Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating after becoming an award winner at the national Positive Practice Awards. The awards celebrate positive practice in mental health and are supported by NHS England.

The Care Trust was announced as the winner of the prestigious Crisis Care Pathway Award at the glittering awards ceremony.

A radical redesign of urgent mental health care in Bradford has resulted in people being cared for closer to home, with no out of area placements over the last 18 months, under the care of the Trust.

Following a redesign of services and the launch of the First Response service in February 2015, mental health crisis support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Accessed through a single phone number, people in crisis can ring for help from trained staff, who can identify the most appropriate course of action. This has resulted in patients getting the help they need within their own communities without having to travel long distances.

The service has made a significant difference to the local management of crisis care, in particular for the emergency services. Intervening early and signposting to the right services has reduced demand on the police, ambulance services and A&E departments.

The service is operated by the Trust in partnership with Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, Bradford City and Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Groups, City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, West Yorkshire Police, Haven, a day-time adult mental health service and Sanctuary, a night-time service developed with mental health charity Mind.

Debra Gilderdale, Interim Director of Operations and Nursing at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have won the Crisis Care Pathway Award. Winning this accolade reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment of all our staff and partners. Bringing this award back is a testament to Bradford’s commitment to providing the best possible care for the whole community.”

The care trust has been leading the way and cited as an example of best practice alongside the national five year forward view mental health taskforce report – published by NHS England. With the aim of fulfilling the vision to becoming a national centre of excellence for mental health, the Trust have been ensuring people get the right care, in the right place, with the right healthcare professional, close to home.