We are celebrating after scooping an award at the prestigious North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards.
The awards ceremony held in Liverpool on 22 June showcased an array of innovative and industry leading research projects. The awards are an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have helped save lives and improve services, through the development, delivery or application of an innovation or piece of research.
In Partnership with Health Education England North West (now NHSE), The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) and other NHS care providers across the North West, won the ‘Innovation in Workforce Development Award’ for ‘An innovative new career route for psychology graduates in the North West region, to address workforce supply challenges in the NHS.’
The (Trainee) Associate Psychological Practitioners (T/APPs) project is a workforce innovation. We have hosted the project, which has developed a graduate entry point for psychology graduates into the NHS to help meet mental health need and provide structured psychological interventions. The project is now in year three, meaning just over 200 T/APPs have been trained, or are in training across the region. This is a brand new workforce supply into the NHS, meaning it does not take staff from other services.
All twelve awards showcased the best research and innovation from NHS organisations, industry and academic partners, third sector organisations, local authorities and other collaborators in health innovation. The judges were looking for projects that demonstrated meaningful engagement with stakeholders throughout the research cycle and fresh ideas which bring a truly unique perspective.
On their award win, Dr Miranda Budd, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead for HEE (Trainee) Associate Psychological Practitioners Project, said:
“As a project team, we are delighted to have our work recognised at this level. So much hard work goes into this project and we’d like to say thank you to all the organisations, teams and individuals who have supported us along the way.
Well done to all the T/APPs out there helping to improve people’s emotional wellbeing and supporting service delivery, you’re doing a fantastic job.”
