Health and Wellbeing Awards 2020 - Print version

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Public Heath Services have a big role in the city, each year they engage with over 100,000 people.  The Health and Wellbeing awards celebrate the hard work that goes on across Coventry throughout the public health system to improve health and wellbeing, and to reduce health inequalities. It recognises individuals that go above and beyond to make the city a better place.  This year we have seen a lot of examples of innovation in the face of Covid-19, of people rising to a new challenge and it's important that we learn from these new approaches.

The awards highlight areas like digital innovation, public participation and social value; as well as recognise the role of volunteers within the public health services - "our Health Heroes" and stand to encourage competition and best practice between contractors.

Innovator of the Year [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/190/health_and_wellbeing/3749/health_and_wellbeing_awards_2020/2]

This award is given for new initiatives or ideas that have had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Coventry citizens.

Digital Innovation [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/190/health_and_wellbeing/3749/health_and_wellbeing_awards_2020/3]

This award is given for new uses of technology that have had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Coventry citizens.

Participation [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/190/health_and_wellbeing/3749/health_and_wellbeing_awards_2020/4]

This award is given for examples of how clients or service users have been involved in decision making or the running of services.

Social Value [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/190/health_and_wellbeing/3749/health_and_wellbeing_awards_2020/5]

This award is given for examples of how services are run in ways which promote the social and economic vibrancy of the city and help improve the local environment.

Partnership [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/190/health_and_wellbeing/3749/health_and_wellbeing_awards_2020/6]

This is a new award this year which recognises services and people who exemplify better ways of working with partner agencies.

Innovator of the Year

This award is given for new initiatives or ideas over the last year that have had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Coventry citizens.

Winner: Coventry School Nursing Assistants – Year 6 relaxation programme

The year 6 relaxation programme was developed by School Nursing Assistants and teaches mindfulness and relaxation techniques to children aged 10 or 11, developed following surveys with pupils which highlighted high levels of anxiety.

The session aids 10 – 11 year olds to explore some mindfulness and relaxation techniques and helps them to recognise why it is important to allow their body and mind to relax. It includes physical stretches and ways to release tension in our bodies and a beautiful relaxation story at the end.

The session takes an hour to deliver making it sustainable to offer the session to all primary schools across the city. The School Nurse Assistants deliver the session to the year 6 pupils and leave behind resources for their teachers to enable them to continue doing small relaxation activities for the rest of the academic year. 

Following the initial piloting of this innovation, the session was offered city wide from last year and has been in high demand since. Due to the current Covid-19 measures the team has now commenced sessions via Microsoft teams, delivering to children that remain in school through the pandemic. The feedback from teachers and pupils has been fantastic and the session’s popularity and target audience continues to grow with the increasing demand.

The programme was developed following feedback from a citywide questionnaire with primary school children. The data from these questionnaires is then used to complete a true and accurate health profile for each school, as well as allowing the School Nurse to identify any individual physical or emotional health needs and introduce new support.

Other examples of good practice highlighted included:

  • Active Kids, which is a new, fun exercise session at Moat House Leisure Centre for children which also teaches simple healthy lifestyle messages
  • The Hepatitis C Test and Treat roadshow which helped some of our most vulnerable people be tested and receive treatment for this virus quickly, simply and on their own terms
  • A new group called 'Together We Can' which offers assessment and play experiences for young children with developmental delay and is a collaboration between health visitors and the SEND team.
  • The IRIS project which trains primary care practitioners to better understand domestic abuse, respond safely to victims and refer to support. In the project's first year staff from 25 GP practices were trained and then referred more than 90 victims to specialist support

Further information on these projects are available from:

Year 6 relaxation programme: Moat House School Nursing 

Active Kids: Be Active Be Healthy Tel: 024 7518 9190

Hepatitis C Test and Treat roadshow: philippe.bonnet@hepctrust.org.uk [http://philippe.bonnet@hepctrust.org.uk] 

'Together We Can': Coventry Family Health and Lifestyle Team - Tel: 024 7518 9190

IRIS: https://www.coventryhaven.co.uk/iris-project [https://www.coventryhaven.co.uk/iris-project]

Digital Innovation

Digital innovation has been a priority for our services for a number of years. The COVID outbreak has really helped show the strength of virtual ways of working.

Winner: Paul Woods (Coventry CGL)

Following COVID restrictions started in March, Paul Woods from CGL Coventry [https://www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-service-coventry/info] very quickly transferred the service’s entire programme of group meetings onto MS Teams which could be accessed by Facebook and Whatsapp or by following a download link on a mobile phone. Service users, volunteers and members of staff were consulted and after a very short series of phone calls, online chats and meetings a whole new timetable was put together including a women’s group, various SMART groups, Peer support, Family groups and an innovative behavioural therapy group named Re-Wire.  

