The categories, finalists and winners of the 2015 National Service User Awards were as follows:
Community, Social or Vocational Initiative
Winner:
Thornford Park Service User Led Enterprise Group
Thornford Park, Priory Group
The Service User Led Enterprise was proposed in May/June 2014. The committee includes 5 service users and 5 staff. Initially ran market stalls in Thatcham; items for sale were prepared at Thornford Park by service users which included cakes and ceramic/craft works etc. The second venture was the ‘Car wash’; members gained training to clean the hospital vehicle, progressing to staff cars. The money earned helped buy a pressure washer, soaps/sponges and the trolley for the project. Plan for 2015: Enterprise aiming to set up an online shopping service through which products would be sold to the public and the money would be partially spent on charity.
Other finalists:
Shelley Ward Community Renovation Project
Shelley Ward, Cygnet Hospital Bierley
Reaside Writes
Reaside Clinic, Birmingham & Solihull NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital Choir / Band
Thornford Park Hospital, Priory Group
As In Eden Community Project
The Spinney – Partnerships in Care
Innovations in MSP and Recovery
Winner:
‘Getting on with People’ Card Game
Edenfield Centre Medium Secure Unit, Greater Manchester West NHS Foundation Trust
The ‘Getting on with People’ interactive card game was designed to raise awareness, skills and options for behaviours when encountering challenging situations with other people. Designed and developed by service users for use with in-patient wards in collaboration with GMW’s adult forensic service staff and Salford Mental Health Services C.A.B. advocacy service. It has been successfully piloted and rolled out across many medium and low secure in-patient wards across the MSU network. More recently, a version of the game has been developed and is being piloted for use within Prison recovery projects.
Other finalists:
Quality Windmill
Cygnet Hospitals West Yorkshire, Cygnet Health Care
Collaborative Risk Assessment Training
Forensic Service, Roseberry Park, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Top Tips for having those courageous conversations about My Safety
The Spinney Recovery Action Group, Partnerships in Care
Songs from the Heart
Bowling Ward, Cygnet Hospital Bierley, Cygnet Health Care
Reducing Stigma / Tackling Discrimination
Winner:
Change UR Mind
Youth Focus North East
Change UR Mind is a mental health youth board for the North East. The board aims to provide support, guidance and representation to young people living in the North East between the ages of 11-25 years who have, or know someone who has, mental health issues. The project is being delivered by Youth Focus: North East in partnership with YoungMinds. Change UR Mind has its own website (www.changeurmind.org.uk) which provides a directory of youth based mental health services, as well as news, events, case studies and information on mental health problems.
Other finalists:
The Avenue LGBT Project
Calderstone Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Tatton Park Project
Patient Care and Rehab Service, Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust
Making a difference to the lives of others
Wyvern Unit Social Enterprise Group, Cygnet Hospital Derby, Cygnet Health Care
Musicians in Residence – Music within a high secure setting
Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust
Physical Health and Wellbeing
Winner:
Recovery Murals Project
St Andrews Birmingham, St Andrews Healthcare
The project started on one ward as a Recovery -focussed art project then was adopted by other wards in the hospital. The aim was to create a piece of artwork that followed the Recovery Model by recognising positive achievements and behaviour. These achievements no matter how small would be celebrated through messages and communication between staff and service users on the ward. The project aimed to increase service users feeling of wellbeing and boost self-esteem and confidence through positive feedback and support. It was also intended to create a feeling of teamwork across the ward between staff and service users.
Other finalists:
Dr Feelwell Health Promotion Resources
Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust
The Positivity Group
Hooper Ward, Cygnet Hospital Beckton, Cygnet Health Care
The Spinney Patients Physical Induction Committee presents the Healthy Living Project
The Spinney, Partnerships in Care
Running a Well Man’s Group by men with ABI
St Mary’s Hospital, St George’s Healthcare Group
Outstanding Service User Achievement Award
Winner:
Ravenswood Recovery Steering Group
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Following the implementation of ward Recovery Groups at Ravenswood in 2005, the unit has developed strong links with the local Recovery College, rolling out an annual off-ward programme for staff and service users, It involves approximately 15 service users, with sessions taking place six weeks at a time and certificates issued at each stage. Co-production is central to the delivery and presentation of topics in the Recovery Steering group. Service Users are encouraged to make links with the community including access to the national conferences steering group. Three service users based on Meon Valley Ward have attended and contributed greatly to this initiative over the past 2 years.
Other finalists:
Virtual Tour of the hospital for potential service users
Farmfield Hospital, Priory Group
Events Committe
Holly Ward, Waterloo Manor, In Mind
Making a difference for himself and others
Cygnet Hospital Derby, Cygnet Health Care
Ravenswood Recovery Steering Group
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Promoting art and real work opportunities in a mental health setting
The Dene, Partnerships in Care
Taking Back My Life
Bowling Ward, Cygnet Hospital Bierley, Cygnet Health Care
Service User Choice Award
Joint winners:
Wyvern Unit Social Enterprise Charity Group
Cygnet Hospital Derby
In 2013 the Social Enterprise Charity Group held a number of events to raise money to buy Christmas gifts for each child on the Children’s Oncology Ward, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham. Following the positive reaction and a letter of thanks form the Ward Sister, the Group were motivated to raise more money. They provided table decorations for the 2014 Service User Awards and used the money to buy each child an Easter Egg. The Social Enterprise Group has reduced the stigma surrounding service users in secure services among the team at QMC and the children and families, via communications to the ward around the project.
Taking Back My Life
Cygnet Hospital Bierley
“I expected to be dead at this point, so I’ve got this blank canvas of opportunities to take advantage of, I am the expert of my own experience and I feel that I could make a difference working in mental health, which is something I never thought I’d say.” The service user nominated has, time and time again, proven herself to be strong willed, thoughtful and decisive in her ever increasing involvement with numerous projects around the hospital. Taking ownership of her own experiences has been paramount in how she has chosen to move her life forward and give it meaning.