Staff from Bow Ward at the John Howard Centre could not believe their ears when they heard their name called as the winner of the Nursing Times Nursing in Mental Health Award.

The award ceremony took place on 26 October to recognise dedication and celebrate exceptional achievement. Bow Ward were singled out for their trauma informed care approach to looking after their female patients.

The audience heard that the judges regarded the service as a totally person-centred and nurse-led service. Aimed at reducing the high rates of trauma in both staff and patients in the adult mental health forensic ward, this service led to improved staff satisfaction, improved equity, and created a positive and warm environment for patients. The judges thought it was clear that staff members and service users were valued as unique human beings and felt it had achieved amazing outcomes for both groups.

Steve Ford, editor of Nursing Times, said:

“The Nursing Times Awards showcase the innovation and best practice of nurses and midwives across the UK, providing an opportunity to celebrate and share all that is good about the nursing profession.

“The quality of entries is consistently high each year and to be shortlisted, let alone win a category, is a great achievement that marks out individuals and teams as truly special and ground-breaking in their area of work.