Glenfield Transforms to Achieve CQC 'Good' Rating

Glenfield Transforms to Achieve CQC ‘Good’ Rating

Just two years ago, ivolve Glenfield faced a turning point. Rated “Inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the team at Glenfield knew that something needed to change. And change it did – in the most powerful, person-centred way possible. Today, Glenfield is proud to be rated ‘Good’ by CQC across the board – and it’s not just a rating. It’s a symbol of renewed purpose, resilient leadership and a flourishing community.

Just two years ago, ivolve Glenfield faced a turning point. Rated “Inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the team at Glenfield knew that something needed to change. And change it did – in the most powerful, person-centred way possible. Today, Glenfield is proud to be rated ‘Good‘ by CQC across the board – and it’s not just a rating. It’s a symbol of renewed purpose, resilient leadership and a flourishing community.

At the heart of this transformation is Stacey, Glenfield’s passionate new manager, who stepped into the role just six months ago after a break away from the home she’d worked at for 10 years, to look after her young children. “I actually cried when I found out,” she recalls. “We’ve put so much into this. Every colleague, every day, has worked with their whole heart. This rating is for them – and for the people we support.”

“We’ve put so much into this. Every colleague, has worked with their whole heart. This rating is for them and for the people we support.”

Stacey, Glenfield Manager

A Culture of Possibility

The turnaround at Glenfield didn’t happen overnight. It took grit, trust, and a deep belief in what’s possible. Stacey and her team embraced the principles of practice leadership, modelling the ivolve way of support: hands-on, heart-first, and grounded in our Strive model of care.

“When I returned to Glenfield, there were improvements we needed to make.” Stacey says. “So, we started small. A walk with Sam. A shopping trip with Natalie. The tiniest spark of confidence could light up a whole day. And now? We’ve got people asking to go for walks, getting involved, making choices, laughing.”

This is Strive in action: supporting people to enjoy dynamic, person-led lives with everyday moments that build independence and wellbeing. Whether it’s making a cup of tea independently or heading out to the park for the first time in years, Glenfield’s approach reflects everything ivolve stands for – active, positive, and empowering support.

The Day CQC Walked In

The “Good” rating followed an unannounced CQC inspection that focused on two vital areas: safety and leadership. Stacey, who happened to be in on her day off to finish the rota, remembers the moment vividly.

“I was literally in the office when someone said, ‘CQC are here,’ and I thought they were joking. My heart was pounding,” she laughs. “But when the inspector walked in, we were ready – because this isn’t about preparing for an inspection, it’s about doing the right thing every day.”

What happened next is a moment Stacey will never forget.

“She told me, ‘What I’ve read on paper and what I’ve walked into are worlds apart.’ That’s when I knew we’d done it. She could see the love, the energy, the commitment. And she knew we weren’t just ticking boxes – we were transforming lives.”

Leadership was recognised as a strength. The inspector saw Stacey not as a manager behind a desk, but as someone actively involved in every aspect of support. Every question was met with clarity and confidence. Every file was ready, every answer honest. It was, quite simply, a service proud of the care it provides.

“CQC could see the love, the energy, the commitment. They knew we weren’t just ticking boxes – we’re transforming lives.”

Stacey, Glenfield Manager

A Celebration of Pride and Progress

When the rating came through, Glenfield didn’t just celebrate – they whole place exhaled.

A big barbecue, music, laughter, and even a bouncy castle filled the garden. It was a chance for everyone to pause, reflect, and feel proud. Families were informed and overwhelmed with happiness, and although they couldn’t all be there in person, their support was felt.

“We’ve taken a breath,” Stacey says. “But we’re not slowing down. This isn’t the end – it’s the beginning of something even better.”

Why the Glenfield CQC ‘Good’ Means So Much

The change at Glenfield runs deeper than ratings. It has restored pride in colleagues, who can proudly say, “I work at ivolve Glenfield.”

And for the people supported at Glenfield, it means increased independence, reduced behaviours, and richer, more fulfilled days.

