The Practice Development Education team for Children’s Services at University Hospitals Sussex has been awarded the NHS South East Nursing and Midwifery Green Week award for Clinical Leadership, Systems and Workforce.
The award recognises the team’s efforts to deliver a green education programme for NHS staff, led by Sadie Sullivan, Practice Development Nurse. The initiative helps improve knowledge to provide effective, safe and compassionate care to children and young people, who are being treated in hospital and have mental health concerns.
Sadie, explains further: “Working in collaboration with colleagues in nursing, medicine, mental health, safeguarding and security, we are proud to deliver a holistic educational programme for colleagues across UHSussex caring for children and young people with mental health needs in acute settings.”
“We delivered a varied curriculum for colleagues to understand, assess and manage concerns when caring for patients with mental health problems, to implement guidance in policies and to feel confident and empowered to deliver accurate and safe support in challenging circumstances.”
The programme took place over the course of five days at Arundel Wildfowl and Wetland Nature Reserve; chosen due its natural landscape and an opportunity for staff to access nature when learning about and discussing difficult and emotive subjects.
Research suggests a positive association between learning in a natural environment, the calming properties of this as well as the wellbeing effects of spending time in nature can reduce feelings of stress, make you feel more relaxed and connected to others.
“The natural environment was reviewed by attendees as incredibly positive, with feedback identifying it was a reflective environment that offered connection, restoration and calmness.” Sadie adds.
The programme which embodies the Trust’s Patient First, Planet First green plan, has been accepted for presentation at the Royal College of Nursing Education Conference in York this April.
Reflecting on the team’s green achievement and innovative approach, Roxanne Smith, Chief Strategy Officer and newly appointed Executive Lead for Environmental Sustainability at University Hospital Sussex comments:
“It is fantastic that Sadie and the team have been acknowledged for their sustainable thinking and improvement project which has been recognised by an NHS England Regional Award.”
“Sustainability is vital in healthcare and the work our colleagues are doing plays a huge part in our approach to become a greener NHS Trust to improve the care for our patients and planet.”
“One of our Trust strategies involves empowering our people to embrace and work towards sustainable change, and it is great to see a programme of work focusing on improving our young patients’ quality of care with the environment playing a key role in this.”
The programme was the first cohort of four running this year and has been praised as a huge success, leading to innovative ideas for development in the course itself and in practice to improve the quality of care for patients.