Sheffield’s Team Around the Person (TAP) initiative, developed through a collaboration between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield City Council, Primary Care and other public service providers across the city, has reached the finals of the prestigious Nursing Times Awards.
The initiative has been shortlisted for HRH The Prince of Wales Award for Integrated Approaches to Care, recognising the teams shared commitment to transforming healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes through collaborative, person-centered care.
TAP works by bringing together the unique insights of all individuals involved in supporting a person with complex needs, including healthcare professionals, social workers, community organisations and the individual themselves. By jointly problem-solving TAP moves away from a siloed approach to patient care, addressing the complex needs of each person by integrating services, fostering collaboration, and identifying any gaps in provision.
The initiative was created by individuals with lived experience, as well as colleagues from various sectors including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Community Services, Sheffield City Council, Adult Social Care, Housing, GPs, District Nurses, Therapists, Yorkshire Ambulance service, South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, community organisations and charities.
Zania Stevens, Interim Head of Communities at Sheffield City Council and lead for the TAP initiative said: We are extremely honoured to be shortlisted for this award, to be shortlisted is a testament to the hard work of TAP and professionals who work tirelessly to support individuals in achieving outcomes. TAP was developed under a shared vision that together we can work with individuals better, something that this partnership approach makes a reality.
Helen Chapman, Head of Integrated Community Care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are thrilled that the TAP initiative has been recognised in this way for such a respected award. At Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we continuously strive to put individuals at the centre of their care and this recognition highlights our shared commitment to transforming healthcare delivery in Sheffield.”
Dr Lucy Cormack, Medical Director at Primary Care Sheffield, said: “It is no surprise that TAP has been recognised in these prestigious awards. It has been a privilege to be involved in its development and see first hand the huge impact this has had for patients, families and the broad range of professionals involved in their care. I know my Primary Care colleagues will agree when I say its success highlights once again the value of our person-centred care and the power we have to make a difference through strong partnership working.”
Two other teams from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals have also been shortlisted for a Nursing Times Award including the Multiple Sclerosis Pregnancy Project and the Stroke Trial Tracker.
Winners will be announced on Wednesday 25 October at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
