Two services win big at prestigious award ceremony
Two teams from Leeds and Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have been recognised at the Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards 2019, which celebrates outstanding work in mental health and includes nominations from the NHS, social care, third sector and the independent sector.
Winners – CONNECT: The West Yorkshire & Harrogate Adult Eating Disorders Service
CONNECT scooped top prize in the Eating Disorders category at the glittering award ceremony held on Thursday 10 October, to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
CONNECT, which launched in April 2018, has been set up as a two-year pilot project funded by NHS England as part of their ‘new care models programmes’. It aims to provide fair access to NHS care for adults with eating disorders across the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Heath and Care Partnership area – something that had not been in place until its launch. Achievements include:
- Successful delivery of a new, regional clinical model where specialist provision was previously variable and in some places non-existent
- No new out of-area placements during the first year
- A reduction in hospital bed days, with people receiving treatment in the community
- Significant savings have been made which allow for reinvestment into the service improving the care provided to patients and carers
- An appearance on Victoria Derbyshire Live in July 2019, featuring interviews with the team and patient stories
Highly commended – Personality Disorders Service
The Trust’s Personality Disorders Service received ‘Highly Commended’ in their category, ‘Specialist Community Services for adults with complex mental health needs, including personality disorder’. The team were recognised for their great work over the past year, in particular how they have involved service users and carers in their service development.
Dr Sara Munro, the Trust’s Chief Executive said:
“I’m incredibly proud of my colleagues who have been recognised for their fantastic work and dedication at the Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards. Our CONNECT team has achieved so much since their launch and I know they’ll continue to make a real difference to the lives of people suffering with eating disorders in our area. I’m also really pleased that our Personality Disorders Service received a commendation for their great work to deliver such an important specialist service.”
More information about the Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards can be found on the Positive Practice Mental Health Collaborative website.