We’re incredibly proud to share that we have been named a finalist in two categories at this year’s LaingBuisson Awards – Excellence in Specialist Care and Excellence in Supported Living.
Being recognised among the LaingBuisson Awards 2026 finalists in both categories is something we’re proud of. It reflects two different types of support, united by one purpose: helping people live fulfilling lives in places they can truly call home.
For us, the shortlist represents the people we support, the colleagues beside them every day and the families and professionals who trust us to provide the right support.
Caroline Carnell, Commercial Director at ivolve, said, “Being shortlisted in two categories recognises both the specialist expertise behind our support and something just as important, helping people have choice, belonging and a life that feels like their own.”
That is what connects our specialist residential and supported living services. They may look different because the people who choose them need different things, but both start in the same place: with the person.
We take time to understand who someone is, what matters to them and what they want from their life. Our colleagues then bring together specialist knowledge, compassion and consistency to shape support around the individual.
For one person, that might mean developing everyday living skills. For another, it could mean building confidence to spend more time in their community, developing relationships or having greater involvement in decisions about their life.
There is no single definition of a good life. The important thing is that the person has a meaningful say in what theirs looks like. This happens every day across our homes in England and Wales. And that’s something we’re really proud of.
“Being shortlisted in two categories recognises both the specialist expertise behind our support and something just as important, helping people have choice, belonging and a life that feels like their own.”
Caroline Carnell
ivolve Commercial Director
Specialist care rooted in possibility
Being recognised for Excellence in Specialist Care is especially significant following our finalist place in the same category last year. Supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and other complex needs requires specialist knowledge, but expertise is only part of the picture.
It also means being curious. Understanding communication. Looking beyond what can be seen on the surface. Recognising how someone’s environment, experiences, sensory needs or relationships may influence how they feel and respond.
Across ivolve, our colleagues work alongside multidisciplinary specialists and Positive Behaviour Support professionals to develop proactive, person-led support.
That includes creating capable environments where communication is understood, routines make sense, risks are thoughtfully managed and people have opportunities to make choices and develop skills.
As Caroline explains, “Specialist support works best when we look beyond a diagnosis and really understand the person in front of us. It’s about asking what they need from us to feel safe, understood and able to move towards the things that matter to them.”
Sometimes the difference can be easy to see. Someone may begin accessing places they previously found overwhelming, develop a new skill or communicate their wishes more confidently. At other times, progress is quieter – greater trust, a more settled day or simply feeling comfortable at home.
Being named among the LaingBuisson Awards 2026 finalists for Excellence in Specialist Care recognises the expertise and patience behind those individual journeys.
“Specialist support works best when we look beyond a diagnosis and really understand the person in front of us. When we consider the things that matter to them.”
Caroline Carnell
ivolve Commercial Director
Supported living that feels like living
This year also marks our first finalist place in Excellence in Supported Living. And while supported living naturally involves providing the right care and support, it should never feel as though someone’s life is organised around a service.
It starts with home. Choosing what to eat. Deciding what happens at the weekend. Heading out to work, college or a community group. Learning new skills. Spending time with housemates. Having friends and family visit. The ordinary things that give everyday life its rhythm and identity.
Our supported living teams work alongside people to build skills and confidence at a pace that feels right for them, adapting support as needs and ambitions change. For some people, supported living may be their first move away from the family home. For others, it may follow a hospital stay or a more intensive placement. The level of support required can vary significantly.
What remains important is that the person has genuine choice and control over their life and their home. Caroline said, “Supported living should feel like living first. It’s about having your own space, making everyday choices and being supported to do more for yourself where that’s right for you. Those things can be easy to take for granted, but they matter enormously.”
That is why being shortlisted for Excellence in Supported Living means so much to us. It recognises the skill involved in providing personalised support while protecting the everyday freedom and identity that make somewhere feel like home.
“Supported living should feel like living first. It’s about having your own space, making everyday choices and being supported to do more for yourself. Those things can be easy to take for granted, but they matter enormously.”
Caroline Carnell
ivolve Commercial Director
Strive: turning what matters into meaningful progress
Connecting both finalist categories is Strive, our proactive model of support. Strive helps us understand what a good quality of life looks like for each person and turn their ambitions into practical, personalised goals.
Rather than only asking what support someone needs today, we also look ahead. What would they like to do more of? What skills would they like to develop? What could increase their confidence or independence? What is getting in the way?
Through i-Strive statements and individual goals, colleagues can break bigger ambitions down into realistic steps and track the changes that matter to the person.
Those goals might focus on daily living skills, health and wellbeing, relationships, community involvement or having greater influence over everyday decisions.
The outcome itself is important, but so is the journey towards it. Goals give colleagues and the people we support something meaningful to work towards together, while making sure support continues to evolve rather than standing still.
“This recognition belongs to our colleagues. Their knowledge and commitment show up in the everyday decisions they make and the relationships they build with the people we support.”
Caroline Carnell
ivolve Commercial Director
A moment to celebrate our colleagues
Last year, we celebrated being shortlisted for Excellence in Specialist Care. This year, recognition across two categories marks another important milestone for us. But awards are ultimately a reflection of the work happening long before a shortlist is announced.
They reflect colleagues taking time to understand someone’s communication. Teams adapting an environment when something is not working. Managers and specialists sharing ideas. People we support building confidence and pursuing goals that are important to them.
And they reflect the partnerships we build with families, commissioners and other professionals around each person.
Caroline added, “This recognition belongs to our colleagues. Their knowledge and commitment show up in the everyday decisions they make and the relationships they build with the people we support. We’re incredibly proud to see that work recognised nationally and look forward to celebrating that at the awards night and beyond.”
As one of the LaingBuisson Awards 2026 finalists, we’re proud to stand alongside organisations from across the sector working to improve the quality of care and support. And whatever happens on awards night, being shortlisted in both Specialist Care and Supported Living gives us plenty to celebrate.
More importantly, it gives us even more motivation to keep learning, improving and creating the right support around every person who chooses ivolve.
Discover specialist support at ivolve
Finding the right support is a big decision. We’re here to make the next step clearer. Learn more about our unique Strive model of support and how it helps us to deliver specialist care and support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health and complex needs.