Mental health charity shortlisted in prestigious awards

The mental health charity, Mental Health Concern, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Mental Health category at the 2023 HSJ Partnership Awards for its work with Cumbria, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) in providing support to people waiting for clinical treatment for severe mental illness and complex mental health needs.

The HSJ Partnership Awards are one of the UK’s most prestigious events within the healthcare sector, and recognise and honour the most effective partnerships, innovative projects, and collaborations in the UK health system. The awards, now in its sixth year, is not just a celebration of success stories but also a platform to shape the future of our new integrated health and care system.

Mental Health Concern, based in the North East, through their Waiting List Initiative, helped to ease the pressure on CNTW’s Community Treatment Team (CTT) across Sunderland and South Tyneside. From 2018 to 2021, the team saw a 33% increase in caseloads of those experiencing severe mental illness, this meant more people were having to wait longer for treatment. Mental Health Concern, in collaboration with CNTW, developed a first-of-its-kind initiative that offered non-clinical support delivered by Link Workers, that would provide patients with practical and emotional help and relieve some of their mental health symptoms. As a result of this initiative, 64% of those supported were removed from the CTT caseload altogether.

Adam Crampsie, CEO of Mental Health Concern said: “I am incredibly proud and delighted that we have been shortlisted for the HSJ Partnership Awards for our work with CNTW. This initiative has made a real impact on the mental wellbeing of people living in our region, and it is the collaboration and innovation with our NHS partners that makes this initiative so special. This nomination has been a tremendous boost to both to our team and our colleagues at CNTW and I am sure it will bolster our continued efforts to improve the services we offer across the North East.”

James Duncan CEO of CNTW said: “Its great news that this initiative has been shortlisted for the HSJ Partnership Award.  It’s a great example of how we can think differently, working in partnership, to provide the right support at the right time when people need it.  We can’t simply rely on doing the same things better.  Working together, the teams across CNTW and Mental Health Concern, have provided a person-centred approach, which has had a significant impact on the pressure on services, but more importantly, on improving the lives of the people we serve when they most need us.”

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan comments: “We would like to congratulate Mental Health Concern on being nominated ahead of HSJ Partnership Awards 2023. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the ceremony in March, to join us in recognising the very best collaborations and innovations in the healthcare sector. This year’s finalists are of an outstanding calibre and all of them are exceptionally dedicated to enhancing healthcare across the UK.”

The winners will be selected following a rigorous judging stage ahead of the HSJ Partnership Awards 2023 awards ceremony. The awards evening is expected to be attended by national healthcare leaders and professionals from both the NHS and private sector as well as figures from non-clinical backgrounds to celebrate innovation and collaboration in healthcare.