East London NHS FM Team Shortlisted for Design in Mental Health Award

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25 April 2024 | Updated 29 April 2024

The estates and facilities team at the East London NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for an award celebrating exceptional design in mental health settings.

The team has been named in the “Estates and Facilities Team of the Year” category, part of The Design in Mental Health Estates and Facilities Awards 2024. 

The East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) is a mental health, community, and primary care trust, and the estates and FM team is responsible for the management, maintenance and strategic development of land, buildings and facilities across Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Bedfordshire and Luton.

ELFT’s estates team has been praised for its inclusive approach to the management of the care environment, engaging service users and clinical teams in estate and facilties-related matters. The trust promotes accountability through its relationship with mental health service users through initiatives such as:

• Establishing the innovative role of the People Participation Lead (PPL). This dedicated individual serves as a bridge, facilitating communication and encouraging service user involvement in estate and facility-related matters
• Introducing an innovative annualised Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) Programme response. By recruiting & actively involving service users throughout the year and providing comprehensive training, to ensure transparent, engaging, and honest assessments that drive positive actions and improvements.
• Holding public town hall meetings to coproduce the new Estates Environment Strategy
• Implementing local Environmental Assurance Groups (EAGs) across all inpatient units to actively engage service users in the management of their care environment.

David Stevens, Director of Estates Facilities and Capital Development at ELFT said: “I am filled with immense pride when reflecting on the incredible accomplishments of our team. We have embarked on a journey of transformation, continuously striving to enhance the well-being of service users both on and off wards.

"Together, with our clinical colleagues, we are transforming our estate into a beacon of hope and healing for all those we serve.”

–David Stevens

Director of Estates Facilities and Capital Development, ELFT

 

“I am particularly proud of the strides we have made in involving service users in the coproduction and codesign of our strategies, services and policies. By including service users as attendees at Engineering Safety Groups and providing them with relevant training, we have empowered them to actively contribute to the enhancement of safety standards and overall wellbeing.

"I am incredibly proud of the dedication, innovation, and compassion demonstrated by our team at ELFT. Together, with our clinical colleagues, we are transforming our estate into a beacon of hope and healing for all those we serve.”

The award winners will be announced on Tuesday 4 June. 

Picture: a photograph of the ELFT Mile End Hospital Estates team. Image Credit: Unsplash

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 25 April 2024

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