Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership in the running for HSJ healthcare ‘Oscar’

Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership is in the running for an ‘Oscar’ of the healthcare world after being shortlisted for a Health Service Journal Partnership Award.

Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership (OMHP), which cares for and supports people with mental health problems in Oxfordshire, is shortlisted in the Best Not-For-Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2020.

The award shortlisting recognises the Partnership’s outstanding dedication to healthcare with five Oxfordshire charity partners and the NHS working together to support local people at every stage of their care and in all aspects of their lives.

Lesley Dewhurst, chair of Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership, said:

“We are so delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. Being a partnership is very important to us at Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership.  We know that we can make so much more impact by working together, combining our skills and experience, and using our collective creativity to support and care for local people experiencing mental ill-health.  We put into practice our “Better Together” logo each and every day. Fingers crossed the HSJ judges vote for us.”

Rob Bale, clinical director for Oxfordshire mental health services at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership is pioneering the way we provide mental healthcare and it’s really exciting to be a part of that collaboration with charity partners to help local people. We know the best way to help people stay well and thrive is to offer support in all aspects of their lives and I’m very proud to see OMHP’s partnership recognised nationally.”

The shortlisting comes just months after OMHP scooped the national NHS Parliamentary Award for Mental Health, last week won the Innovation in Mental Health Award at the Health Business Award for out of hours service Safe Haven, and was also shortlisted for the Community Co-created Services with Patients Award at the NHS Elect Awards for Oxfordshire Recovery College which offers education and training for people living with mental illness.

Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership is made up of five not-for-profit charity partners Response, Ox Mind, Restore, Connection Support and Elmore Community Services plus Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust who work together to offer a range of treatments, care and support services for people experiencing mental health problems in Oxfordshire.

It is a ground-breaking partnership approach which sees people supported to thrive in all aspects of their life and wellbeing with emotional and physical healthcare, education and skills, employment, financial stability and housing support.

OMHP projects include:

• Oxford Safe Haven, out-of-hours non-clinical support for people in mental health crisis
• Stepping into Wellbeing day hospital helping people transition from inpatient care into the community
• Wellbeing service: gentle, accessible physical activity from convenient locations in Oxfordshire
• Oxfordshire Recovery College: run by people with experience of mental health challenges, supported by professionals, using an empowering educational approach;
• Paid Peer Support Workers have lived experience of mental health challenges and inspire patients by being proof of the opportunities following recovery. They are employed in community and inpatient teams in OHFT adult mental services. PSWs offer people new skills, confidence and paid employment following ill health;
• Individual Placement and Support workers help patients who experience psychosis find paid employment during recovery;
• Charity sector workers within adult mental health teams offering non-clinical support; Benefits Advice enabling people to regain independence and financial stability;
• Housing support: 357 housing units from intensive to low support, communicating with landlords to help people maintain tenancies, finding housing suitable for people’s needs and navigating the lettings system to access social housing;
• OurSpace: Ecotherapy in development with Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan said: “We would like to congratulate Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership on being nominated in the category of Best Not-For-Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS ahead of HSJ Partnership Awards 2020. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the ceremony in February, 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.”