Your Choice Individual Award

Alana is not only a manager but is a true leader and ensures her team are supported throughout all they do. Alana is modest in her abilities which makes what she does even more award worthy. She is kind, always the first to bake for charity sales as well as being compassionate with lots of hugs for those who need them. She has a huge heart. I feel too that Alana goes over and above to ensure her team's emotional safety, especially when going through change. Student nurses are welcomed by Alana and learn lots from working with her.

Ashley always has a positive attitude when caring for service users on Eden Ward. She has recently received thanks for her 100% attendance and the team at Eden Ward want to thank her for being a highly valued member of the team and we are grateful to have you Ashley!

Carol joined our team in June 2024 as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She has invested her time and effort and engaged with service users who have not accessed the wider community for some time. With Carol's approach, determination and skills she has been able to engage service users in meaningful activities.

Carol has invested extra time and additional support for two service users. She managed to encourage one to visit the hairdressers after a very long time, which meant a lot to them. The other service user attended the equestrian stables and took part in grooming activities.

Carol has made a huge improvement to our offer for service users in the ommunity mental health team and has contributed to their positive mental health and improved their quality of life. Carol is kind, caring and compassionate, committed to her role and the team and we are very lucky to have her as part of our team.

Claire has gone above and beyond in her role, for the team and wider service. She has carried out the role of Clinical Lead but also Team Manager in the absence of a manager in post. Claire has consistently shown her commitment to the service, patients and staff whom she works alongside and demonstrates compassion, empathy and kindness daily. Claire is a model of our values and strives for continuous improvement and displays her abilities to do this whilst supporting staff through changes and challenges both professional and personal.

Claire’s enthusiasm and passion for excellent and safe patient care is evident and she is valued and respected immensely within the team. Claire is a calm voice when things get hectic, she has a wealth of knowledge and as we have seen develop over time, a great sense of humour. All these things make for a clinical lead you can rely on and have faith in, knowing they will advise and support to her very best ability.

Claire demonstrated exceptional professionalism, composure and clinical expertise during a critical medical emergency earlier this year. A colleague suddenly presented with symptoms of anaphylactic shock, Claire acted with remarkable speed and precision. Recognising the severity of the situation, she immediately administered lifesaving treatment, including oxygen and adrenaline, while maintaining calm and clear communication with those around her. Her swift actions ensured the colleague remained stable until emergency services arrived, undoubtedly playing a crucial role in saving their life.

Claire’s response exemplifies the STAR values, she went above and beyond her role, showing not only technical competence but also compassion, leadership and the ability to remain composed under extreme pressure. Her actions reflect a deep commitment to the safety and wellbeing of others, making her an outstanding role model and a truly deserving recipient of this award.

The bright star leading the way, leader of the North, Dan Ord. As the Clinical Team Lead, Dan energises the team with his enthusiasm towards the excellent clinical work conducted within Talking Therapies Liverpool. He is responsive to queries and is always available to listen and put time aside for any staff member.His approach is an example of what Leadership should be within the NHS.

Debbie is an invaluable asset to the Sefton Learning Disability Community Team in her role as Medical secretary. She goes above and beyond in the support she offers to service users and colleagues within the multidisciplinary team and will be greatly missed when she retires.

Denise has a strong understanding of her role and is always willing to share her knowledge with the team. She consistently goes above and beyond to offer support and help in any way she can and always with a positive attitude. Nothing ever seems too much trouble for her and her kindness is evident when interacting with patients and their families. We are truly fortunate to have Denise in our team.

Edward went above and beyond his role and performed a physical health intervention which prevented an untoward incident. What a superstar.

Emma’s voluntary move to support the Southport TOCH has been extremely valuable. She brought with her a proactive and positive approach, quickly identifying where processes could be improved and working with the team to put these changes in place. By streamlining workflows and making systems easier to follow, Emma has helped to create a smoother and more efficient service, which directly benefits both staff and patients. Her ability to spot opportunities for improvement and act on them demonstrates real initiative and commitment.

Emma has also taken time to share her knowledge with others, delivering clear, supportive training and handy guides for admin staff so they can learn and adopt the new processes with confidence. She makes complex tasks easy to understand and ensures everyone feels supported, which reflects her dedication to teamwork and collaboration.

In everything she does, Emma demonstrates Mersey Care’s values and shows respect, compassion, and a commitment to quality. Her contribution has strengthened the hub and empowered colleagues, leaving a lasting positive impact on both the team and the service.

Hannah is an exceptional staff member who in her role as Administrator for clinical pharmacy services, consistently goes above and beyond, demonstrating Trust values daily. She is effective, always helpful and approachable, amazing at her job and is just fantastic! She improves how we work together as a team, has endless positivity and enthusiasm. As a service we would be lost without her!

