Come on you REDS! Trust team shortlisted for major award
A team from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust have been shortlisted for a major honour.
The Relational, Emotional Difficulties Service (REDS) has made it through to the finals of the Health Service Journal Awards.
REDS is a psychological treatment service set up to a support people who have a diagnosis of personality disorder or associated traits. The service is delivered in partnership with Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Mind
Dr Amanda Barton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist with the team (pictured fifth from right) said: “Everyone connected with the Relational, Emotional Difficulties Service is delighted to have been shortlisted for this award.
“We have only been operating for just over a year across the whole area following a successful pilot in Peterborough, and we are delighted with the progress that we have made and the feedback we have had from patients.”
People with personality disorders often find they can struggle with their emotions and consequently can have difficulties building relationships.
Practitioners from REDS can help them understand their condition and their emotions and support them to build positive relationships, develop news skills and greater control over their thoughts and feelings.
Dr Barton said: “The majority of people are referred to us via their GP and following an initial assessment, there are a variety of options available to them.
“There are two introductory workshops, co-facilitated by CPSL Mind, where we discuss the types of difficulties we can help with, and along with skills programmes led our psychological practitioners and online courses, there is also 12-week peer support programme, led by CPSL Mind.
“The feedback we have had shows that patient experience improved wellbeing and a greater sense of control over their lives.
“There remains a lot of stigma around personality disorders and the team we have put in place have been able to offer positive support to what has traditionally been an underserved group of people.
“To have been recognised by the HSJ Awards, even at this very early stage in the development of REDS is very pleasing.”
The CPFT team have been shortlisted in the Primary and Community Care Innovation of the Year award alongside teams from across the country.
They will find out on Thursday, 16 November if they are winners when the awards ceremony takes place at Evolution London.
In total, 223 projects and individuals in 25 categories have been named on the final shortlist, making it the biggest awards programme in the award’s 43-year history.
HSJ editor Alastair McLellan said: “It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception.
“It’s been so encouraging to hear that 2023 has been record-breaking in terms of the number of applicants and, as ever, the calibre of entries left our panel of expert judges with some tough decisions to deliberate over.
“However, it’s always important to remember that the HSJ Awards are not just a celebration of success stories but also a platform to shape the future of the NHS.
“We can’t wait to welcome our finalists to the awards ceremony and to recognise and applaud such impressive achievements across the sector – as well as coming together to help mark the 75th birthday of our great NHS.”
CPFT, which employs more than 4,500 staff, provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough and learning disability services. The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Andy Burrows
Deputy Head of Communications
E andy.burrows@cpft.nhs.uk
