal profession. He was a partner with JMW Solicitors in Manchester for 32 years, and was Managing Partner for 8 years before retiring in 2022.
He also has 20 years of experience in the charity sector, particularly working with children with disabilities. Paul was a trustee of the Cheshire children’s charity Friends for Leisure for 20 years, and served as Chair of Trustees for 10 years. He has also been involved with the Lord’s Taverners for 20 years, and has been Chair of the North West region for the last 10 years. He is also currently a trustee of this charity and is currently the Chair of their national Charitable Programmes Committee.
Paul Brearley, JP, DL
Paul has over 35 years’ experience of working within the charity / 3rd Sector.
He was sworn in as a Magistrate in 1997 where he served until transferring to Stockport Magistrates Court in 2001, where he was later elected Deputy Bench Chairman and the last Chairman of the Stockport Bench at the creation of the Greater Manchester Bench. Paul was Chairman of the GM Family Panel for 6 years before being elected as the Chairman of the Greater Manchester Bench for the period April 2019 – March 2022. He is Chairman of the Greater Manchester Magistrates Association Branch, which has a very active Magistrates in the Community program, currently working in collaboration with other agencies to address Violence Prevention through Virtual Education.
Paul is a Director / Trustee of the Wellspring [Stockport] Ltd, and is also Clerk to his local Parish Council and Chairman of the management committee of his local parish hall. Other roles include, President of Royal British Legion – Hazel Grove, Chairman of The Hall at Marthall, and Governor of Stockport Grammar School. Paul is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.
Paul is a carer for a disabled former partner.
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.
Carole Spencer
Carole Spencer retired from the NHS after more than 30 years working within Acute Community and Mental Health Trusts in executive director roles. She has significant experience in strategic planning and development as well as an interest in the effective processes for innovation adoption within organisations. She continues her involvement with the NHS and has recently taken up a Non executive director role with a large Acute Trust within Cheshire and Merseyside.
Prof. 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 work in the NHS and social services before she moved to Head of Learner Services at Bridge College, part of the Together Trust, where she was also a member of the Executive Team. Vicky then entered academia where she has undertaken a range of academic teaching and leadership roles prior to her current role. Vicky is a Professor of Industry Collaboration in Healthcare Education reflecting her work with stakeholders such as NHSE, local authorities, charities and the Council of Deans for Health. She is leading on a major capital project at the University, to establish a Health and Wellbeing hub where students and partners can provide services to the community of Salford and Greater Manchester and students gain valuable experience.
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.
Prior to her current roles Lisa has worked as a Chief Nurse & Director of Quality for a Clinical Commissioning Group and has also held Assistant Director posts in NHS provider Trusts as well as within Health Education England. Lisa continues to be registered as a General Nurse and Health Visitor and remains passionate about providing high quality services to all.
Elaine Cartwright
Elaine is the associate director for the resource impact assessment team at NICE. This team assess the resource impact of each type of guidance produced by NICE.
Elaine was previously a chief finance officer within Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, where she oversaw the finances for one of the acute hospitals in North Wales and also for managed clinical services across North Wales.
Elaine has extensive experience in finance within the NHS, having also worked for a large acute trust in England. Before working in the NHS, she worked for major international chemical companies and was heavily involved in the flotation of one of these companies on the US stock market.
Christine Green
Christine started her career as a Management Trainee in the NHS. During her career she worked in the Learning Disability and Mental Health Sectors as well as in the Acute Hospital Sector.
Over a 20 year plus period, she undertook a number of hospital CEO roles in Greater Manchester, Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire during which time she was fortunate enough to be sponsored by the then “Department for International Development” to work in the first black university teaching hospital in South Africa. Her interest in comparative health care systems saw her undertaking work projects in Sweden, Spain and also in America when she won a bursary to attend a Health Executive Development Program at Cornell University.
After taking early retirement from the NHS, Christine worked as a project manager for Marie Curie looking at service development across 3 of the 4 UK Nations.
Christine has always valued making a wider contribution outside paid employment and has enjoyed roles as a School Governor and as a Trustee of two charities working within the care sector.
Her new role as a David Lewis Trustee brings into play her NHS experience in developing community-based services for people with learning disabilities and complex needs, as well as her experience of working within the charitable sector.
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