‘Caring, innovative and often leading national best practice’ was MP Richard Graham’s description of the work done by the 8 Gloucester nominees and their teams for the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards created to celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday this July.
"When I hear about the Macmillan Next Steps Cancer Rehab work, or visit the Sexual Assault Referral Centre this gives me great confidence in the next 70 years of the NHS both in Gloucester and across the country," added Gloucester’s MP, after nominating awardees based on recommendations from three NHS Trusts - the 2gether (Mental Health) Trust, Gloucestershire Care Services and the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.
Nominees included the 2gether Trust’s Raye Chakkori, who has worked in various roles in the NHS in the last 40 years with great compassion, and was nominated for the Lifetime Award: and Katie Parker and Matt Fuller who’ve developed a Cultural Awareness app for Care Services, nominated for a Future NHS Award.
Also nominated was the GCCG, represented by Chair Dr Andy Seymour for his leadership on expanding Primary Care services in Gloucester and elsewhere, not least with the ‘Be a GP in Gloucestershire’ campaign.
Richard said he totally agreed with the message of making sure there is no stigma in taking about mental health: "almost every family in our county will have had someone with challenges at some point - my family has too," and he promised to do more with the 2gether Trust to spread the word that there is no shame in this.
The 2gether Trust’s Criminal Justice Liaison Service Team Manager Andy Webb (nominated for the Person Centred Care Champion Award) said:
“It was a privilege to accept this nomination on behalf of the Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Liaison Service and for this work to be recognised by our local MP, and it is especially rewarding during the 70th anniversary celebrations.”
Dr Andy Seymour, Clinical Chair at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:
“I was honoured to receive the certificate for excellence in primary care on behalf of the CCG and GP practices across the county. This is a reflection of all the great work being done by GPs and practice teams who are working in new ways to meet the increasing demand for care from our growing population.”
The nominees are reviewed by a local and regional NHS and Improvement Team panel, which will select one from each category to go forward to the national shortlist, with winners announced in Parliament on the 4th July.
Richard submitted nominees from the 2gether Trust, Care Services and Clinical Commissioning Group. (The Hospitals Trust did not make any recommendations as these had to be provided during the height of winter challenges).
Richard is looking forward to his annual week of volunteering with the NHS again this summer: "I look forward to learning lots more about different parts of our Health Services that mean so much to everyone in Gloucester."
The Nominees
- Person Centred Care Champion (2gether)
Nominee: Mr Andy Webb, Team Manager, Criminal Justice Liaison Team
Who nominated them: Marie-Anne Bubb-McGhee, Operational Manager
The Criminal Justice Liaison Service has been involved in Criminal Justice System in Gloucestershire since 1995, following successful bids to develop a service through joint NHS & Home Office funding. In January 2017, with more resources, it provides services to people from the age of 10 upwards who are coming into contact with criminal justice agencies. It works seven days a week in the custody suite in Gloucester to support people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and substance misuse issues, as well as those with accommodation and financial problems. The team has gone above and beyond to ensure that the most vulnerable people in the county are offered the opportunity of receiving an assessment to identify health and social inequalities, and plan interventions to address needs.
Recently the team manager, Andy Webb, has received a Commander's Commendation from Gloucestershire Constabulary, and although he was the named recipient, it reflects on the efforts that the team have made. Issued by Superintendent Tony Godwin of the Criminal Justice Department in ‘recognition of excellence’. The team also frequently receives positive verbal feedback from service users and criminal justice agencies in recognition of the service they provide. Although the service is led by 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, the team works in partnership with other agencies. Resident Judge Jamie Tabor recently retired, and commented on this initiative, citing it as an example of good practice replicated around the country. In the first year of the enhanced service, staff within the team of eight completed over 1,000 assessments. It is hoped that these interventions will improve our service users quality of life and reduce the likelihood of reoffending in the future. The team is an example of best practice that could be replicated in other parts of the country.
- Care and Compassion Award (Care Services)
Nominee: Magdalena Gulcz-Hayward, Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Manager
Who nominated them: Elaine Watson, Deputy Head of Countywide Services
Magda is incredibly compassionate and dedicated to supporting victims of sexual assault, as demonstrated by the vision of the service, “We Care, You Matter”. Magda has ensured there is a clear commitment to the SARC as a non-judgmental place of safety with improved equitable access for all those who have experienced a sexual assault. Working across Gloucestershire, a diverse county, Magda works with partners and local communities to raise awareness and reduce barriers to accessing SARC services. Glos’s SARC has seen year-on-year increases in activity, but Magda continues to campaign to raise awareness of sexual violence, and the support available for victims. Magda uses social media to support national and local campaigns, promoting the service and offering support to local people. The team are responsive to national issues to ensure individuals who have experienced sexual assault are aware of the locally available supportive service; they don’t have to deal with trauma alone.
