Two Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) services have been named finalists in the Parliamentary Pathfinder NHS Innovation Adoption Awards 2026, recognising their innovative approaches to improving patient care and outcomes.
West Essex Hospital at Home has been shortlisted in the Patient Impact – Prevention and Early Intervention Award category, while Family Group Conferencing in Mental Health Units has been selected as a finalist in the Early Adopter Leadership Award category.
The national awards celebrate individuals, teams and organisations that are driving innovation, improving outcomes and adopting new approaches across healthcare.
West Essex Hospital at Home provides an alternative to hospital admission by delivering seven-day-a-week hospital-level treatment and monitoring in patients’ own homes.
A team of doctors, advanced clinical practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics monitor patients every day using a combination of home visits, phone calls and remote technology that enables them to monitor patients and intervene quickly if their health deteriorates.
In the last year, Hospital at Home has supported more than 2,000 patients to receive hospital-equivalent care at home, helping to avoid overcrowded emergency departments while improving patient experience.
Nicole Rich, Director of West Essex Community Physical and Mental Health Services, said: “Being shortlisted for a national award is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the commitment of our entire Hospital at Home team. Every day we see the difference that receiving care at home can make to patients and their families.
“By providing hospital-level treatment in familiar surroundings, we are helping people recover safely while reducing pressure on our local hospitals. We are incredibly proud of what the team has achieved and honoured to have our work recognised on a national stage.”
Family Group Conferencing (FGC) was introduced on EPUT’s adult mental health wards last year as part of the Trust’s Time to Care programme which aims to ensure every patient admitted to a mental health ward receives high quality care to support their long-term health.
EPUT is believed to be the only NHS Trust to provide FGC in adult mental health services and now runs the service across more than 30 of its wards, supporting more than 100 family group conferences every year.
FGC brings together patients, families, friends and professionals involved in a patient’s care to develop plans that support their recovery, discharge from hospital and long-term wellbeing. It enables them to work through challenges and improve understanding of how they can support the patient when they leave hospital.
Research shows that when people and their support networks develop their own action plans, they are significantly more likely to succeed than plans created without their involvement. Patients also say FGC helps them better understand their future goals, improve family communication and feel more confident about managing their recovery after discharge.
James Sawtell, Associate Director of Social Care at EPUT, said: “We are delighted to be recognised as finalists and proud that Family Group Conferencing is being acknowledged for the difference it is making to patient care.
“The approach gives people a stronger voice in decisions about their recovery and brings families and support networks together at a time when many patients can feel isolated. Seeing patients leave conferences feeling heard, supported and more confident about the future is incredibly rewarding, and this recognition reflects the dedication of everyone involved.”
Both services will now progress to the final stage of judging, with winners announced at the Parliamentary Pathfinder NHS Innovation Adoption Awards Ceremony in London on 16 November 2026.
About EPUT
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/