A whopping 1,100 staff attended the 2023 ELFT Staff Awards ceremony and party to celebrate colleagues who provide exceptional support to service users and colleagues.  

Nineteen awards were presented to outstanding individuals and teams, with the event attended by health and social care professionals from all corners of the Trust.

Comperes on the night were interim chief executive Lorraine Sunduza (pictured) and chief people office Tanya Carter.

“ELFT would not be what it is without its amazing people – we could not do what we do without you,” said Lorraine.

Proceedings opened with a performance by #ELFTin1Voice, a choir made up of staff and service users joined by the Sing Tower Hamlets Choir. 

They performed an uplifting mash-up of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and Rise Up - to a moving gallery of images of life and staff from across the Trust.

How does it feel to win the award?

I feel privileged and it's a humbling feeling to be nominated. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. I owe it all to my Northeast District Nursing team, my mentors, my locality manager, and certainly to my team leader, Benedeth. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank God for giving me the courage, the strength and tenacity to be working in this nursing workforce.

Could you explain the work you do?

My work consists of preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and bringing the hospital to patients’ homes. They can escalate them to us so we can provide the appropriate treatment and equipment.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy everything from the challenges to the good feedback, but first and foremost, patient satisfaction. As nurses, we've got the ability to empower and educate patients. It's rewarding when a patient understands their diagnosis, care plan, and needs holistically including psychological and religious aspects.

When a patient says "Nurse, I'm happy, thank you," it gives me a good feeling to know I made a difference. The other aspect of my job that I love is good leadership and team dynamics. I owe it all to Benedeth. She is the embodiment of a great leader. I want to thank her for her guidance, tutelage and for giving me the opportunity to learn from her to achieve my potential in my personal and goals.

Would you recommend the Trust as a workplace to other healthcare professionals?

Certainly. I am a living testament of the Trust's vision and values. The Trust planted a seed in me and allowed me to flourish. I feel I am the product of the Trust's investment in my potential. Here, dreams become reality - if you aspire to something, the Trust empowers you to achieve it.

My husband works for a university hospital in Croydon and tries to convince me they are the best. I say "We are big on wellness, health and wellbeing so East London all the way." I commute a long way to work at East London and have been offered jobs closer to home, but East London is where I'm progressing upwards in my career. My career has blossomed here.

Who is your inspiration?

As the first child in my Jamaican family, I was automatically given the role of caregiver. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare. After migrating to this country and working as a senior support worker, I felt something was missing. That's when I joined the NHS, first with Barts and then East London.

My true inspiration is Benedeth Obiozor. When it seemed there was no way forward, Bernie believed in me. She said "You've got ability and potential - get up and do it, you can do it!" Bernie was always behind me, pushing me to reach my full potential. She is the one who inspired me to achieve my aspirations in nursing.

How does it feel to have been recognised by your team and the Trust with the award?

I feel really proud and it is very humbling.
Knowing that nominations came from colleagues, people I would not be able to do my job without, means an awful lot. 

What is it like working to support children and young people?

To have the opportunity to work with children and also families is an absolute privilege.
I always say to the team ‘let’s deliver this service like it is your child, niece or nephew and with the standard of care and attention you would want for your loved ones’.  

What changes are you seeing in the needs of service users?

We are definitely seeing more children and young people present with emotional problems and with complex family and environmental factors that can make the problem more challenging.  

What do you see as the next steps in mental health support for children and young people?

We definitely need to make the mental health of children everyone’s business and reach into our communities, strengthening partnership working with agencies such as local authorities. Within the CAMHS crisis service we continue to develop care that avoids the need for admission to an inpatient unit where possible.
We continue to strengthen the quality of the home treatment we offer and we provide Young Person’s Sanctuaries in partnership with Mind BLMK.  

Why do you do your job?

Working with amazing colleagues and service users gets me out of bed and motivated every day.  

WATCH an interview with Matt

LISTEN to a CAMHS podcast special edition about the Young People’s Sanctuaries

Can you tell us a bit about your role within ELFT?

I’m a children’s physiotherapist based at West Ham Lane Health Centre and see children from 0-19. I predominately work in schools and see children that require physio. The children may have a standing frame, a walker or require a physio programme. I support all staff with training in how to manage that.

My main focus is my baby clinic: Let’s Start, which is a multi-disciplinary team appointment. It includes speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. 

ELFT Charity were an integral part in receiving funding for Let’s Start, I am highly grateful to them. Let’s Start deals with babies that are highlighted from hospital as high risk infants. We see them as a combined appointment to support parents, give them advice and monitor the child and refer them to any necessary referrals if need them 

Would you say the role itself is rewarding? Are there any aspects of the role that you particularly love? 

Every day is different in my job and that is what I love! Even though you may have planned clinics or the school days, it is always unpredictable.

There are some days where I help children to take their first steps. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing that. The job does have its challenges. For example within the baby clinic, we’re seeing children that are likely going to need input from therapy for the rest of their childhood. It is immensely important to build those relationships with parents, who are likely to be there for their children. However, despite these challenges, the job is hugely rewarding. 

How did it feel to win the award?

It was a complete shock! I’ve been working here for the last nine years and attended every awards ceremony held by the trust, I’m always struck by how big the trust is. SCYPS is such a small team so just to be nominated is such an honour. I said on the night, I must thank Rufus Luther (a physiotherapist) who referred me, I don’t think even he thought that I would get it! My wish is that the win brings attention to the whole of children’s services. 

Would you recommend the trust as a place to work for other health care professionals? 

I have been here nine years in January. This award is a brilliant way to celebrate, a lot of my physio team have been here a long time. I would highly recommend ELFT. There isn’t a place like Newham and once you’re there it is very hard to leave! The families and children that we are lucky enough to work with are amazing. 

ELFT charity have also supported my work within Let’s Start massively. I have a really supportive team and a fantastic manager.  SCYPS is a fantastic team.

What is the role of a social worker within the community mental health hub?

I work to support individuals to meet their wellbeing needs alongside the hub’s wider multi-disciplinary team. I look at social work needs in terms of accommodation or substance misuse and how those issues might be affecting the mental health of service users. 

What is it like being part of an integrated team?

Being part of an integrated team and going through the community mental health transformation programme has beena really positive experience.I previously worked in the criminal justice system and at times it felt that professionals were kept separate. The hub feels more cohesive, joined-up and feels more like a family than a team.

Why do you do the job?

I do the job because I care. I am a local Luton girl and I grew up in Luton. I have worked in the criminal justice system but I wanted to expand who I could help and how. A social worker will work with any needs that a person might have. I want to really support the people that I work with. 

What it it like being recognised with an ELFT Staff Award 2023?

As full of gratitude as I am, I do think a lot of the skills I have acquired are a reflection of the team and family structure that exists within the hub.
It’s great but I want to massively shout out to the other members of staff who have been core in terms of my development. 

FACTFILE:
Katrice is a member of the Think Ahead programme, which trains mental health social workers every year. Think Ahead graduates at ELFT gain on-the-job experience combined with academic learning.

WATCH an interview with Katrice