Hollie has recently qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse and works on Albert Ward. Since starting her new role, she has supported the team by working with the management team and reducing restrictive practice by implementing zonal engagement to enhance therapeutic engagement and support recovery for patients from admission to discharge.

Hollie has taken on the role of Zonal Engagement Champion and has devised a zonal engagement brief and display board in the nursing office, enabling all staff to gain an understanding of their responsibilities when allocated to a zone and ensure safe and effective care is upheld.

Since implementation of zonal engagement, the ward has seen a reduction in incidents associated with violence and aggression towards both patients and staff. Hollie supports the management team by regularly asking patients and staff for feedback so that changes can be made for continuous improvement.

Hollie continues to strive in her role and is always exploring how the team can develop and improve their practice.

Jacqui is the person who keeps the Early Intervention Team running smoothly. She is highly organised and knowledgeable and helps to make everyone’s job easier. Jacqui is always kind, easy to approach and quick to provide answers whenever the team has questions.

Jade has been nominated due to her exceptional enthusiasm, dedication and leadership. She consistently goes above and beyond in her work, empowering everyone and fostering a positive environment. Her strong team management skills make them a standout leader who genuinely wants others to succeed and progress in their careers.

I would like to nominate Kate Hughes for her outstanding compassion, leadership and unwavering support for both staff and patients. When I joined the Health Centre, I brought with me a strong commitment to nursing but also personal challenges, including a history of trauma and ADHD. From day one, Kate met me with empathy and a proactive mindset that made a significant difference in my ability to settle and succeed. She played a vital role in implementing my complex HR27 plan, not as a burden but as an opportunity to provide the structure and support I needed to thrive.

Kate’s patience, consistency and kindness gave me the confidence to grow within the team. What makes her truly exceptional is her ability to offer this level of support while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. She regularly goes above and beyond -staying late, stepping in during high pressure situations and leading by example. Her leadership has helped me overcome personal and professional barriers, rebuild trust in myself and develop as a nurse.

Kate has created a culture of inclusivity, respect and genuine care. For her exceptional support and leadership, I wholeheartedly nominate her for this recognition.

Kathy is an amazing Health Care Assistant. She is extremely devoted to Mersey Care and the patients. She follows Trust policies and our values at all times and goes above and beyond for patients and the team. We are lost when she has a day off and would love Kathy to know how much we really appreciate her.

Katie is a kind and caring nurse who goes out of her way to make patients stay in Longmoor House the best it possibly can be. She was the first member of staff who I met on arrival and I remember breathing a sigh of relief because she was so welcoming and warm. I was always glad when Katie was on shift. I know other people were too. She uplifted the atmosphere and always made me laugh, along with others, more than I ever thought I would in hospital.

One of the loveliest things about Katie was when she helped me during the showers when I was very weak. She arranged for it to be like a spa by putting music on (and singing badly with me!) and getting things organised that made it so lovely. She is hardworking and goes out of her way for patients. It is things like this that mean so much in hospital. It was a bit of normality in what can be a stressful time. She also buys patients treats too.

Katie is a very kind hearted nurse and absolutely made a difference to my stay at Longmoor House. It would be lovely if she got this award.

Louise exemplifies the CARES values in all aspects of her work. Her compassion shines through in her sensitive approach to supporting both patients and colleagues during emotionally challenging situations. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure families feel heard, respected and comforted during end of life care.

Louise demonstrates accountability by taking ownership of her responsibilities. She provides clear communication and delivers on her commitments, often anticipating needs before they arise.

She shows unwavering respect, treating patients, colleagues, or family members with dignity and understanding, ensuring their views are heard and valued.

Louise brings enthusiasm and a calm, positive presence to the team, which uplifts those around her even in the most emotionally intense circumstances. Her energy and drive to provide the best possible care never falter.

Finally, her support is felt across the team. Whether mentoring new staff, helping to manage complex cases, or being a dependable point of contact, Louise is a pillar of strength and reassurance.

Louise truly embodies what it means to CARE at Mersey Care.

Melissa has a very good therapeutic relationship with the service users and has worked hard to maintain the gardens and court yards. She has bloomed several new sections of the garden and created a relaxing and sensory section where service users can enjoy meditation in a peaceful setting to chat with staff and peers. Several service users have also joined in and helped with the gardening to create this space for themselves to enjoy and maintain. Melissa also has maintained the chalk boards with pictures of the seasons and themes such as Christmas, Halloween, Easter, or requests from service users. Melissa draws pictures from the heart and creates a sense of warmth to the unit. She deserves this award in recognition of her dedication and hard work that she puts in besides her other duties.

Nicola is incredibly hardworking and consistently goes above and beyond for her team and our patients. Over the past year, she has implemented positive changes that have had a real impact on how we work and improved processes, boosted team morale and made a genuine difference to patient care.

