13 October 2022
The national award ceremony, which celebrates the best of the UK’s mental health services, was held at Ramside Hall, near Durham, on October 6.
Our Trust won four out of the six categories we were nominated in and were ‘highly commended’ in the other two.
Winners
Non-Clinical Team of the year – Voluntary services
Dedicated in recruiting, training, inducting and supporting volunteers to not only help and support services and teams across the Trust but to build volunteers’ skills and experience. In 2021, the ‘Steps Towards Employment’ programme was launched that reaches out to communities who seldom volunteer or apply for paid roles.
Mental Health Rehab and/or Recovery – Recovery and outcomes support team
A small team shortlisted for the improvements made in recent times. Due to the pandemic, Recovery College events had not taken place and resource was limited. Recruiting to the team meant that within a short space of time, a year’s worth of events had been scheduled, new courses planned, and visual display boards are now working. The team has liaised with colleagues to bring back a community feel into Ridgeway, Roseberry Park and planning is in place for the Ridgeway Recovery Awards.
Outstanding Leadership – Tom Hurst
Tom is the general manager for the urgent care services in the Durham and Tees Valley region, looking after the care delivery of the crisis, acute hospital liaison and acute inpatient services.
Forensic Mental Health Services (including Criminal Justice and Prisons) – Cook healthy, eat, repeat – ‘A recipe for a healthier lifestyle’
Shortlisted for a Ridgeway recipe cookbook co-created with dieticians, patients and colleagues. Listing a range of healthy meals and tips and suggestions for breakfast, lunches and snacks along with the ingredients and utensils needed for cooking each dish. A copy of the book is on each ward in Ridgeway and encourages patients to try cooking.
Highly commended
Complex Needs – Primrose service – HMP & YOI Low Newton
The Primrose service works in an individualised way with women in custody with personality difficulties, where there is a link between their risk and personality difficulty. Following a period of assessment and formulation an individualised treatment plan is devised based on the Livesley framework that is informed by a number of recovery and trauma informed principles. The service is delivered in an enabling environment, as awarded by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. A national service which takes referrals from across the female estate. The pathway has 12 places and those referred need to have at least three years left to serve on their sentence.
Mental Well-being of Workforce – Employee support service
For the past 10 years staff have been supported on a wide range of issues, so that they can keep working and continue to make positive and lasting contributions whilst facing pressures and ever-increasing demands. Support is provided for those who may be struggling with work or personal circumstances, teams going through organisational change, experiencing high work-related stress levels and those who are unwell and on long-term sickness to name a few.
Well done to everyone involved.
