NHS and police teams are being reminded that they have until the end of the week to submit their nominations for this years Seni Lewis Award, which recognises teams that have worked together to improve crisis care for people with mental illness. We have spoken with a former winner to highlight the positive impact that being recognised by the award can have on staff and their teams.
The Mental Health Triage and Response Team, run by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Merseyside Police, Cheshire Police, British Transport Police (BTP) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) across Cheshire and Merseyside, found ‘great pride’ and recognition for their service after winning the Seni Lewis Award at last year’s HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
Formed in October 2023 to support the increasing demand on services for patients detained under Section 136 (Mental Health Act 1983), they fought off stiff competition to win the award.
The judges at last year’s awards commented that Mersey Care's approach has the ‘potential to inspire positive transformation in mental health care far beyond its own setting,’ and several members of the team have noticed how the award has prompted greater interest in the service they provide.
“Winning the Seni Lewis award after only being in the team a few months felt absolutely amazing,” said Vicky Williams, a support worker with the team.
“To be recognised like that and have staff members who I’ve worked alongside for many years asking about our service, made me feel very proud to be a part of this amazing team.”
The Mental Health Triage and Response Team is pivotal to Mersey Care’s response to the implementation of Right Care, Right Person across Cheshire and Merseyside and in reducing unnecessary accident and emergency attendances for patients detained under Section 136.
The team has operationalised mental health based places of safety, ensuring that qualified mental health practitioners and support staff are available 24/7 in their suites, and the suites are available to take patients immediately, if there are no physical health concerns.
“It’s a privilege to work alongside a developing team of practitioners with various experiences and emergency services to support those in crisis in the community,” said nurse Alex Sheridan.
“This avoids an admission into inpatient services, where possible, or we work with other agencies to try to ensure people in crisis we come into contact with are brought to a place of safety, in a safe manner."
Having Street Car Triage as part of the service has been vital in ensuring a co-ordinated approach to supporting patients on Section 136, promoting least restrictive practices. Patients are now being cared for in a mental health setting, supported by trained mental health staff.
From feedback, patient experience is much improved and the transition out of places of safety is robust, ensuring that patients are referred on as needed. Recent evidence indicates that police are being released just over two hours (on average) when a patient is taken to a Mersey Care place of safety.
“Winning the award has improved the team’s morale and our desire to strive to make a positive change continues to grow,” admitted nurse Abbie Johnson.
“As a team we’re proud of the positive impact we have on the lives of our patients and partner agencies.”
Support worker Adrian Kucinski added:
“Being able to work with different police forces, ambulance services, NHS trusts and Mersey Care teams is definitely unique – it’s allowed me to meet people I wouldn't otherwise have met, work in areas I wouldn't have thought to work in and build connections within and out of the Trust.”
NHS teams and partner organisations that are interested in the Seni Lewis Award 2025 can submit a nomination via the Seni Lewis Award portal.
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
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- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896