Nurses recognised for compassionate leadership page thumbnail

Two nurses at St George’s Hospital, Stafford have been recognised for their inspiring behaviour at a recent awards ceremony.

Natalie Bradbury and Kate Mansell led on developing Milford House as an excellent facility for frail, elderly and often confused people, as part of the local response to last year’s winter pressures. Under their leadership the ward, which had recently been vacated by another service, was commissioned, renovated, equipped and staffed within two weeks.

Natalie and Kate showed real compassionate leadership and inspired all around them to deliver a very successful service with positive outcomes. Benefits to patients included improved mobility, reduced agitation and necessary weight gain. The team were also able to support two ladies who had formed a friendship on the ward to be discharged to the same care home through good communication and liaison with social services.

The Better Together Awards are designed to recognise exceptional contributions to service, by individuals and teams, by clinical and non clinical staff at Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT). Over 165 nominations were received for the nine awards and following a rigorous process, supported by some of the Trust’s Governor Members and service users, the best entries were shortlisted, only finding out if they were winners on the night.

The Midlands Partnership Behaviour to Inspire Award recognises someone who ‘lives the values’, is enthusiastic, committed and engaging and who can demonstrate positive outcomes achieved. The judges commented: “It was evident that Natalie and Kate lived the behaviours and values of the Trust; inspiring the whole team in pressured circumstances, resulting in positive outcomes for service users and the wider system.”

380 local NHS staff attended the event, held on 8 November 2018 at the Staffordshire County Showground, which is also an important opportunity for sharing good practice and helping staff to understand their role in the wider service. 
MPFT provides physical and mental health, learning disability and adult social care services across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Shropshire, but also psychological therapies; drug and alcohol services in prisons; and care for serving MOD personnel across the country.

Neil Carr, Chief Executive said: “One of the Trust’s core objectives is to make this a fantastic place to work where staff feel positive and proud to be part of the organisation. We know that we cannot deliver effective services without well trained and supported staff and believe that offering real recognition in the form of this awards ceremony has a real part to play in creating an enthusiastic, committed and confident workforce.”