Our achievements

Posted on 4 Jul 2022

We are delighted that two teams at the Trust have been shortlisted in the Nursing Times Awards. Our Nottingham CAMHS Eating Disorder team – parent2parent support, and our Deaf Prison In-Reach service, have both been shortlisted in the Nursing in Mental Health category.

Anne-Maria Newham, Executive Director of Nursing, AHPs and Quality said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to hear we have two teams shortlisted in the prestigious Nursing Times Awards. Both teams are thoroughly deserving of this recognition, with one providing invaluable support to parents experiencing really challenging times. The other providing a fantastic service to Deaf patients in prisons, to ensure they get the support they need. Congratulations and good luck to them both for the next stage”

Our Nottingham CAMHS parent to parent support group is a new initiative designed to help and support parents/families who are caring for a young person with an eating disorder. The group is led by parents who have experienced caring for their child with an eating disorder, and so they are well placed to be able to understand and empathise with other parents who are going through those challenges at the moment.

The project lead, clinical nurse specialist Richard Marsh said:

“I think it is an amazing service and I always felt privileged to lead on it. I’m so happy for the volunteers that I work with that it is getting the recognition it deserves, as they are the stars in this really.

Our CAMHS Eating Disorders Service Lead, Alison Newsham-Kent feels really proud of what Richard, the team and the volunteers have achieved, the support they provide to those struggling at the moment is invaluable.

Our Deaf Prison In-Reach service, our second service to be shortlisted, was initiated to address the inequalities in the provision of mental health services to Deaf prisoners.

Following research into Deaf prisoners they discovered that often Deaf prisoners were not able to access standard programmes and services due to their Deafness.

The Deaf Prison-In Reach programme consists of a Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychologist Nurse Practitioner and BSL Interpreters who offer specialist consultations, assessments and treatments in the Deaf prisoners first language of BSL. They also offer advice by linking up with outside agencies to hopefully ensure there is not a return to the prison system.

Initially an understanding of Deaf Awareness and Deaf cultural issues were unknown to many Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) establishments, as a result of this the team provide Deaf awareness training to all establishments both to Prison staff and the residents. This has led to a greater awareness of the inequalities faced by Deaf prisoners compared to hearing prisoners.

Jason Lowe, Service Lead said:

“The Deaf Prison In-Reach team are strong advocates for the need for equitable access to services and recognise the need for all Deaf prisoners to have access to specialised Deaf services.

“Being shortlisted for this award, is a recognition of the team’s vision and determination to highlight and address the need for equality for Deaf prisoners.”

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 26 October 2022. More on the awards here: Nursing Times Awards 2022 - 2022 Shortlist