The Trust has been shortlisted in two categories in the Patient Experience Network Awards (PEN) 2015. The awards recognise best practice in the experience of care across health and social care in the UK.
The Trust has been shortlisted in the following categories:
Environment of Care
The Live Project – building community recovery.
The project, initially implemented at Highbury Hospital in 2014, set off with the aim of creating a sense of community for service users, carers, volunteers and staff. The team has made a number of positive changes to facilities and the overall patient experience through regular patient activity days, an allotment on site and patient council meetings. Due to the success of the project, it has gradually expanded to Millbrook and Bassetlaw Mental Health Units where the team continues to play an important role in improving the experience of care provided.
Partnership Working to Improve the Experience
The Story Shop – bringing mental health stories to life.
The Story Shop is led by staff from the Involvement Team in partnership with service users and carers. This initiative provides a platform for service users and carers to share their own personal story to help others make sense of what has happened to them, and use what can be a negative experience in a positive way. For service users and carers involved it is a truly meaningful activity that helps to reduce stigma often associated with mental health.
Ruth Hawkins, Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for these national awards for two great initiatives that truly make a difference to the overall patient experience. They both play a crucial role in the process of recovery and the teams should feel very proud of what they have achieved.”
The winners will be announced at the PEN National Awards and Best Practice Conference on 2 March 2016. For more information about the Patient Experience Network, visit www.patientexperiencenetwork.org