Inspiring child psychiatrist nominated as ‘Clinical leader of the year’

Our consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Abdullah Kraam, has been shortlisted for a national healthcare award recognising his exceptional clinical leadership.

Abdullah, who is also the clinical lead for forensic child and adolescent mental health services (FCAMHS), was chosen as a finalist in the Health Service Journal’s (HSJ) annual awards in the ‘Clinical leader of the year’ category.

In June 2010 Abdullah set up FCAMHS in Wakefield which provides forensic mental health services for children and young people in the criminal justice system. Abdullah created this award-winning service from nothing, with a commitment to providing high quality care to the most vulnerable young people in the community.

The service has grown from Abdullah alone to a team of over 35, and gone from covering Wakefield only to providing services across the Yorkshire region. Abdullah works across both South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds Community Healthcare Trust to deliver the FCAMHS service in a partnership between both organisations.
In 2017, Abdullah received British Citizen Award for his services to healthcare.

Abdullah said: “I am so happy to have been shortlisted and had to check twice to make sure I was not dreaming. Having been one of the HSJ judges in a different category I know how hard it is to get to this stage. I am proud of FCAMHS and the great service we provide for a very vulnerable group of children and young people in the region. Being shortlisted as a clinical leader of the year is an honour and I would like to thank the amazing teams I work with too.”

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 21 November.