The Patient Experience and Engagement team are delighted to have been named runner-up at the recent National Service User Awards.
The National Service User Awards were launched to celebrate the large number of service user projects in mental health, learning disability and autism services across the country. The awards were designed to acknowledge the achievements of service users and this year marked the tenth annual awards ceremony.
The awards took place in the Lakeside Pavillion at Colwick Hall in Nottingham, almost 200 people attended to celebrate the important work they have each done in raising mental health awareness, reducing stigma and supporting people’s recovery journeys.
All the guests were treated to a red carpet entrance whilst being serenaded by a guitar player and breakfast snacks were provided before the event was officially opened by Laura Finlay.
LSCft were delighted to be named runner-up for the Excellence in Co-Production Award as voted by service users. This award recognises projects and initiatives that involve a strong element of co-production either internally or externally to a service. This category looks for clear examples of equal collaboration alongside service users, residents or family and carers with staff.
Maria Nelligan, Chief Nurse and Quality Officer said:
“Working collaboratively with service users is so important, service users are at the heart of everything we do so by working together on projects it helps us better understand and make improvements to our services.”
LSCft were awarded for their ‘My Story’ project. This campaign allowed a service user to tell her story to the LSCft Trust Board about what it is like to be deaf and access mental health services. She has consequently supported the Trust’s Deaf Awareness task and finish group which has provided great insight into the barriers some deaf people can encounter, in turn her work has gone towards helping tackle health inequalities.
In between the award presentations entertainment was provided by a number of service users in an array of different mediums, these included poetry displays, a Makaton performance from the Greatest Showman, a rap performance, a band and tap dance.
Lesley Whittaker, Senior Enhancing Experience Matron from the Patient Experience and Engagement team said:
“We were delighted to attend the awards to represent our service users, this was an opportunity to demonstrate how we utilise stories to learn from feedback. It was great to also hear from other organisations as to how they improve engagement in more creative ways.”