As 16-24 year olds in Gloucestershire are at greatest risk of sexual assault, Magda has developed strong relationships with the University of Gloucestershire with a co-produced University funded training programme. It educates students about how we can all be trauma-informed to support survivors of sexual violence. Magda has contributed to and featured in the ‘survivor’s pathway’ online resources for sexual violence survivors. Magda works collaboratively with GRASAC producing training packages around sexual violence to raise awareness and educate health care professionals about how they best respond to initial contact with survivors of sexual violence, which has been integrated into the Safeguarding Board training programme. Magda received a commendation from the Police for her assistance and support of a vulnerable victim of a serious sexual offence. The victim would not initially engage with the police, but after Magda spent over five hours supporting and reassuring the victim, she agreed to provide a video interview.
- Healthier Communities (2gether)
Nominee: Karen Dawe, Head of Profession for Physiotherapy and Health and Exercise
Who nominated them: Rebecca Shute, Head of Profession for Occupational Therapy
Karen Dawe has been part of the physiotherapy service in mental health in Gloucestershire since 1988, having started her career in the county's inpatient mental health services at Coney Hill Hospital. When Coney Hill Hospital closed, Karen was instrumental in the evolution of inpatient provision at the new Wotton Lawn Hospital, ensuring that physiotherapy and physical health needs were recognised with the creation of a purpose built gym and treatment areas. Even from the early days, Karen worked tirelessly to ensure the physical health needs of the patients were never over looked. She was ahead of her time, as at that time, 'parity of esteem' was way off in the future. The introduction of Health and Exercise Practitioners, a post unheard of elsewhere, took advantage of a skilled and knowledgeable pool of graduates from the University of Gloucestershire's health and exercise degree programs, now common across the UK.
In all of Karen's work, the needs of those who use the service are paramount and she has had an impact on countless individuals over the course of 30 years. Karen has always promoted the use of service user volunteers supporting tennis sessions, walking groups and other interventions. She has worked hard to secure funding to enable people to continue to access hydrotherapy and negotiated deals with local leisure providers to ensure service users can access leisure facilities in their own communities. Karen has always embraced the idea of working together and social inclusion. In the last 2 years, Karen and colleagues have established a partnership with Aspire at GL1, utilising the venue as both a more accessible and less stigmatising treatment space and working with the Aspire team to support service users to engage in the many leisure opportunities the centre provides. This last year saw the development of the Staff referrals service for physiotherapy, making official the very valued role Karen and her physiotherapy staff have always had in helping colleagues.
- Future NHS Award (Care Services)
Nominee: Katie Parker & Matt Fuller, Community Partnerships Managers
Who nominated them: Des Gorman, Head of Programmes and Change Management
The development of a Cultural Awareness IT application (app) has been developed to support the delivery of equitable services to all of the people who use Glos Care Services NHS Trust. The app is an “in-house” development that Katie and Matt have led on with real enthusiasm and commitment. It is designed to provide some guidance on delivering culturally competent care for all our patients, and has been designed to flag up some of the issues that might be important to consider when working with patients and carers from different backgrounds, to help colleagues meet any cultural or religious needs they might have.
The app was highlighted for particular praise at the recent Care Quality Commission, inspection with a view that it was the first of its kind the inspectors had seen, and that we should consider marketing this to NHS Trusts across the country. Katie and Matt embody the Trust’s core values and why the NHS at 70 has such a bright future that embraces diversity, shares knowledge and uses new technologies to improve patient care. All staff in the trust (over 2500) have been given access to the app through their desk top computers and Katie and Matt are looking at how it can be shared across partners in the local health and care system.
- Mental Health Care Award (2gether)
Nominee: Gloucestershire Tackles Stigma Group representative Dr Jane Melton, Director of Engagement and Integration and Dan Beale-Cocks, Expert by Experience
Who nominated them: Marcia Gallagher, Non-Executive Director
The ‘Tackling Mental Health Stigma Group’ is an innovative partnership, which aims to improve mental health outcomes for individuals and for the population of Gloucestershire as a whole. Members, including NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, Gloucestershire District Council, Gloucestershire Public Health, Healthwatch Gloucestershire, Independence Trust, Gloucestershire Constabulary, and representatives from the voluntary and community sector, have been working together to change the way people in Gloucestershire perceive mental health. Crucially, experts by lived experience are also part of the group, bringing first-hand experience of mental health issues and stigma.
The group consists of Task and Finish groups, which all focus on tackling stigma in specific demographics. Each group closes once it delivers on its targets, and a new group is formed to focus on another area. The group also supports the national Time to Change project, which is focused on ending the stigma around mental ill health. This group has been so successful because it is truly a multi-agency partnership and this has allowed it to reach out across different communities, including hard-to-reach groups. The success of the group’s work can be measured in numerous ways, including engagement from within communities; increased positive coverage of mental health stories in local media and appropriately challenging when reporting is stigmatising; engagement with local employers, including being invited into their work place to meet with employees; successful completion of task and finish groups across different demographics, each delivering on specific goals; and working internally within organisations such as 2gether, to tackle internal stigma. Their impact has been wide reaching including workshops within the organisation, tea and talk sessions with employers in the county to challenge assumptions about staff with mental health issues, working with children in the SkillZONE girl guides and perinatal leaflets, farmers and vets, sports clubs and more.
