Local NHS communicators nominated for top public sector award
Staff at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have been successfully shortlisted for an award for Best In-house Communications Team in the public sector. They are the only NHS Trust team in Yorkshire and the Humber to be shortlisted.
The ‘How-do’ Public Services Communications Awards 2010 recognise the best communicators in public services in the Northern half of the country, with shortlisted entries stretching from Birmingham right up to the Scottish borders. The awards celebrate excellence, create benchmarks for the future and bring together senior communicators from across the region to network, develop and enhance relationships and celebrate current and future success.
The South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s communications team consists of seven IPR, NUJ and CIM qualified staff, including graphic designers and a web developer. The team’s skill-mix enables all communications consultancy, support and services to be managed in-house without the need for costly outside agencies; making best use of public funds.
The team’s entry into the awards highlights their critical role in key Trust agendas as their work is directly linked to the strategic objectives of the organisation. The award entry also cited the team’s innovative approaches, including their use of Twitter to engage with their local communities and partner organisations – for which they were recently named top mental health Trust in the country in an NHS Twitter league table.
The Trust’s hard hitting anti-stigma campaign also featured in the nomination, along with in-house publications which are circulated to almost 14,000 local people.
The awards judging panel, which included Paul Willis, Director of the Centre for Public Relations Studies at Leeds Business School, shortlisted the Trust’s team alongside the likes of Derbyshire County Council, Greater Manchester Police and National Museums Liverpool. The award will be announced in Manchester on 9th November.
Dawn Stephenson, The Trust’s director of corporate development, said, "We’re delighted our communications team have been recognised by their peers and shortlisted for this award. It helps highlight how specialist NHS staff don’t just have to be on the frontline to assist the Trust in delivering its mission of helping people live life to the full."
Jude Tipper, communications manager added, "Our team is passionate about the role good communications can play in the quality of care as well as ensuring high morale amongst staff. On a daily basis, our team is boosted by belief in the work of the Trust and the impact we can have on local people’s lives, however indirect."