About the Staff REACH Awards 2024
REACH (Recognising Excellence and Achievement in Combined Healthcare) celebrates our staff, service user representatives and carers over the past year.
We hosted the 2024 awards on 20 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent.
For those not able to attend in person, the whole event was broadcast live, which can be watched below.
We were delighted to be presenting REACH in partnership with our main event sponsor, Interclass, for the second year.
We were also grateful for award sponsorship from the following organisations:
- Dedalus
- Port Vale FC
- RLDatix
- Rowtype Printers Ltd
- SERCO
- Stoke City FC
- Town Hospitals Ltd
- Unison
Below are our 2024 winners, together with the video of them accepting their award.
The full ceremony, as well as highlight videos are also below.
Winners
Diversity and Inclusion Award
(Sponsored by Stoke City FC)
Criteria
This award recognises the contribution of staff and volunteers who have made a positive difference in developing greater diversity and inclusion. This might be improving access and experience to services or employment for people in disadvantaged or minority groups, improving quality of life or quality of working life.
Winner:
Abdullah Shariff, Trainee Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner
Highly Commended (joint winners):
Simon Bratt, Senior Mental Health Practitioner
Stevan Thompson, Activity Worker/LGBT+ Network Lead
What Abdullah’s nominator said:
“Abdullah has bought huge amounts of knowledge about the Muslim community and belief system generally to Greenfields.
“He has advised colleagues about how to adapt and ensure that our clinical models/theories can be beneficial to Muslim clients, instead of conflicting with their beliefs, values or culture. He is incredibly kind, compassionate and funny and is a fantastic example of what NCST professional should be.
“He is enthusiastic about learning and making sure he brings the best possible care to the individuals he is working with. We all appreciate the banter he brings to the team.”
Leading with Compassion Award
(sponsored by Rowtype Printers Ltd)
Criteria
This award recognises a member of staff who values and develops people, sees them as individuals and encourages working together for better lives through an open and honest approach. It recognises an individual who has demonstrated compassionate leadership with patients, colleagues or their wider team.
Winner:
Beth Griffiths, Team Leader
Highly Commended (joint winners):
Andrea Slinn, Clinical Lead
Gemma Andrew, CASTT Consultant Psychiatrist
What Beth’s nominator said:
“Beth has transformed the team over the past 18 months she has been in post. The way she interacts with staff and allocates work is done in a compassionate way as she is mindful staff take on a lot of demanding cases in CAMHS. Beth puts staff and the children and young people at the centre of all that she does and this is evident on a daily bases and from the feedback I get from staff and parents.”
Learner of the Year Award
(sponsored by RLDatix)
Criteria
This award recognises and celebrates our learners and the contribution they make to Combined and its service users. This award is open to students, apprenticeships and anyone studying as part of their role across the trust.
Winner:
Nomi Mosoang, Mental Health Nursing Student
Highly Commended:
Shoban Adam, Trainee Clinical Associate Psychologist
What Nomi’s nominator said:
“Nomi is a shining star. Working with her and getting to know her has been an absolute pleasure and privilege. She fit in the Wellbeing College team right from the start; her proactive, creative and compassionate attitude shone through in everything she did.
“Nomi has been such a valuable and valued member of the Wellbeing College team, never shying away from learning, doing, supporting us throughout. She was only with us for a few weeks but she made magnificent contributions to each and every day; she worked both independently and as a part of the wider team by taking on tasks whilst always showing care and compassion.”
Lived Experience Shining Star Award
(sponsored by Town Hospitals Ltd)
Criteria
This award recognises an individual who has lived experience of mental distress or who has accessed mental health services and champions recovery values, inspiring hope and supporting others to be the best version of themselves.
Winner:
Adam Fenn, Peer Recovery Worker
Highly Commended:
Simon Newman, Peer Support Worker
What Adam’s nominator said:
“Adam is a highly valued member of the Lyme Brook team. He encompasses everything (and more) that is expected from a peer recovery worker.
“Adam goes above and beyond for the clients that he works with and engages them in community-based activities promoting independence (this is despite Adam not driving, he travels to all patients on his bike!).”
Partnership Award
(sponsored by Interclass)
Criteria
This award showcases how an individual or team can work in partnership to produce results to improve the lives of others. Successful individuals or teams will have broken down professional barriers across the trust and/or with partner organisations, leading to a positive impact on the experience of service users.
Winner:
EDIE Team in partnership with Junction 15 Productions and NSCG College
Highly Commended:
Ward 3 and Project Chrysalis
What the EDIE Team/Junction 15 Productions/NSCG College’s nominator said:
“Staffordshire EDIE (Early Detection Intervention and Engagement) Team and Junction 15 Productions (video production company) have been working in partnership with service users and family members, and in conjunction with NSCG College have developed a short, dramatised film aiming to raise awareness of At-Risk Mental State in the local area to support access to our developing early detection service.
“The film has been closely co-produced with service users who have gained opportunity to get involved developing the storyline, behind the scenes, helping on set. The partnership working throughout the 18-month project has allowed all involved to build positive relationships with each other, sharing knowledge and awareness of mental health challenges and how to manage these.
“All partners involved feel very proud of the film we produced and inspired by all the young people from across our service and the college who have displayed such bravery to share their stories to inspire the film, and to tackle such a sensitive subject in a very powerful and meaningful way.”
