Safer staffing success shortlisted for national nursing award

We’ve been shortlisted in Nursing Times Workforce Awards for our work to improve staffing levels.

We’re a finalist in the ‘Workforce of the year category’ in recognition of our safer staffing project, which helps us to meet the staffing demands of inpatient mental health wards. The project has saved the Trust in excess of 1.6 million in agency staff spending.

The outcomes were achieved through the recruitment of a safer staffing project manager whose role includes offering specialist advice and support, and the development of a peripatetic workforce who can travel to respond to demand on inpatient wards.

The Nursing Times Workforce Awards recognise and reward the excellent work that is being done by employers to support the nursing and midwifery workforce.

Julie Warren-Sykes, assistant director of nursing and quality, said: “The national shortage of registered nurses has led to reduced fill rates which can impact on quality. The incredible hard work which has been undertaken by a number of people to ensure we are doing everything within our gift to improve safer staffing and the management of resources deserves this recognition. The focus for our Trust is always to improve quality and drive up safety for service users, carers and staff.”

Winners will be announced on Thursday 4 October in London.