St Andrew's Healthcare shortlisted for two Nursing Times Awards for staff leadership and patient forum overhaul

St Andrew’s Healthcare has been shortlisted for two Nursing Times Awards for the leadership of one of its employees and for overhauls its patient forum.

Jodie Maloney, divisional head of nursing at the Northampton charity, has been shortlisted in the Nurse Leader of the Year category.

She started at the Billing Road mental health hospital in 2006 as a healthcare assistant and embarked on her nursing degree in 2009.

Associate medical director Pete McAllister, who nominated Jodie, explained: “Jodie Maloney is a force of nature.

"She exhibits fantastic leadership skills in her nursing role, both by developing fellow nurses, and by rolling up her own sleeves and getting stuck in!

“Her leadership potential was spotted soon after she joined the charity, and her adaptability and innovation, along with her upbeat spirit, energy and compassion, has seen her promoted through the ranks.

"In her role as head of nursing, Jodie now leads the care of over 120 inpatients who require specialist mental healthcare."

Additionally, St Andrew’s patient engagement team have been shortlisted in the Nursing in Mental Health category, for it s recent shake-up of the patient forum.

The forum provides an opportunity for patients to share their voices with charity leaders, in order to make changes.

Head of patient engagement Nicola Lintott said: “Our patient forum is fundamental to the smooth running and improvement of our hospitals.

"It’s vital that those who are detained under the Mental Health Act have their voices heard and acted on, so that things can change and progress.

"We’ve even had patients who cannot read or write take part and chair meetings, which provides them with a voice they otherwise wouldn’t have had.

“Patient involvement is not something which can be tokenistic and we’re truly delighted that this initiative has been recognized by the Nursing Times.”

The Nursing Times Awards features 23 categories, and aims to recognise the amazing work that nurses do, day in day out, in order to support the people in their care.

Editor Steve Ford said: “Congratulations to all our shortlisted entrants and thank you to everyone who has entered the 2020 Nursing Times Awards.

“The challenge of tackling Covid-19, coming as it has during the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, has showcased the great work and innovation of nurses in every setting across the UK.

“The Nursing Times Awards provides us with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the profession’s exceptional achievements in a very difficult year, and I look forward to announcing the winners,” he said.

Finalists will find out if they have won at the awards ceremony on October 14.