The Star Awards 2016
Employee of the Year
Paul Scott – Capital Projects Manager
Paul is known throughout the Trust for his professional, unruffled and personable manner. He is also valued for his communication and – most importantly – his listening skills. Colleagues say how he makes a point of gathering ideas and listening to concerns from everyone involved in a project. And, though he always has several schemes in progress
at any one time, he is always accessible. Paul’s solutions are recognised as being thoughtful, innovative and practical for both patients and Trust staff. He has also shown that he is willing to perform any task that he would ask someone else to do – right down to mopping and cleaning floors!
Clinical Team of the Year – Adults
iCares – Integrated Care Services 
iCares is cited as a best practice exemplar by NHS England (National Commissioning Guidance for Rehabilitation, 2016) and The Kings Fund (Making Services fit for an Aging Population, 2014).
The team consistently exceeds local and national benchmarking standards in
- Access via a single point and open access for life
- Response times – iCares offers urgent nurse/rehab appointments within 3 hours, 7 days a week and routine appointments within 15 days
- Patient satisfaction – 98% of patients would recommend the service to their
friends and family. - Staff satisfaction –88% of staff feel involved in decisions and changes.
- Outcomes – 90% of patient-set goals are achieved or part achieved.
Clinical Team of the year– Children
Bereavement Team for Maternity and Neonatal 
The Trust’s maternity Bereavement Team has one of the most difficult – and sensitive – tasks in the Trust. The team was nominated by a colleague who was also a patient – and who lost her baby at just 20 weeks. In her nomination she wrote: “The care and support we received was second to none. “It was a very tragic time and most definitely the worse time of our lives, however the staff made it bearable with their very sensitive and patient-centred approach.
“I would recommend the team 100% to any mum who could be in need of similar care and support.”
Non-Clinical Team of the Year
Sandwell & West Birmingham Security Department
The members of the Security Team consistently demonstrate that they go above and beyond the call of duty in their support for the safety of staff and patients. They are always quick to respond to calls for help and have had to deal with some very serious incidents across the Trust – which they have handled brilliantly. The team has also distributed over 2000 personal attack alarms, as well as giving staff advice and help on safety measures. As one of their nominations read: “From little things like helping with flat car batteries or punctures, to dealing with assaults, fights and abuse, our security
teams are always there.”
Compassion in Care Award
Newton 5 Day Unit
In their nominations, patients have described the team as ‘professional, friendly, caring and very hard working.’ The team always makes sure cancer patients feel at ease when they come to the hospitals for their treatment.
In one nomination, the patient wrote: “All staff on Newton 5 keep to the nine rules of care. How wonderful that everyone is treated as they are very special on Newton 5 at Sandwell Hospital. It is a very happy caring place, makes you forget how ill you are.”
Distinguished Service Award
Sue Nicholls – Children’s Assistant, Practitioner
Twenty years ago, Sue – who had never worked with children with disabilities before – made a copmplete career change and joined the NHS. Since then, she has used her tenacity and strength of character to overcome many every hurdle she has encountered – succeeding in gaining a BTEC and NVQ3 in physiotherapy- related studies. Sue has proved herself adaptable, flexible – and as hady with a computer as she is with a screwdriver. Sue’s collegues say that she is huge asset to the team. A great ethical and moral role model. she provides limitless support for those around her.
Local Primary Care Award for Most Valued Service in the Trust
– Sponsored by University of Wolverhampton
The Faecal Incontinance and Constipation Health Service (FINCH)
The GP practice which nominated the FINCH Service described it as:
“excellent… addressing many very difficult and chronic problems in patients with a novel and very up to date methodology.”
Excellence in Education
Sister Jagjit Kaur – Clinical Nurse Specialist, Diabetes
Jagjit was one of the first two Diabetes Specialist Nurses to be trained as an X-Pert patient educator in 2003. The X-Pert course covers a wide range of areas that are important for self-management of diabetes, such as healthy eating, portion control, weight management, prevention and management of complications.
The course is traditionally presented in English, but in 2003 Jagjit delivered Sandwell’s first course in Punjabi for patients with diabetes and renal disease.
Since then, Jagjit has also offered the course in Urdu, Hindi and Bengali.
