National Award for ELFT Forensic Services

Colleagues and service users from the John Howard Centre have won a prestigious award for their work in developing an app for service users in hospital. Colleagues and service users from the Trust’s John Howard Centre (JHC) in Hackney have won a prestigious national award for their work in developing an app for service users in hospital.

Celebrating International Recruitment

The Trust hosted an inspiring and action-packed event celebrating international recruitment and professional development, highlighting its commitment to supporting a thriving, diverse workforce. The conference took place on Monday 25 November at Friends House. Since 2022, the Trust has successfully recruited 100s of nurses, AHPs and doctors from across the world to the Trust. The day began with welcomes from CEO Lorraine Sunduza OBE and Trust Chair Eileen Taylor delivered a warm welcome, followed by a keynote address from Deputy CEO Edwin Ndlovu, setting the tone for an engaging day.

Awards for Estates team

The Trust’s estates team have been named as winners in three categories at the prestigious national Building Better Healthcare (BBH) Awards. The team were named Estates and Facilities Team of the Year and took home gold awards in the ‘Best Patient Safety Initiative’ and ‘Patient’s Choice’ categories for their pioneering partnership mental health inpatient air quality work, described as the first programme of its kind in the UK. Director of Estates, Facilities and Capital Development, David Stevens, and Estates People Participation Lead, Gari Belasco, attended the ceremony on Wednesday, November 6, on the behalf of the team. They were presented with their awards on stage by host, comedian Mark Watson.

Living Wage Employer accreditation

The work of the Trust to pay staff according to the cost of living has been officially recognised. ELFT has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer by the Living Wage Foundation. It had pledged to provide a wage that helps people meet their everyday needs. That is now standard for all staff employed directly by the Trust. ELFT is also working with suppliers to ensure as many of them as possible do the same. As of 2024, 82 per cent of our suppliers pay the Real Living Wage, compared to just 22 per cent three years ago. The aim is for all suppliers to provide a real living wage by 2026. One of the Trust’s key successes has been in a new contract with OCS, a company providing services

like cleaning, catering and electrical services on ELFT sites, which began in 2022. The contract secured an increase in monthly take-home pay of nearly £185 for domestic cleaners and porters at the Trust. Policies on paid sickness and maternity leave have also been brought into line with NHS Terms and Conditions.

Pathways to Employment Event

A successful free event has been held to support Trust service users or carers in Bedfordshire and Luton interested in going into employment. On Tuesday 24 September, ELFT hosted a Pathways to employment event in Luton. The event offered information, help, guidance and workshops for CV writing. The event included speakers and a market place of stalls and workshops. It also involved partners from the Department for Work and Pensions, Compass Wellbeing, Shaw Trust, Richmond Fellowship, Mind BLMK, Carers Central, Carers in Bedford, Disability Resource Centre and the OCS Foundation. The day provided a valuable space for service users to understand People Participation more and to learn how it can support them in terms of returning to employment. There were excellent opportunities for professionals to network, colleagues agreed that many connections were made that will go a long way to help Bedfordshire and Luton communities to move forward. “A highlight of my day was a conversation with a Mum/carer who said the information she had learnt from the event, from stall holders, workshops and the lived experience speakers, would change her teenager’s life enormously for the better.” Millie Smith, Head of People Participation

Anti-Slavery Exhibition

ELFT Chief Executive, Lorraine Sunduza OBE, attended an art viewing in east London to mark Anti-Slavery Day 2024. ELFT partner Hestia hosted the private ‘Art is Freedom’ event at Tower Bridge House on Thursday, 17th October to raise awareness of the role we all play in ending modern slavery, which is still happening in all of our communities. Hestia delivers services across London for children and adults to tackle modern slavery, domestic abuse and mental health needs. Across 2023-24, Hestia has supported almost 250 individuals across Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets in its modern slavery work. Public artwork displays were showcased for two weeks throughout October to promote the anti-slavery theme, and each photo, painting and drawing was created by those who have experienced modern slavery. The private showing event provided an additional opportunity to bring together healthcare leaders from across London.