Health initiative to help children overcome sleeping difficulties scoops national HSJ accolade

A health service commissioned by NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group which helps children and young people overcome sleeping difficulties has scooped a prestigious national accolade.

The North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Sleep Service, delivered by The Sleep Charity, was “highly commended” in the Mental Health Innovation of the Year category at the HSJ Awards which recognise “diligence and commitment to the healthcare industry”.

Judges praised the CCG and The Sleep Charity for delivering improvements to children and young people’s sleep “through lived experience of parents and carers with sleep problems”.

They continued: “Particularly of note, was how the carers led discussions supported by clinicians. Good satisfaction was evidenced from families that received this service. A very good demonstration of partnership working involving the third sector. Really replicable. The judges particularly liked the behavioural interventions as well as coaching using a blended model approach that’s inclusive and diverse.”

The in-person awards ceremony took place at Evolution London in what was billed as an evening to celebrate “the very best in innovation, teamwork and empowering projects across the healthcare sector”.

With more than 1,000 entries across 23 categories, the awards drew attention to the “high-flyers” of healthcare excellence in both the NHS and its partners who strive to improve outcomes and services for patients and staff alike.

NHS North Yorkshire CCG was highly commended because of “a focus on excellence, conscientious hard work and the demonstrable positive impact” of the sleep service, which uses behavioural therapy, sleep clinics and workshops – rather than medication – to improve a child’s sleep health.

The CCG’s Accountable Officer, Amanda Bloor, said: “We are immensely proud of this accolade from the HSJ. Recognition of this calibre means a huge amount to everyone involved, and we are very confident the impact of being Highly Commended at the HSJ Awards will help us to continually develop and build upon a really positive and enduring legacy when we look to the future.”

Suzanne Bennett, NHS North Yorkshire CCG’s Head of Children and Young People’s Services for North Yorkshire, added: “Being amongst a remarkable cohort of nominees was a brilliant experience, and we are certain that this commendation will bolster our efforts moving forward and will motivate the team further in continually developing and improving our services.”

Vicki Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of The Sleep Charity, said: “I would like to thank the CCG for believing in our programme and investing time and effort to get this service off the ground in North Yorkshire.

“Being Highly Commended by the HSJ is a feather in our cap and a ringing endorsement of our work to improve the quality of sleep for hundreds of children and young people in North Yorkshire.”

HSJ Editor Alastair McLellan said: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to NHS North Yorkshire CCG. The quality and standard of nominees is outstanding and all those shortlisted – and who then went on to be highly commended – should be very proud of their contribution to healthcare excellence.

“We believe NHS North Yorkshire CCG holds the value of the HSJ Awards – in terms of sharing best practice, improving patient outcomes, and demonstrating innovation – at the centre of what it does.”

The full list of winners and highly commended categories for the HSJ Awards 2021 can be found on awards.hsj.co.uk/winners-2021