Excellence in Research
The Cardiology Atrial Fibrillation Research Team
The Cardiology Atrial Fibrillation Research Team topped the SWBH league table in 2015-16 in terms of numbers of patients recruited to research studies on the National Institute for Health Research portfolio. Equally as important, the team has made major contributions to the delivery of other elements of the Trust’s R&D plan including enhanced integration with primary care and the translation of research into better and safer clinical care.
Equality & Diversity Champion – Sponsored by TMP Worldwide
Claire Westwood – Children’s Senior Speech and Language Therapist
Since June 2015, Claire has been providing Speech and Language Therapy input
under contract two days a week to Sandwell’s Youth Offending Service (YOS).
She has worked hard to establish a rapport with the YOS workers and to show
them how Speech and Language Therapy can help the troubled young people
they work with. In three half day workshops, Claire introduced the basics of
communication, how and why this is often impaired in young people who come
to YOS and how YOS can support them. Claire has also met Magistrates to talk
about the impact that speech, language and communication needs can affect
young peoples’ access to justice.
The service Claire provides is still rare in the UK – and thanks to her efforts, the
YOS has renewed its contract with the Trust with for a further 12 months.
Learner of the Year – Sponsored by Sandwell College 
Michael Thorne – Employee Relations Advisor/Case Manager
Michael – better known to his colleagues as Mick – joined the Casework
Investigations Unit in January 2015 after being redeployed from his former role
as Catering Manager.
Mick carries out formal investigations into conduct, sickness conduct, dignity at
work and grievance issues. He is also working towards a Post Graduate Diploma
certified by the Chartered Institute of Development at Birmingham City University.
To date, Mick has completed 30 cases for the team and successfully balances
the demands of his full time role and studying. He also benefits the team by
bringing the knowledge and experience he gained in his previous roles.
Black Country Alliance – Prize for Best Innovation
– Sponsored by University of Wolverhampton
Eliza Johnson – Clinical Team Leader, Birmingham Medically Unexplained Symptoms Service
Eliza created and leads the Medically Unexplained Symptoms Service (MUS) a
unique pilot project that provides treatment and consultation for patients with
complex and distressing symptoms for which a physical cause has not been
found.
Early feedback from both referring staff and patients has been positive,
with many highlighting how the service meets a genuine need. The service
also promotes collaboration and co-ordination between different disciplines
of physical health and mental health care, leading to the building of new
relationships between professionals and a greater consideration of the biological,
psychological and social factors impacting on a patient’s presentation.
Intergrated care pioneer award
iCares
iCares gives patients open access to the service for life with no criteria, no
referral forms and no complicated systems to navigate. Rehabilitation and care
management are arranged at the time and place to suit the patient, with flexible
appointment times seven days a week.
With its links to GPs, the voluntary sector, joint training and meetings the iCares team can access widespread support for their patients, enabling them to continue their rehab programmes in self-management groups in the community.
iCares team members are also co-located with social care to deliver reablement
in people’s homes. iCares staff produce rehab programmes with the patient and
the social care workers to reach the patients goals.
Leader of the Year – Sponsored by Korn Ferry
Amanda Geary – Group Director of Operations, Women’s and Child Health
In the last year Amanda has been providing operational leadership to two clincial
groups, Women’s and Child Health and Medicine and Emergency Care. She
accepted this challenge without hesitation, demonstrating clear insight into her
corporate leadership role.
Amanda’s colleagues say that she is a visible leader who creates a positive work
environment, with a strong culture of good clinical and operational governance.
She has a a strong coaching ability and is a positive role model to her peers,
providing insight and challenge. Amanda is described as supportive, determined
to achieve success and to do it in a way that creates sustainable improvement.
Team Leader of the Year – Sponsored by Korn Ferry
Joy Haywood – Ward/Department Manager, Children’s Services
Joy Haywood is recognised as an outstanding as a Ward Manager. She has strong leadership skills, is a confident communicator and always holds the patients’ best interests at heart.
She has a particular understanding of the needs of children with learning and physical disabilities. As a result, procedures and examinations can be offered on a day basis to patients who would otherwise have difficulty in coping with a hospital environment. Joy is a committed team worker and during a difficult period in paediatric staffing she not only kept the inpatient wards running, but also led Lyndon 1 to the Birmingham Mail’s ‘Pride of Nursing’ Team Award in May.