The new Facebook pages allow service users to send anonymous private messages where staff members can quickly be made aware of any urgent treatment issues. All this – and the creation of private peer support groups on Facebook - has led to a huge increase in the number of people now engaging with CGL and is being considered for a possible national roll-out. ​

The judges were impressed with the speed of work, the inclusion of service users in ensuring sessions were run on accessible platforms and the innovative use of a good number of both social media and desktop IT applications.

Other examples of good practice highlighted included:

  • A young people’s social media ‘takeover’ by Positive Choices. [https://www.changegrowlive.org/positive-choices-coventry] Young people promoted online topics of conversation and they also managed the responses to people posing questions.
  • The introduction of ‘ChatHealth’ to help parents/carers to have quick and easy conversation by text with qualified health visitors. Being launched immediately before the COVID outbreak, ChatHealth quickly came into it’s own – receiving more than 350 messages in its second full month.
  • New "What’s app" video consultations, breastfeeding ‘cafes’ through Zoom and a virtual fitness session for new mums to ensure people can continue to access support from SWFT’s infant feeding and stop smoking in pregnancy services.

Further information on these projects are available from:

Online support from CGL [https://www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-service-coventry/info]: Paul Woods

Social Media Takeover [https://www.changegrowlive.org/positive-choices-coventry]: Amy Carus

ChatHealth: Coventry Health Visiting Service - Family Health and Lifestyles Service [https://www.swft.nhs.uk/our-services/children-and-young-peoples-services/coventry-family-health-and-lifestyle-service-0-19-years]

Online support from SWFT’s infant feeding and stop smoking in pregnancy service: Family Health and Lifestyles Service [https://www.swft.nhs.uk/our-services/children-and-young-peoples-services/coventry-family-health-and-lifestyle-service-0-19-years]

 

Simon Morgan Award for Participation

We are committed to achieving genuine service user involvement across all public health services. Service user involvement makes sure our services are grounded in our communities and are truly accessible and meet need. Service user involvement is not just about getting feedback or patients having a say in their treatment, it’s about service users having an equal say in decision making, service design and service delivery.​

Winner: HLS Coventry

HLS Coventry [https://hlscoventry.org/] involved nearly 100 locals carers and stakeholders in the co-creation of a tailored health and wellbeing resource for carers.

The resource pack was produced by HLS Coventry [https://hlscoventry.org/] and the Carer’s Trust [https://www.carerstrusthofe.org.uk/coventry-carer-wellbeing-service/]to help encourage and support some of the 30,000 unpaid carers in the city to look after their own health and wellbeing though easy self-care advice and support from the service. Carers were involved from start to finish – providing insights into their lives, sharing stories for real life case studies and even ‘road testing’ different versions of the pack.

The final suite of resources to support carers included a self-help booklet, information about sources of support and an online self-help forum on the Best You platform. The resources are available here: Carers Pack [https://hlscoventry.org/media/1219/coventry-carers-pack-v40.pdf]

Other examples of good practice highlighted included:

  • A city centre-based multi-agency one-stop shop for homeless people called Steps for Change. Support available through Steps for Change is identified by clients and includes help from agencies like the Salvation Army, Langar Aid, the Council’s Rough Sleeper Team, the ARC and Crisis Skylight. The support provided is very much identified and led by clients.
  • An open drop-in group called the ‘Together POD’ for homeless people that doesn't restrict to a specific time to allow clients the freedom to drop in and out, getting support they need when they feel ready. The Together POD was developed between CGL and the ARC, a service user-led support group.

Further information on these projects are available from:

Carers’ Wellbeing Pack: HLS Coventry [https://hlscoventry.org/] 

Steps for Change: http://karen.gannon@salvationarmy.org.uk [http://karen.gannon@salvationarmy.org.uk]

The Together Pod: CGL Coventry [https://www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-service-coventry/info]

Social Value

Social value reflects the added value provided by services to improve the city's health, reduce our carbon footprint or boost our economy. It reflects how services go above and beyond what they're directly commissioned to do. Social value is important to us as a Council and city.

Winner: Positive Choices

Positive Choices [https://www.changegrowlive.org/positive-choices-coventry]were nominated twice: one for their Christmas grotto which saw Santa hand out donated presents to children and young people at what can be a difficult time of year and a second nomination for creating an allotment for young people to grow fruit and veg and benefit from ecotherapy

The judges awarded this predominantly for the allotment project which they thought was "so much more than an allotment and some really inventive thinking around how else to use the space" and goes beyond what they were commissioned to do. Positive Choices linked with companies like National Grid and Coventry Building Society to help develop the site to include a wildlife zone, a learning pod, greenhouse and potting shed. The judges were impressed with the work with neighbouring plot holders and donating produce to local community groups. The judges were also impressed by the Christmas grotto which they thought was a lovely way of bringing people together at what can be a difficult time of year.​

Other examples of good practice highlighted included:

  • The Thrive@Work scheme which supports employers to provide excellent health and wellbeing in the workplace
  • Support provided by SWFT to promote the health and wellbeing of staff within the Family Health and Lifestyle Service
  • CGL Coventry’s apprenticeship scheme
  • The training of health champions in Hillfields by HLS Coventry to carry important health promotion messages from peers within the community
  • Training and support from Coventry Haven for 'Ask Me' Ambassadors who are volunteers trained to raise awareness of domestic violence and respond safely within their communities

Further information on these projects are available from:

Partnership of the Year

This is a new award this year recognises services and people who exemplify better ways of working with partner agencies.