“The people we support are out and about in the community every day, doing the things they love,” Stacey explains. “They’re living, not just existing.”

Lorna Finegan, Area Manager for ivolve who supported Glenfield through the inspection and beyond, said: “The ‘Good’ rating doesn’t just recognise compliance – it recognises care, commitment and courage.”

“The team here are incredible. They embraced change, stayed united, and truly transformed the culture. It’s one of the most remarkable turnarounds I’ve seen.”

Lorna Finegan, Area Manager – Midlands

What’s Next for Glenfield?

This Glenfield CQC ‘Good’ rating is just the beginning. Their sights are now set on achieving an ‘Outstanding’ rating – but more importantly, on continuously improving outcomes for the people who live there.

Whether it’s Sam walking confidently in the community without a handling belt, or Curtis taking steps towards the park, every moment of progress matters. Stacey puts it simply: “We’re not taking our foot off the gas. We’ll keep going. We’re going to give it our all.”

When thousands of colleagues across ivolve took part in this year’s annual colleague survey, they weren’t just sharing feedback about their workplace. They were helping support something much bigger.

Thanks to record participation in our annual colleague survey fundraising initiative, we’ve proudly donated funds to both Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research UK, turning colleague feedback into meaningful support for two charities that touch the lives of millions of people across the UK.

The donations were formally presented during a special cheque presentation event attended by representatives from both charities, celebrating the collective impact that can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.

At ivolve, listening to colleagues isn’t simply something we do once a year. It’s part of how we shape our culture, improve experiences and create a workplace where people feel valued, heard and empowered to make a difference.

This year, however, the survey delivered something even more powerful. For every completed survey response, we pledged to donate £1 to charity, giving colleagues not only the opportunity to share their views but also a direct say in where the money would go.

The result was our highest ever level of survey engagement, with thousands of colleagues from across our nursing, residential care and supported living homes in England and Wales taking part.

Together, those individual responses created a collective contribution that will now help support people affected by dementia and fund life-saving cancer research.

How Colleague Survey Fundraising Made a Difference

At ivolve, we believe that every voice matters. Our colleague survey plays a vital role in helping us shape the future of our organisation.

The insights colleagues share influence decisions, improvements and priorities across the business, helping us continue building an environment where people can do their best work while delivering meaningful care to the people we support. The colleague survey fundraising initiative was designed to reinforce that belief.

By linking survey participation directly to charitable giving, colleagues could see first-hand how sharing their views could make a difference beyond their own workplace.

The response exceeded expectations. Thousands of colleagues took the time to provide feedback, demonstrating not only their commitment to improving ivolve but also their desire to support causes that matter deeply to them.

When it came to selecting the charity, colleagues were invited to vote for the cause they wanted the donation to support. The result was incredibly close, so rather than selecting a single winner, we chose to split the funds between the two charities that received the highest number of votes: Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research UK.

The decision ensured that both charities would benefit from the generosity and engagement of colleagues across the organisation. It’s a simple idea, but one that reflects something important about our culture.

We know that meaningful change often starts with small actions. Completing a survey may seem like a small act on its own, but when thousands of people come together, those actions can create a powerful impact.

That principle sits at the heart of our employee value proposition and the culture we’ve worked hard to build. It’s also one of the reasons ivolve has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Places to Work by The Sunday Times for three consecutive years. We know that when colleagues feel listened to, valued and involved in shaping the future, everyone benefits.

"We simply can't reach those who need us without support from incredible fundraisers like ivolve Care & Support."

Jodie Jarecki,
Regional Fundraiser – Alzheimer’s Society

Supporting Causes Close to Colleagues’ Hearts

The charities selected by colleagues represent causes that affect countless families, communities and colleagues across the UK.

Alzheimer’s Society works tirelessly to support people living with dementia, fund groundbreaking research and campaign for change.

Speaking following the cheque presentation, Jodie Jarecki, Regional Fundraiser for the East Midlands at Alzheimer’s Society, highlighted the difference the donation will make.

