SEPT Celebrate Win At RCPsych Awards 2014

The Maintaining Adherence Programme (MAP) Team, at South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, has been named Working-age Adults Psychiatric Team of the Year 2014 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The annual RCPsych Awards mark the highest level of achievement within psychiatry, and are designed to recognise and reward excellent practice in the field of mental health.

Nine members of the team were presented with their award by Dr Jan Falkowski, Elected Member of Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Council, at a prestigious ceremony held at the College on 6 November.

Sally Morris, Chief Executive at SEPT said: “I am thrilled the MAP team have won this award! This is a shining example of how SEPT staff work together to create a system of best practice that will have the greatest impact on improving patient care.”

MAP addresses non-adherence to treatment by providing regular reviews of risk factors, rapid access to consultant psychiatrists, condition-specific psychoeducation and targeted activities to support improved self-management. By providing early opportunities for staff to observe non-adherent behaviour and intervene to support patients, the Team has improved quality of care, created better outcomes and reduced use of resources.

Competition for the RCPsych Awards is extremely tough, and the judging panels were impressed by the quality of this year’s entries. The judges said: “For many years the problems of non-adherence with medical treatment have been recognised. While efforts have been made to address this in psychiatry, non-adherence still remains a major problem and has a major impact on patients.

“Through designing and delivering highly individualised packages of care involving psycho education, wellbeing activities and medication reminders, the Maintaining Adherence Programme in The South Essex Partnership Foundation Trust has led to a significant improvement in adherence, a 40% reduction in bed useage, high patient satisfaction and significant cost savings.”

Photo (L TO R) - Mairead O’Connor, Chris O’Keefe, Dr Llewellyn Lewis, Adam Dunford, Mark Gillett, Tsitsi Adiukwu.

Nominations for the RCPsych Awards 2015 will open in February.

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