Trust Values in Action: Celebrating March staff and team highlights

At Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to celebrate the incredible work of our teams and individuals who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate, high-quality care. Here are our latest winners for Team of the Month, Individual of the Month.

Team of the Month – Addictions Plus – Forward Leeds

This month’s Team of the Month recognition goes to Addictions Plus – Forward Leeds, whose dedication, resilience and teamwork have shone exceptionally bright during a highly demanding period.
The service is made up of a wide range of specialist practitioners, mental health nurses, psychologists, psychotherapists, doctors, non‑medical prescribers, social workers, occupational therapists, addiction practitioners, DBT therapists and support staff. Despite intense staffing pressures and increasingly complex clinical presentations, the team has continued to provide safe, effective support to people across Leeds.

Their nomination highlights a team that remains calm, focused and person‑centred, even under significant operational and emotional pressure. Team members consistently support one another, share responsibility and step up to meet the needs of service users with compassion and clarity.
They have approached rising data demands, performance targets and increased expectations with integrity, demonstrating honesty, curiosity and professionalism every step of the way. Their efforts mean that more people in Leeds are now able to access specialist addiction treatment when they need it most.

This recognition reflects their collective strength, compassion and unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities.
Congratulations to everyone in Addictions Plus – Forward Leeds for the outstanding difference you continue to make.

“I want to nominate the whole Addictions Plus team for their exceptional dedication, resilience and consistently high‑quality work during an incredibly challenging period. Despite rising pressures and increasingly complex presentations, they always come together to provide safe, person‑centred support to some of the most vulnerable people in Leeds.”

Individual of the Month – Farah Sanam

Farah’s nomination paints a picture of a colleague who consistently puts service users first. She is widely recognised as a champion of the service‑user voice, making sure people’s experiences and choices shape clinical decision‑making.

During recent staffing pressures, Farah stepped in at short notice on several occasions to ensure service users were seen and duty cover remained safe and responsive. Colleagues described her professionalism, reliability and commitment as “a true role model”.
Farah skilfully navigates complex pathways so that individuals can access the care they need without delay. She also makes sure families and carers feel informed and confident, offering psychoeducation in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.

Her approach is consistently person‑centred, thinking creatively, acting proactively and going above and beyond to ensure every service user receives high‑quality care. Throughout challenging periods, she has been a steady source of support for both colleagues and the service.

“Farah always advocates for the voice of service users and consistently ensures their experience is at the centre of clinical decisions. She steps in without hesitation during staffing pressures, supports the team, and always goes above and beyond to deliver high‑quality, compassionate care.”