What stands out most about Nicola is her dedication and willingness to go the extra mile. Whether it’s staying late to ensure an issue is resolved, supporting colleagues when they’re struggling, or coming up with new ideas to improve our service, she always puts 100 per cent into everything she does. Her leadership style is supportive, approachable and motivating, which makes her an invaluable part of the team.

Rebecca is a Senior Mental Health Practitioner who delivers outstanding care to young people, she is also a brilliant clinical supervisor to a couple of members of our team. Rebecca provides excellent support to all our team to guide us to support the young people and families we work with, while also supporting her own caseload and receiving regular excellent feedback from young people and families.

Rebecca most definitely embodies the rust core values and always presents as a positive, committed and proactive team member. Alongside this, Rebecca will always make time to check on team members and offer additional support if it’s needed. Rebecca will put herself out to support team projects and events and often is key in organising team activities including our summer workshops, team participation event, team day, parent workshops and groups.

Rebecca also has worked hard to improve patient information, workbooks and webinars for our MHST web pages as well as creating and delivering excellent workshops for children and families within our service. Rebecca will often create and share resources widely used within the team and is a strong advocate for supporting young people with neurodiversity and making care accessible for all. She is extremely knowledgeable, kind, supportive and approachable and always willing to lend a helping hand. Rebecca is also enthusiastic in driving forward research projects to try to improve practice for others.

Richard shows passion in helping others and supporting people with mental health conditions into employment.

Sonia has worked for LLAMS in Warrington for several years as a Nurse Practitioner and stepped up in July 2024 as Deputy Manager. Sonia has supported the team during a period of no manager with dedication and humour. Sonia has a wealth of knowledge and experience which enables her to problem solve and see alternatives for a good outcome. Her sense of humour is a great asset and can relieve a tense moment.

Sonia is a reliable and steady deputy and can always be found in her office for a supportive chat or word of encouragement. Sonia is keen to see members of the team develop on a career or personal level. She is a shoulder to cry on, your biggest cheerleader but not afraid to point you in the right direction if she can see you are going off course.

Sonia makes coming into work a pleasure because you know she will be there to keep everyone moving forward in the right direction.

Stacey is Health and Wellbeing Advocate for the Liverpool Community Physiotherapy Team. She volunteered for this role and has succeeded in bringing energy, compassion and leadership when the team was facing low morale and significant change. She created a wellbeing action plan, launched a dedicated Teams channel,and promotes a positive, supportive culture. Her willingness to share her own experiences has encouraged openness across the team. This has been achieved alongside her clinical duties which she continues to deliver to a high standard. We feel incredibly fortunate to have her. Thank you Stacey for your outstanding contribution.

Stephen has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the service without enough recognition. He is a team leader in the real sense, leading the team and promoting loyalty from team members. Stephen is not afraid to stand up and be counted when the service is not right, defending staff and querying ways of working.

I have worked in my service for seven years and throughout that time I have often heard Vicky’s name mentioned with the highest praise - “Vicky can help anyone,” “Vicky will know,” “Ask Vicky.” I honestly didn’t believe there could be someone so dedicated, so involved in supporting teams and so consistently helpful … until I experienced it for myself.

When my manager went on leave, I had to work with several managers to get the support I needed. Every time I reached out to Vicky, she responded instantly, making me feel at ease straight away. Her professionalism and depth of knowledge are outstanding. More importantly, she doesn’t just give directions - she sits with you, talks you through the process and reassures you by saying, “You might get it the first time but call me if you don’t.”

This approach has been especially important for me because of personal circumstances and my own disabilities. I like to be shown things in a practical way and sometimes it takes a few times for it to stick. Vicky has never once made me feel uncomfortable or incapable - she patiently supports me until I am confident. In those moments, I understood exactly why everyone speaks so highly of her. She is not only a highly skilled professional but also an inspiration. Even now, I constantly hear, “Vicky will do that,” “Vicky knows that,” “Ring Vicky.”

Whether she is solving problems, giving guidance, or following up with messages to ensure everything is in place, Vicky always goes above and beyond. I truly don’t think Vicky realises just how exceptional she is - both as a mentor and as a professional. I am incredibly grateful for the support she has given me and I believe she is deeply deserving of this recognition.

Wayne is an exceptional therapist, he is professional, compassionate, supportive and highly skilled. Having recently completed therapy with Wayne, I can say that his support has had a profound and lasting impact on my life. At the start of my therapy journey, I was in a very difficult place and struggling with OCD behaviours, overwhelming anxiety and a deep sense of disconnection from myself and my purpose. Under Wayne’s expert guidance, I experienced significant progress. While no journey is ever linear or completely “finished,” I now have the tools and confidence to manage challenges rather than avoid them. Wayne created a space where I felt safe enough to open up, even when that didn’t come naturally to me. His calm, understanding approach made a difficult process not only manageable but truly transformative. I am incredibly grateful for Wayne’s dedication and the positive impact he has had on my wellbeing. His work is truly outstanding.