Our achievements

Posted on 10 Jun 2021

The winners of 10 Outstanding Service Contribution and Recognition Scheme (OSCARS) awards are celebrating today, after receiving their prizes during a special online ceremony.

The winning teams and individuals range from across the Trust’s mental health, community healthcare and forensic services and corporate teams. The winners and highlights from their nominations include:

Unsung Hero Award – Non Clinical

Karen Rochester, Admin Lead for Step 4 Psychological Therapies. “Karen retires this year after 18 years of service and she is a linchpin in the psychotherapy service. Everything she does is designed to support the patient experience. She has been so supportive over the years of myself and all who she has contact with in the service.”

Unsung Hero Award – Clinical

Elizabeth Archer, Dietitian, Mental Health Services for Older People, Highbury Hospital. “Elizabeth has provided extensive input into every MHSOP inpatient diagnosed with COVID-19. She has been an integral part of the patient care team and her early intervention is likely to have improved patient outcomes.”

Leadership Award

Adam Fletcher, Ward Manager, Lucy Wade Unit. “Adam has been a positive role model on the ward, supporting the team with strong leadership, ensuring that staff have a voice and driving high standards of care. He is a strong advocate for the team and for patient safety.”

Quality Improvement Award

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. “The CAMHS Participation and Engagement Group has been meeting online during COVID, discussing their lived experience and informing changes in CAMHS services. The young people willingly and unselfishly give their time for free, whilst still juggling school and education.” 

Team of the Year Award - Non-Clinical

Corporate Services. “As the pandemic struck in March 2020, the Procurement Team collaborated with Trust Porters, Logistics, BDMU, Contracting and IPC Teams to unite behind one cause – ensuring they got PPE to frontline colleagues.”

School Aged Immunisation. “A new health promotion project (HPP) has supported the SAIS team to reach more service users. During a difficult year, commissioners and the SAIS feel that the input from the HPP has been vital for engagement.”

Team of the Year Award – Clinical

HMP Lowdham Grange. “The team ‘wowed’ prison staff in how they faced what was, at the time, the biggest outbreak of COVID-19 in a UK prison. They utilised multi-disciplinary teamwork, passion for patient care and bravery in delivering essential health services to prisoners.”

Outstanding Care and Compassion Award

Cherry Rumsey, Community Macmillan Nurse. “Cherry’s care and compassion shines through and is noted by colleagues and patients alike. One patient said: ‘After talking to Cherry I felt so much better. I was in such a dark place and she lifted my family and I up.’”

Volunteer of the Year Award

Audrey Ridge. “Self-proclaimed ‘Technological Dinosaur’ Audrey has given technology a go so that she can remain engaged and represent the patient voice in our services, receiving training and using a loan laptop.”

Neil Hunt - Special posthumous award. “When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and we needed to stand down our volunteers, Neil instantly signed up to be a COVID-19 responder volunteer. Neil showed a true commitment to people in his life along with the Trust, patients, carers, staff and his fellow volunteers.”    

Environmental Impact

Property and Space Utilisation. “The Property Team has significantly reduced the Trust's carbon footprint and wastage. In the last year, the team has partnered with charity Mesopotamia, donating 201 items the Trust could no longer use to help it provide relief from poverty and hardship worldwide.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr Ola Junaid, Consultant Psychiatrist, Mental Health Services for Older People, Highbury Hospital. “Ola has made an exceptional contribution to the Trust, spanning nearly 30 years. His legacy will be demonstrated by a long-lasting impact on generations of patients and their families and colleagues. His optimism and sense of humour are an integral part of his working persona and have been very much appreciated by everyone throughout the COVID pandemic.”      

The OSCARS is now in its 18th year and 434 nominations were received from staff, patients and carers.