Lifeways Group has welcomed Tanya Farley, a dedicated mother-of-four with a passion for improving care, as the inaugural Chairperson of its newly launched Family Advisory Panel.
The independent panel was established following the success of Lifeways’ Family Checkers initiative. It aims to elevate the voices of families whose loved ones receive support, helping shape and strengthen care quality across the organisation’s services.
Tanya was selected as Chair by fellow panel members. She brings years of lived experience as the mother of James, who receives supported living care from Lifeways in Stockport.
“I got involved after I reached out to the Chief Executive on LinkedIn,” said Tanya. “We had a really honest conversation about my son’s story and my hopes for improving supported living. I just felt it was time to step up.”
Tanya’s appointment reflects her long-standing commitment to advocacy and peer support. She has organised the “Autism: A Hands-On Approach” conference for more than 20 years, and recently launched a series of online workshops to create safe, practical spaces for families to explore and share their experiences.
“I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned, making sure families are heard, and keeping standards high across services,” she said. “It’s about identifying best practice and sharing it.”
Tanya’s focus as Chair includes encouraging peer-to-peer auditing, fostering open communication, and supporting continuous improvement in care. “I’d love to see families visit and give feedback on other services, not just their own,” she added. “That shared perspective could really help us raise standards.”
Although surprised by the appointment, Tanya has embraced the opportunity. “Sometimes you just have to step up. If you’ve got something valuable to offer, why hold back? Really, I just want to help. If something isn’t working, people need to feel safe enough to say so. That’s how we make things better for everyone.”
Lifeways’ Chief Executive, Andrea Kinkade, welcomed the appointment: “I’m delighted to be working with Tanya and the Family Advisory Panel. Families know their loved ones better than anyone. Their insights and lived experiences are essential, not just for improving the quality of care, but for supporting our teams and shaping the future of Lifeways.”
She added: “The Panel is one way that families can help drive meaningful positive change and have a stronger voice at every level of our organisation.”
The Family Advisory Panel will act as an independent group of quality checkers – offering constructive, honest feedback about what Lifeways is doing well, where it can improve, and how it can foster stronger relationships with families.
Looking ahead, Lifeways plans to establish similar panels across every region of the UK, building a national network of engaged families focused on raising quality, promoting connection, and sharing learning.
Executive Team members, including the Chief Executive, will attend each panel meeting to listen, learn, and be held accountable. The insights of the Panel will also be shared directly with the Lifeways Board, ensuring the family voice is meaningfully embedded in organisational governance.
