SIM bags award and high commendation at HSJ Patient Safety Awards

A pioneering project, which integrates mental health care and policing on the Isle of Wight, has tonight - Tuesday, 4th July – scooped an award and been highly commended at the national Patient Safety Awards held in Manchester.

The Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) project, run by Hampshire Constabulary and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, and supported by Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), won the Managing Long Term Conditions award and were highly commended for Best Product/ Innovation for Patient Safety (public sector). 

Of the project, the judges said, "This is an excellent demonstration of cross public sector working, tackling long standing issues and managing a significant large scale cultural change between services and client."

The SIM initiative, which began on the Isle of Wight, brings together the experience and expertise of police colleagues and healthcare professionals.

This provides a focused approach towards helping an individual realise and recover from the unique issues affecting their behaviour and lifestyle.

On the Isle of Wight, SIM was effective in transforming the lives of people in high intensity mental health situations, and reducing crisis calls to police.

SIM - which previously won a Royally-endorsed national health award, two HSJ value in healthcare awards and is one of this year’s NHS England National Innovation Accelerator Fellows was recognised as being effective at bringing together policing and healthcare skills to achieve a positive difference to the lives of mental health patients and their families.

For more information on SIM visit: https://highintensitynetwork.org/

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