Publish date: 8 November 2023
September's Employee of the Month winner is Gemma Hamlett, acting Team Manager for the Autism and Mental Health Support Team. Gemma was nominated by Fiona Brodie (on behalf of the entire Autism and Mental Health Support Team) for the value of Support.
Gemma has taken on the role of acting team manager for the Autism and Mental Health Support Team over the past few months. Gemma goes above and beyond in this role on a daily basis. She is always positive, enthusiastic, and very supportive of team members. Gemma is person centred and always compassionate in her approach to service user care. The service has recently had a QRV which has resulted in excellent feedback. Gemma motivates the team through her warmth and humour.
Gemma needs to be recognised for the leadership and support she provides to her team. All staff members feel able to approach her whenever they have any questions or concerns and know that she will respond to this quickly. Whilst supporting staff with their health and wellbeing, she is also an excellent role model for her team.
September's Team of the Month winner is CAMHS Response Team. The team was nominated by Lisa Simpson for the value of Continuous Improvement.
On a daily basis the team demonstrate the respect and enthusiasm value by ensuring our most vulnerable children and young people in crisis are supported with their Mental Health needs and advocated for in a complex health and social care system. They have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months to transform services in line with NHSE crisis agenda and improve the care they offer by launching a new 24/7 operational model where children can expect to be assessed within four hours if they present in crisis/emergency. The team are continuing to develop and plan to launch a full CYP home treatment offer in October. The staff and leadership are highly committed and passionate and manage very high risk with professionalism, maintaining the dignity and voice of the child throughout.
The above means that the voice of the child is consistently discussed despite complex resource challenges and multiagency plans, so this is the at the heart of all they do.
The transformation means children and young people no longer need to wait (sometimes overnight) for an emergency mental health assessment, this prevents further distress for children and families and contains the crisis - improving the quality and care and ultimately the clinical outcomes.