Winner: Foleshill Partnership Group

The Foleshill Partnership Group is a  large partnership of 10 organisations including the Families for All Hub, Edgwick Primary school, SWFT’s Family Health and Lifestyle Service, Public Health, elected members and others who came together to run 6 weeks of children’s activities at Edgwick Park during last summer and have more recently teamed up to support each other, share information and deliver local services throughout lockdown.

The group has supported events across the Summer such as Sport in the Park, weekly summer holiday delivery and after school projects. They have also invited partners to input into 2020 calendar of delivery which makes delivery more sustainable and joined up.

This partnership work has meant pooled resources, alignment of delivery avoiding duplication, maximising funding opportunities and positive relationships

The partnership has seen an increase in use of the park by residents, reduced police reports within the area, improved communication between partners, consistency in delivery and familiar faces working with families to increase levels of physical activity and improve family cohesion.

The partnership regularly meets to review and plan future delivery, and highlight crossover areas such as park timetabling, school projects, family hub projects and available funding opportunities.

Other examples of good practice highlighted included:

  • SWFT’s  Family Health and Lifestyle service and Tiny Toez Nursery in Tile Hill who came together to run activity sessions for children and build the skills of early years staff to turn the nursery into a health-conscious setting
  • Turnaround - a project supporting sex workers by running services like multi agency drops-in, 1-2-1 support and practical help like food and clothing – which works closely with numerous partners as well as working unsociable hours.
  • Justin Wilson, from Citizen Housing, who’s exceptional ability to relate to people in challenging circumstances was highlighted. Justin’s joint work with Coventry CGL and others supported a service user to get new accommodation and a care package at a very challenging time in their life.
  • Sam Featherstone and Lauren McCotter from CGL Coventry and Positive Choices. Jointly, Sam and Lauren have worked together to improve links and pathways between young people’s and adult substance misuse services improving support for families and increasing the number of families getting much needed help
  • Coventry Haven Women's Aid, Panahghar & Relate. These three 3rd sector providers have come together to form a working partnership and share resources to offer a whole family approach to victims of domestic abuse – working with male and female victims, children and perpetrators.

Further information on these projects are available from:

Healthy Lifestyles Awards

This group of awards recognise the work of pharmacies and GPs to support people to achieve lifestyle change – through activity like stop smoking and delivering the NHS Health Check programme.​

Primary Care Networks are quickly emerging as important bodies. To reflect their increasing role, we have a new award for primary care networks who are doing the most to help people stop smoking.

  • Smoking – Most 4 Week Quits (Pharmacy) – Chemycare Ringwood Highway
  • Smoking – Most 4 Week Quits (GP) – Moseley Avenue Surgery
  • Smoking – Most 4 Week Quits (Primary Care Network) – Coventry North
  • NHS Health Check Award – Forum Health Centre
  • NHS Health Check Lifestyle Change Award – Dr Dadhania’s Surgery

Promoting Positive Change

This is an award which recognises the work community pharmacies do to support people misusing drugs and alcohol. Pharmacies play a crucial role in drug and alcohol treatment, offering things like needle exchange and dispensing medications as well as providing a regular friendly and trusted face for clients. This award was voted for by CGL service users.

Superdrug

Superdrug won the award last year and have picked it up again in 2020 for the brilliant support they give service users, whether that’s showing genuine care for our service users or going above and beyond.  They’ve supported CGL with helping get Hepatitis C treatments to really vulnerable service users, been excellent in their communication with the prescribing team and 30 of the 46 service users who voted recommended the team!​

Service users also gave great feedback about Lloyds in Remembrance Road and Hillfields Pharmacy. Both support large numbers of substance misusing clients, make them feel welcome and treat all with respect.​

Director of Public Health's Award for Outstanding Contribution

Jane Coates

Jane is being recognised for all her hard work co-ordinating the Year of Wellbeing.

Nicola Jones and Victoria Leigh (Re-Solv)

Victoria and Nicola work for Re-Solv and specialise in supporting people affected by solvent misuse. Re-Solv have bent over backwards to change the way they deliver training in Coventry and run sessions to hundreds of front line staff from across local partners over the last year.