Patient Safety Award – Sponsored by Cerner
Children’s Community Nursing Team – SENT and Paediatric Pharmacist
Jane and her team have implemented a school-based immunisation programme targeted
at children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This initiative is particularly important
as children with complex needs often cope badly with strange environments and their
parents may be reluctant to take them to a GP.
Offering an immunisation service at Sandwell’s special schools means that children with
SEN can be seen in a familiar environment and immunised by Community Children’s
Nurses they are already familiar with. The approach is also less disruptive to family life.
The project has delivered positive results, with a 50% increase SEN children immunised
since 2015.
New Leader
Tammy Davis – Nurse Manager/Service Lead, Palliative and End of Life Ca
re
Tammy arrived at a challenging time – the Trust had just submitted a successful bid to deliver End of Life Care Services across Sandwell and West Birmingham for at least five years.
Alongside leading the team, Tammy had to build relationships with four external partner organisations and negotiate service contracts without organic business support. She was also the driving force behind establishing a single headquarters for the service at Sandwell –the new Palliative/End-of-Life Care Hub.
Tammy achieved all this with remarkable professionalism and good humour, using her
nursing experience to ensure that the needs of the patient were always central to decisions
about ‘what excellence would look like’ in her service.
Beacon Services
Cardiology Team
The Cardiology Department provides cardiovascular care in a catchment area of 550000 patients. It comprises an
inpatient ward base, comprehensive outpatient services, non-invasive & invasive diagnostic services and high level
interventional cardiology and pacing/ device programme. The Cardiology team provides a seven day service for
cardiology patients on the two sites (Sandwell and City). We achieve overall 18 week referral to treatment in 92.5 %
of patients within a very high volume service setting, delivering a financial surplus each year.
‘Research matters’ by helping attract high quality innovative clinical staff leading to better outcomes for patients.
The department has a long-standing culture of integrating clinical research and academia into its work patterns. The
recent reconfiguration of the service and the initiation of large translational research projects have enhanced this
culture, possibly best illustrated by the range of external funding supporting the work and by the recent increase in
recruitment into cardiovascular research projects.
Historically our reputation for high quality academia started under Prof Gareth Beevers, carrying out internationally
recognised hypertension and epidemiology research, and as senior clinician in many large international trials. Under
Prof Lip this further expanded into creation of an academic unit for haemostasis, thrombosis and vascular biology
research including clinical research and trials in anticoagulation and atrial fibrillation. More recently the appointment
of Prof Kirchhof has led to further integrated and translational research in close collaboration with University of
Birmingham. Many members of the clinical team were attracted to join the Cardiology Department due to its
integration of research into our collaborative clinical practices.
Rheumatology
Scope of service and reputation
We provide a comprehensive service with tertiary care for complex patients. We host a National Bechet’s Centre of
Excellence and the first Lupus UK Centre of Excellence and have considerable experience in vasculitis, early arthritis
and AS. We are regional / national centres of excellence in these areas, providing one of the two NHS England
specialised rheumatology services in the West Midlands. A recent external peer review described us as follows:
“a centre of academic excellence and maintains academic traditions in Birmingham. Academic Rheumatology in
Birmingham is internationally recognized and clinical work, notably in Behçet’s, lupus, vasculitis and early arthritis is
world class” (appendix A).
Quality of service
SLE: Patients are extremely satisfied with the service (summary 360o feedback 5.9/6.0). Our NHS England
specialised commissioning outcomes compare very favourably with others (appendix B) and our model for collecting
outcome data has been widely adopted.
Behçet’s: We provide a unique ‘one stop, solution shop’ model of care with multidisciplinary input, led by
rheumatology. We have consistently met all relevant CQUIN targets for access and outcome data collection and
have driven down the delay from first symptom to diagnosis. Satisfaction scores are consistently >95% on Friends
and Family tests. We have been awarded European Reference Network status (RITA Network).
Early arthritis: Delay in assessment of patients following referral (median 4 weeks) was significantly (p=0.03)
shorter than delay across 34 other participating Trusts (NIHR study 2012-13). Very high levels of patient satisfaction
(summary 360o feedback 6.0/6.0).
Ankylosing spondylitis: Our multi-disciplinary AS clinic, the first of its kind in Birmingham, was established in
2006. The collection of PROMS and AS indices, management of co-morbid conditions and physiotherapy review are
all carried out during the same visit.
