A team of healthcare workers from Birmingham are celebrating after winning awards for the work they do to support those suffering with their mental health.
Organised by Cygnet Health Care, one of the UK’s largest independent providers of specialised mental health services for the NHS and local authorities, the Cygnet Annual Psychiatrists Conference and National Awards 2022 recognise excellence in the healthcare industry.
The Team of the Year award was won by Cygnet Elms, on Streetly Road, Birmingham. The award recognises a high-performing Mental Health team which has demonstrated high quality and person-centred care. Winning criteria included, working closely to gain external accreditation, encouraging mental wellbeing in the workplace or integrating physical and mental health care, and working collaboratively in the delivery of services at Cygnet Health Care, as well as developing supportive relationships with external agencies and carers.
Cygnet Elms is a high dependency complex care service for 10 women with learning disabilities who may have behaviours that challenge. Staff were singled out for their hard work and efforts in ensuring Cygnet Elms was awarded Outstanding in the latest CQC inspection.
Presenting the award, Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, Senior Independent Board Director at Cygnet Health Care, said: “Positive risk taking and least restrictive practice is embedded in the culture of the unit at Elms. Staff at Cygnet Elms have the right skills, qualifications, training and experience to keep people safe and to provide high quality care and treatment.
“Staff work with patients to create excellent care plans that are written in the voice of the patient, as well as being holistic, recovery focused and person centred. Staff provide consistent, quality care and treatment and Cygnet Elms has a motivated, multi-disciplinary team.”
Sarah Jenks, Hospital Manager, said: “Winning this award means a lot to the entire team here at Elms. Not only is it an amazing achievement for everybody but it’s also fantastic to get recognition for all of the work that the team continue to do day to day.
“Elms is the way it is due to every member of the team putting their all into their role and providing service users with a place that they can feel is their home. The whole team are so grateful to be awarded ‘Mental Health Team of the Year’ and will carry that title with pride, whilst we take the time to appreciate everyone within the team and provide our service users with the best possible level of care possible.”
Dr Sohail Zafar, Consultant Psychiatrist at Cygnet Raglan House, in Smethwick, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital for women with mental health problems, was also singled out during the Cygnet Annual Psychiatrists Conference and National Awards 2022 for his dedication to the education of others working in mental health.
Presenting the award for Educator of the Year, Subodh Dave, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “Dr Zafar has been one of the CPD Programme Organisers for the last seven years and played a key role in setting up the Midlands CPD Programme. He has been widely appreciated by his colleagues in conducting one of the best teaching sessions in the UK.
“He liaises with speakers in and outside of Cygnet Health Care and also leads the West Midlands Peer Group.”
Upon receiving his award, Dr Zafar, who has worked for Cygnet Health Care since 2010, said he was extremely proud to receive the award.
He added: “I started this CPD teaching for doctors and other staff in 2014, the longest running CPD program by any educator in Cygnet Health Care. It is very pleasing to see how much I have been appreciated by my organisation and colleagues.”
One of his most significant achievements to date is to have drafted the Daily Risk Assessment tool (DRA) which is used daily in all Cygnet hospitals for assessing the daily risk level in services. He also helped draft the modified Global Assessment Progress tool (GAP) which is used to assess the progress of patients in Cygnet hospitals. GAP is a key tool that acts as a measurement of service users’ achievements and how far they are in their journey to discharge.
Dr Tony Romero, CEO of Cygnet Health Care, said: “These awards recognise the achievements and difference our motivated, compassionate and value-driven doctors and teams make for our services users every single day.
“We have seen so many wonderful examples of our doctors and other clinicians, going above and beyond over the last year and stepping up to work beyond their role and sacrifice their time and dedication for the benefit of the individuals in their care.
“As CEO I am proud to count these exceptional individuals as colleagues who exemplify our values at Cygnet.
“At Cygnet Health Care, we strive to provide the highest quality and standard of care and always put our service users at the heart of what we do. These accolades
