Combined Healthcare named as finalist for two HSJ Partnership Awards 2024

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust has been named as a finalist for two prestigious HSJ Partnership Awards 2024, in collaboration with Changes Health and Wellbeing, Port Vale FC, and Stoke City FC.

The Trust has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Not For Profit’ category, alongside award submission leads Port Vale FC and Stoke City FC, and in the ‘Best Mental Health Partnership’ category for its work with the Stoke-on-Trent based charity and award submission lead Changes Health and Wellbeing.

Dr Buki Adeyemo, Chief Executive, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “It is brilliant that our collaborative work with three key partners in our locality has been recognised by the HSJ Partnership Awards judging panel. Thank you to Changes Health and Wellbeing, Port Vale FC and Stoke City FC for working with us to lead these submissions.

“Successful partnerships with key stakeholders in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire are key to delivering the support needed for our local population, and we are so proud of all that has been achieved to date and the work that is to come between our organisations.”

Liz Mellor, Chief Strategy Officer, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, added: “Partnerships are one of the four delivery pillars of our new Trust Strategy 2023 – 2028 and we really value the contribution and ability our Trust has to work in successful collaboration with multiple stakeholders, such as Changes Health and Wellbeing, Port Vale FC and Stoke City FC. Through collaboration, we bring all of our individual strengths together, delivering a shared vision for the benefit of our locality.”

The ‘Best Not For Profit’ category has recognised the successful collaboration between Port Vale FC, Stoke City FC and North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, to deliver mental health support and outreach in the community through provisions such as the Stoke Social group for older people and men’s health events at Port Vale FC.

Carol Shanahan OBE, owner and Chair of Port Vale FC and trustee of Port Vale Foundation, said: “Highly effective partnerships are key to us achieving positive health outcomes for the people in our community, which is one of our key aims as a community club. We are extremely proud to be collaborating with North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and Stoke City Community Trust to support the health and wellbeing of our local residents. The collective knowledge and experience within the partnership has seen some fantastic results for residents of Stoke-on-Trent. To be shortlisted for this award is a great honour and we are excited to continue the growth and development of this partnership.”

Stoke City Head of Community Adrian Hurst said: “The work of our Community Trust is at its most effective when we are working in partnership with organisations who see the value and opportunity in boosting good causes with the power of football.

“We want to make use of our standing in the community to help change lives for the better.

“In this case our local NHS Trust were in the perfect position to identify where we could help, and we have been only too happy to do so.

“Congratulations to them, and to Changes Health and Wellbeing and to Port Vale, for their part in the initiatives that have brought this recognition, and the very best of luck for the awards evening in March.”                                             

For the ‘Best Mental Health Partnership’ award, the partnership between North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and Changes Health and Wellbeing has been recognised for striving to integrate community based and recovery focused interventions within the Trust’s secondary care mental health pathway through Changes’ Peer Recovery Service.

Dave Wheat, CEO, Changes Health and Wellbeing, said: “Whatever the result on the night, being shortlisted for such a prestigious HSJ award already makes us feel like winners. This provides recognition for all the hard work of the Changes Peer Recovery Coach Team and our partner North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust; it demonstrates the positive impact that those with lived experience can have within clinical services, and provides the opportunity to share this success with colleagues across the entire sector.”

Now in its seventh year, 228 entries have been received for this year’s Partnership Awards, with 188 projects and individuals meriting inclusion on the final shortlist. The high volume – and exceptional quality – of applications once again mirrors the impressive levels of innovation and care continually being developed across the UK’s healthcare system.

The HSJ Partnership Awards will be held in London on Thursday 21 March 2024. To find out more about the awards and the finalists, please visit https://partnership.hsj.co.uk/finalists-2024