- Excellence in Cancer Care Award (Care Services)
Nominee: Macmillan Next Steps Cancer Rehabilitation representative Nikola Hawkins, Consultant Cancer AHP & Macmillan Professional Cancer Rehabilitation Lead
Who nominated them: Dr Chris Boden, Head of Countywide Services
Macmillan Next Steps NHS Cancer Rehabilitation (MNSCR), implemented in 2016, promotes an innovative way of enabling people to recover after cancer and feel healthier, relaxed and connected. Community based 1:1 and group rehabilitation using patient-centred approaches can significantly improve patient experience and cancer outcomes. MNSCR uses a simple model that integrates; rehabilitation, self-management, colleague’s education with public health to encourage positive changes across; activity, diet, sleep and relaxation. In the last 2 years MNSCR have supported nearly 700 patients and their families through an innovative 3-step model, blending clinical skills of AHP’s with behaviour change/coaching skills of HLS and volunteers. Over the last year, MNSCR model has been widely shared through conferences, awards, workshops, events, short films, NHS and Macmillan networks. MNSCR is seen as ‘exemplar’ and already adopted by other UK Cancer Rehabilitation services; existing and in-development, plus specialist (non-cancer) services locally and nationally. All involved in MNSCR work together to role model and promote healthy-lifestyles, self-care and collaboration. Ensuring the patient plus those supporting them (including healthcare professionals) are resilient, embracing change and role modelling healthy lifestyles is essential to continuing to sustain the delivery and spread of quality.
Patient testimony: I welcome this opportunity to tell you about the fantastic support and outstanding service I have had from Macmillan Next Steps. Put simply they have given me my life back. I am now fitter, healthier both physically and importantly mentally than I think I have ever been. I hold a very senior position in a demanding job, naively I thought that once treatment was over, everything would be back to normal. How wrong I was. All elements complement each other well, providing supportive, relaxed, open environment to really explore issues and talk to people who really understand. There were tears, but mostly there was laughter and the feeling of really safe environment where you could truly be yourself. They didn’t shy away from difficult subjects or sugar coat things. They challenged us all. They made time to get to know us and our motivations and background. They demonstrated a really love and interest in what they were doing.
I have now lost 16.5 pounds, 10cm round my waist, increased strength and cardiovascular fitness significantly. I feel so much better, the fatigue has gone, I have more energy, and am better able to cope with stress. I have made some great friends. I cannot thank the team enough for providing such great life changing service.
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2gether)
Nominee: Raye Chakkori Team Administrator, represented by her colleague.
Raye has worked for the NHS in Gloucester for more than 40 years. She started her career at Coney Hill Hospital in 1975 as a catering and domestic colleague. In 1995 she moved to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where she worked as a catering assistant. In 1997 she moved to Holly House, in Saintbridge, Gloucester, to work as a cook. She later became senior cook and then kitchen manager. In 2013 she took on the role as receptionist and administration assistant at Fieldview, a community base, and since then she has moved into her current role – Team Secretary, now based at Pullman Place.
Raye is always helpful, resourceful and professional, and she is a good team player. She is also an efficient and effective administrator who gets tasks completed, and her priority is to ensure service users receive a good service. Raye has always put service users and patients at the heart of everything she does. Raye will always take time to be considerate and kind to people who are using our services. Fieldview was a building which at times could be difficult for our client group to enter. Raye would ensure that a wheelchair was available. She would ensure that staff were aware of people entering the building who required help and was always willing to assist. When Raye takes a call from our clients she follows through all requests and will make sure that a clinician responds to people’s needs. She is a key person in welcoming new staff and helping them to settle into post. Raye has a ‘can do’ approach to tasks and will go out of her way to resolve issues. She is a very well respected member of our Team and highly valued.
- Excellence in Primary Care Award (GCCG)
Nominee: Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, represented by Dr Andy Seymour
Mirroring the national picture, the county is experiencing increased demand for care and a growing population with more complex needs. To address this GCCG developed a Primary Care Strategy and a Primary Care Workforce Strategy. Three key priorities for Gloucestershire primary care are workforce, new models of care and premises. Our 80 practices have clustered into 16 groups based on patient need and have employed new skill mix and new roles, working in partnership with our provider organisations. Examples include patients of one inner city Gloucester cluster who benefit from the specialist skills of Mental Health Practitioners in practice, with patients navigated from Reception. Of 716 patients seen in two months, only 1 subsequently needed to see a GP. Specialist paramedics in primary care, on rotation from the local ambulance trust, are undertaking home visits for two other clusters.The cluster improved access pilots, when fully operational, will see 40,000 more GP surgery appointments available. The service is available until 8pm at night Monday to Friday with Saturday morning appointments available locally. To retain GPs who trained in Gloucestershire, we devised a rotation scheme to work across a minimum of two practices with matching and facilitation by the CCG. Of the 25 GPs who have recently newly qualified, four were placed on this scheme, two found partnership roles in Gloucestershire, six stayed as salaried GPs and three as locums. With the British Medical Journal (BMJ) we created a ‘Be a GP in Gloucestershire’ campaign, including print, online and social media content along with recruitment packages.