“We are so grateful that ivolve Care & Support chose to support Alzheimer’s Society. We provide vital support to people living with dementia, funds groundbreaking research and campaigns to make dementia the priority it should be. It will take a society to beat dementia.”

She continued, “There are around a million people living with dementia in the UK including 14,006 in Derbyshire. We all have a role to play in ending the devastation dementia causes. We simply can’t reach everyone who needs us without the continued support of our incredible fundraisers like colleagues at ivolve Care & Support.”

"Thank you so much for choosing to support Cancer Research UK. Every penny raised goes towards vital life-saving research."

Joyce Clifford,
Alfreton Representative – Cancer Research UK

The donation will help Alzheimer’s Society continue providing vital support services while funding research aimed at improving lives and finding solutions for future generations.

Cancer Research UK, meanwhile, remains the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving and improving lives through research, influence and information.

Representing the charity at the presentation event was Joyce Clifford, Chairman of the Alfreton and District Committee for Cancer Research UK.

Reflecting on the occasion, she said: “A lovely morning to celebrate, and so well organised. Thank you so much for choosing to support Cancer Research UK. Every penny raised goes towards vital life-saving research.”

This is why initiatives like this matter. Behind every donation is the potential for hope. Hope for better treatments. Hope for greater understanding. Hope for brighter futures for individuals and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges. And we’re proud to be part of that in some small way.

A Workplace Where Feedback Matters

The success of our colleague survey charity donation initiative is a reflection of the culture we continue to build.

Across our organisation, we support more than 1,150 adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex support needs through more than 185 homes and support services across England and Wales.

Delivering high-quality support starts with having engaged, motivated and valued colleagues. That’s why listening matters.

Every year, our colleague survey helps us better understand what’s working, where we can improve and how we can continue making ivolve a great place to work. The feedback we receive directly informs actions, priorities and improvements across the organisation.

Divisional Head of People for England, Keeley Denman, believes this year’s initiative demonstrates the power of collective action. “The response from our colleagues demonstrates their shared commitment to making a difference and shows that small individual actions – such as completing a survey – can come together to create a significant collective impact.

“The success of our colleague survey fundraising initiative reflects the culture we continue to build, while also reinforcing our commitment to giving back. Our annual survey remains a key part of how we gather insight and shape our future and we have been delighted it has further benefitted not one, but two charities close to the hearts of our colleagues.”

That commitment to listening has helped shape a culture where colleagues feel able to speak up, share ideas and influence positive change. We’ve recently been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for the third consecutive year, reflecting the experiences and feedback of colleagues across the organisation. While awards are never the goal, they provide a valuable reminder that listening to colleagues and acting on what they tell us makes a real difference.

Whether it’s supporting people to achieve personal goals, volunteering within local communities, raising money for important causes or sharing ideas that help improve our organisation, our colleagues consistently demonstrate the values that make ivolve special.

"The success of our colleague survey reflects the culture we continue to build, while also reinforcing our commitment to giving back"

Keeley Denman
Divisional Head of People for England at ivolve

Small Actions, Lasting Impact

The cheque presentation marked the end of one fundraising initiative, but it also highlighted something much bigger.

When people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they contribute. And when thousands of people contribute together, remarkable things can happen.

What began as colleague survey fundraising became an opportunity to support two incredible charities, fund important work and demonstrate the positive impact that colleague voices can have both within and beyond the workplace.

At ivolve, we’re incredibly proud of every colleague who took the time to complete the survey, cast their vote and help make these donations possible. Their feedback will continue helping us shape the future of ivolve.

Their participation has already helped make a difference to two charities doing extraordinary work. As we begin reviewing this year’s feedback, we’ll continue using those insights to strengthen our culture, improve colleague experience and ensure ivolve remains a place where people can thrive.

Because when colleagues feel heard, supported and empowered, positive things happen – for our teams, for the people we support and, as this initiative has shown, for the wider communities around us too.

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