For immediate publication

18 October 2018

Celebrating the best of CNWL at London staff conference

A woman whose work has helped in dramatically improving rates of new arrivals at HMP Woodhill being tested for Blood Borne Viruses was among eight award winners at a staff conference promoting innovation and wellbeing.

Michele Dowling, the Quality and Performance Manager at HMP Woodhill Primary Care Team, won the Award for Excellence in Innovation. 

She joined with more than 190 CNWL staff who took time out from their busy schedule to listen to presentations about wellbeing and innovation and also to take part in an awards ceremony to take part in workshops during the event in London.

As a result of her work, the take up of BBV testing of men newly arriving at HMP Woodhill being screened for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV had risen to 92 per cent by the end of the first quarter. At least 75 per cent of men newly entering into HMP Woodhill have to be tested.

This is a National and Trust Key Performance Indicator as well as a Public Health priority.

Part of her nomination read: "Through Michele's enthusiasm, listening and making the project, challenges and solutions meaningful for the team, there has been whole team involvement and fantastic results in a quicker time than initially anticipated.

"This is, of course, great to report back to commissioners, but more importantly has contributed to the health of our population. A number of men have been identified and treated with Hep C that may not have been without robust testing."

The event also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the NHS. Staff also listened to a presentation from keynote speaker Darrell Woodman, from Art of Brilliance, who spoke about positive thinking.

Students from the West London College provided massages throughout the day, while staff also had the chance to take part in a hula competition.

Divisional Director Graeme Caul said: "Our staff do amazing work day in and day out, supporting hundreds of thousands of people each year. The Diggory Festival was our opportunity as a Division and as a Trust to say thankyou to all of them - those who attended and those who continued supporting patients.

"To me, our staff are all winners. Well done all of you." 

Other winners were:-

• Tasman Ward, which received the Student Placement Award - Nursing.  Its nomination read: "Students consistently positively evaluate their placement experience on Tasman Ward.  Although the environment on Tasman can be stressful and challenging the team are committed, professional and support to all students to ensure they have a good learning experience."
• The Sexual Health/HIV Undergraduate Team, which received the Medical Student Placement Award. Part of its nomination read: "The team is renowned in the medical school for its adoption of innovative and effective teaching techniques. In particular the use of  team-based-learning, have been repeatedly praised by students, the pioneering of multi-source feedback to inform end of module grading, and most recently the team has been awarded funding from UCLMS to introduced simulated sexual history taking teaching for undergraduates from 2018-19 onwards."
• The Results Management Team, which was presented with the Sexual Health Service Director Award. Part of their nomination read: "They are key to identifying problems with results management quickly and are always the first to engage with finding solutions."
• Julia Hookway, the Integrated Substance Misuse Service Lead at HMP Winchester, was presented with the Director's Award  for "going above and beyond her job remit to ensure consistent patient care and that CNWL  staff feel supported at HMP Winchester."
• Sally Dyson, from the Addictions Service, received the Service Director Award. Her nomination read: "Sally is probably one of the few Service Director's PA's who is well known to many of the Addictions service users and is highly respected by them. If you need a job done Sally will do it, often with an forthright opinion!!"
• Dr Indrajit Ghosh, from Sexual Health Services, was given the Excellence in Wellbeing Award. Part of his nomination read: "His passion and zeal for delivering care to those most at need is truly inspiring and he creates a culture within the service that all staff feel part of a cutting edge service that is at the forefront of innovative care that makes a difference. To deliver this service, he often works beyond expectations and is a popular teacher to all those who work within the service."
• The Strategic Service User Group - made up of addictions service users and peer support workers who come together monthly to plan and develop service innovations and projects - received the Volunteers of the Year Award. Part of its nomination read: "This group has worked extremely hard this year and often in their own time showing enormous commitment and enthusiasm. The Addictions Management Team would like to proudly acknowledge their dedication and on-going support to voice the service users' perspectives.

Editors' notes

Photo of Michele attached along with general pics from the festival

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