Last week, HCPA were the proud winners of a national award recognising our complex care projects.

As you may be aware, our complex care framework, together with your champions in various specialisms have been enormously successful in Hertfordshire, and the project, innovation and outcomes for service users have already previously been recognised county wide and beyond. This time, in partnership with HCC and EN Herts CCG, we were announced as winners at this year’s Health Service Journal (HSJ) ‘Value in Healthcare Awards’ in the Workforce Efficiency category.

We were shortlisted alongside projects from across the nation; Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Hampshire Constabulary and Isle of Wight NHS Trust with Wessex Academic Health Science Network, NHS wales Share Services Partnership, North Bristol Trust, North East London Foundation Trust, and Wirral Universities Hospitals Trust.

The judges’ decision was based on the evidence that our Complex Care training has proven to give care staff the confidence to handle more complex conditions, improve health and quality of life, and that the project has also proven to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital.

If you are not familiar with the programme, each Champion receives 18 days training in one of six specialist areas: dementia, nutrition, engagement and wellbeing, falls and fragility, wound management and health – including end of life, continence, neurological and respiratory conditions and can therefore ‘lead’ and teach on these areas in the home, each champion then also works together, creating a knowledgeable and skilled multi-disciplinary team in the home,

Since our training programme started in 2015 a total of 171 champions have been trained. As a result, hospital attendances/admissions from care homes have reduced and residents’ experiences have improved by being able to remain in their care home rather than going to hospital.

At HCPA, we are thrilled and proud of our team and our partners at East and North Herts CCG and Herts County Council for winning the award. To be recognised for the positive impact we have been able to make across Hertfordshire by working in collaboration with our partners is fantastic and a great achievement. The programme would not have been such an overwhelming success without the dedication of your care staff who have taken up Champion roles and worked tirelessly. They are the real heroes, putting the intensive training into practice and making a huge difference.

If you would like more information about how you can take part in our award winning training programme please get in touch via enquiries@hcpa.info or call us on 01707 536020.