Groundwork West Midlands – Cook and Eat Together Project

Groundwork built on their knowledge of delivering the Cook and Eat Well project to win external funding for a partnership initiative giving very practical cooking and nutrition support by running 6-weekly cooking clubs for older people. Once the 6 weeks come to an end, participants can join a 'Fortnightly Friendship Cafe’ to meet up with old friends and meet new ones and have the chance to join in activity sessions

Dave Johns

Dave operates Arley Medical Services which runs the late night triage in the city centre, helping divert people injured in the night time economy from A&E by offering street-side paramedic help. Since the early days of the COVID outbreak, Dave has developed his business and delivers COVID testing at care home across Coventry and Warwickshire. Dave was nominated for recognition because of his flexible approach which has seen him step into helping out where service gaps have been identified. ​

Sarah Emsden

Sarah is a nurse at the Anchor Centre, the GP practice for homeless people. She was nominated for her endless helpfulness, joining other agencies like Turnaround and Steps for Change to support vulnerable people on their own terms.

Sam Featherstone

Sam is the Think Family and Complex Recovery Co-ordinator for CGL Coventry. In recent months Sam has put forward an incredible 22 individual clients for residential rehabilitation placement. Sam has also gone above and beyond to help CGL families and complex service users by hosting events like the international families day and with our late Simon Morgan she won a bid for Kinship care and held an event for all those impacted by substances misuse and hosted afternoon tea for the Mayor’s weekend. Sam has implemented a new 10 week parenting programme for parents with safeguarding problems. A busy year for Sam.

Rokaya Batan

Rokaya is a lifestyle coach with HLS Coventry and goes the extra mile to support her clients. One of Rokaya’s clients recently disclosed she felt vulnerable, had no food in the house and was too fearful to go outside during lockdown. After registering the client as a vulnerable patient to get ongoing support and deliveries, Rokaya went shopping that evening and bought the lady enough food and general supplies to last for a week from her own pocket – she refused to allow the service to reimburse her. A really generous gesture.

Kelly Eyden

Kelly Eyden is a data administrator with Positive Choices. It’s a role that doesn’t have direct contact with young people; but she has set up and run the service’s running club, encouraging staff and service users to attend and motivating them to get more active. Kelly is core to the service, offering staff emotional support and virtual coffee breaks during COVID to reduce the feeling of isolation.

Health Heroes

Volunteers give really vital help to people using so many of our services. They give their time and experience in so many ways.

Annemarie Atkins

Annemarie is a fantastic volunteer helping to support families with new born babies in Coventry with the infant feeding work she does as a Breastfeeding Counsellor and support SWFT’s Infant Feeding Team. Annemarie supports at two of the Family Hubs in Coventry in a voluntary capacity and has done for the last few years, offering breast / infant feeding support groups at Woodside and The Moat Family Hubs.​

As a Mum of 4 children, Annemarie still finds time to volunteer twice a week at the Hubs and amazingly also gives of her spare time to help support the National Breastfeeding Helpline. Her nominator said she’s “always cheerful, positive and passionate about helping families to understand the importance of building close and loving relationships with their babies”.​

Annemarie has played in key role in the Infant Feeding Team’s National and World Breastfeeding Events in the city and is currently working with the team to develop an initiative for the forthcoming City of Culture!​

Sally Keil

Sally is one of the volunteer team at CGL Coventry and was nominated by two separate members of staff.  Sally has volunteered with CGL for nearly two years on an almost full-time basis. There is nothing she is not willing to get fully involved with and has frequently stepped outside her comfort zone to help and support others without judgement.

She is reliable, trustworthy, wise and has pulled quite a few people back to safety who have found themselves 'on the brink' with her natural empathy and kindness. She recently set up and is successfully facilitating a weekly online women's group for those who are struggling with dependency issues and cannot attend the physical groups which are currently unavailable due to the current COVID 19 restrictions. ​

One of Sally’s nominators described her as a ‘breath of fresh air’ and someone who “brings so much energy into everything that she does”

Alvaro Grana

Alvaro is 74 years young and came to Britain originally in 1973 from Peru to study in this country for two years. He understands the difficulties of settling in another country and uses his wealth of experience and knowledge of coming to Britain as a refugee to help others, who through no fault of their own, find themselves coming here to start a new life. All of this has inspired him to volunteer with several charitable organisation in Coventry including, Carriers of Hope, the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, and Coventry Peace House. ​

Alvaro has a great understanding of men’s mental health issues, particularly those who have settled here from other countries as he has lived experience of this. Alvaro also volunteers at Coventry Peace House, acting as an adviser to male asylum seekers staying at the night shelter.​

Alvaro’s nominator described him as a “remarkable gentleman” and commended his awareness of mental health issues and emotional intelligence which helps him to connect with the people he supports.​

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