Published on: 1st February 2018
Staff at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) are celebrating four finalist places in the prestigious 2018 British Journal of Nursing (BJN) Awards – including two of the top spots in the Mental Health Nurse of the Year award.
Zoë Rowe and Tracy Ward make up two of the three finalists on the shortlist for Mental Health Nurse of the Year. In addition, Jane Lord has been shortlisted for Infection Prevention Nurse of the Year and Langworth Ward is a finalist for the Innovation Award.
Zoë, Associate Director of Nursing and Quality, is being recognised for her work in making the importance of sexual orientation and gender identity a priority for the Trust. She requested executive director sponsorship of each of the Trust’s equality and diversity staff networks and has made a huge difference to their success. She also led the development of a guide for staff about sexual orientation and gender identity. Zoë has worked closely with the Trust’s equality and diversity lead, staff networks, and national partners including Stonewall.
Tracy Ward, Team Coordinator for the Louth Community Mental Health Team, started in post around two years ago. One of her first initiatives was to develop and introduce a new system for assessing patients referred to the team. This could be done within days of referral in many cases, face-to-face, at home, at a clinic, however the vast majority of patients were happy to receive telephone triage. This prompt assessment of people’s needs allows the team to quickly access the right support and treatment. The assessment clinics have now been rolled out to all community mental health teams across the county and this is having a positive effect on patient safety and patient experience.
The Langworth Ward at North Hykeham, a 17-bed specialist assessment and treatment unit for people with dementia, has been shortlisted in the Innovation Award for its work on supporting people with severe dementia through personalised, sensory activities.
They have introduced themed rummage boxes, Pets as Therapy (including rabbits living on site) and events such as 1940s tea dances, beach days, singing and live music. The project continues to expand, including the addition of a new 1950s lounge and Gentleman's Snug on the ward. Each patient can be discharged with a personalised toolkit and guidance for carers, and the techniques can easily be used in any setting. This work also recently earned Langworth a top place in the ‘Older People’s Mental Health and Dementia’ category in the national Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards.
Jane Lord, Infection Prevention and Control Specialist Nurse and a finalist in the Infection Prevention Nurse of the Year category, has worked to improve the Trust’s flu vaccination uptake for patient-facing staff from 38 per cent in 2016/17 to 73 per cent so far in 2017/18. Jane gained funding from the Trust’s innovation fund to support this year’s campaign and has trained staff to become vaccinators and provided pop-up clinics in numerous Trust venues. Jane has led the campaign with creativity, commitment, and as a result the Trust is amongst the top performers in mental health trusts across the country.
Anne-Maria Newham, Director of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Quality, said:
The BJN awards are well respected across the nursing profession and the NHS, so we’re delighted to have finalists in so many categories. Our congratulations go to everyone who has been shortlisted – and our thanks to all the colleagues who have supported their work and achievements over the year.
A showcase of nursing excellence, the BJN Awards recognise and celebrate the individuals going above and beyond in delivering their care. The winners will be announced on Friday 9 March at Shakespeare’s Underglobe in London.