Proud to CARE Award
(sponsored by Serco)
Criteria
This award recognises someone who exemplifies our Proud to CARE values: compassionate, approachable, responsible and excellent. Staff vote to decide the final winner from a shortlist.
Winner:
Adrian, Senior Mental Health Nurse
Highly Commended:
Jayne Mitchell, Ward Clerk
What Adrian’s nominator said:
“Ade is a valued member of the team with a wealth of knowledge in his field. Ade takes staff members under his wing, mentors and supports them to make their own decisions. He consistently surpasses the expectations of his role and his positive attitude and unwavering commitment to supporting both staff and patients make a significant difference every day.”
“Adrian’s ability to lead with calmness during high-pressure situations, combined with his proactive mentoring, ensures that everyone feels supported and valued. Despite working behind the scenes, his actions have a profound impact, creating a more cohesive and resilient team. Adrian’s dedication, coupled with his exceptional behaviour, truly sets him apart as someone who goes above and beyond in every aspect.”
Research and Innovation Award
(sponsored by Dedalus)
Criteria
This award recognises innovation or achievement in research and development or practice which has a positive impact on mental health care or improves quality or value for money services through innovative approaches.
Winner:
Riding the Rapids training
Highly Commended:
Performance Team
What Riding the Rapids training’s nominator said:
“The team adopted this new approach to support and upskill parents whose children present with behaviours of concern at home. Historically, families would have waited for 1:1 allocation and this intervention would then take months to deliver.
“With the introduction of RTR, families now receive practical training and support to help them better understand behaviours of concern, implement support tailored to their child’s needs and reduce the reliance upon services where parents have been enabled to meet need.”
The feedback from family members who have been on the course includes:
“I thought I knew everything about my child, but I learnt so much, thank you.”
“It has helped me to communicate with my child.”
“I have learnt to engage with my child and promote positive behaviours.”
Rising Star Award
(sponsored by Dedalus)
Criteria
This award recognises emerging exceptional leaders who are exceeding expectations and making change happen. The award aims to recognise the influencers of today, and the senior leaders of tomorrow.
Winner:
Elke Henson, Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Highly Commended:
Cassie Powell, Whole School Approach Coordinator
What Elke’s nominator said:
“Over the years, Elke has supported patients with neuropsychiatric conditions in various clinical settings to a very high standard. Elke goes well beyond her clinical role to engage in educational initiatives and is also keen to translate her professional development into excellent patient care.
“As an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Independent Prescriber Lead, Elke utilises her leadership skills in supporting other team members and also works across organisational boundaries. Elke would not hesitate to take full responsibility for patients she comes in contact with, ensuring any other needs are properly coordinated, even if this was clearly not part of her routine clinical role.”
Service User and Carer Council Award
(sponsored by Interclass)
Criteria
Nominations can only be made by Service Users and Carers. This award values individual or teams who stand out from the crowd for being thoughtful, for listening and responding to our service users’ needs.
Winner:
Martina Vilanculo-Laita, Trainee Family Therapist
Highly Commended (joint winners):
Andrea McNicol, Carers’ Support Worker
PEGiS (Parent Engagement Group in Stoke)
What Martina’s nominator said:
“Martina supervises the Parent Mentor Group, which provides support to parents of children with eating disorders. She acts as an ambassador between both parties, relaying concerns and issues to enable a positive outcome and effective results to further promote the recovery of the sufferer via the parenting route.
“She does this with compassion, thought, energy and enthusiasm that enables the volunteer group to continue its good work and expand, with a second group being created and mentors asking for additional families to be added to their workload. Martina always goes the extra mile to make sure our parent support group runs smoothly and offers genuine care to help us as team thrive.”
Team of the Year Award
(sponsored by Port Vale FC)
Criteria
This award is given to a team which shows, through their actions and approaches, how they work together to improve the lives of others and demonstrate creative approaches to problem solving.
Winner:
Complex Care Team
Highly Commended (joint winners):
Edward Myers Unit
What the Complex Care Team’s nominator said:
“Claire Barley and the Complex Care Mental Health team have worked with system partners, private care providers and our trust teams to drive improvements to reduce the number of people we have in locked rehab placements.
“The team has shown relentless determination and passion to ensure that people are placed in the most appropriate and least restrictive environment possible e.g. supported living.”
Unsung Hero Award
(sponsored by Unison)
Criteria
This award pays tribute to an individual who has exceeded the expectations of their role with an outstanding attitude and behaviour. Working behind the scenes, or in a supportive role, they have a positive attitude and, through their actions, help to make a difference to others.
Winner:
Dan Waite, Administrator
Highly Commended (joint winners):
Megan Williams, Occupational Therapist
Jason Snape, Consultant Nurse
What Dan’s nominator said:
“Dan is an asset to the Mental Health Liaison Team. He not only collates referral information to allow us to review performance, but he supports with the day-to-day running of the team, ensuring that we have the resources to carry out our work.
“Dan works behind the scenes but does so much for the team. He is the go-to person for any technical difficulties and administrative jobs. Dan goes above and beyond for the team and no job is too big for him.”
“We are extremely lucky to have Dan as part of our team. He’s the kind of person who does so much, which often goes unnoticed, but the whole operation would crumble without him!”
Chair’s Award
Criteria
Chosen by the Chair from the winners on the night, this award recognises and individual or team who embodies the trust’s values.
Winner:
Beth Griffiths, Team Leader
