Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2023 winners revealed

Hosted in London last night, the awards recognised individuals and organisations who have shown excellence in the field of workforce over the last year.

“The judges felt this also demonstrated impact, growth and scalability with sound underpinning data”

Award judges

Among the 17 categories were ones dedicated to diverse and inclusive employers, staff wellbeing programmes and individual trailblazers in nursing.

Winning the coveted Workforce Team of the Year award was the Isle of Wight NHS Trust for its Careers for Young People programme.

Of this, the judges said it was a “fantastic example of social value recruitment and developments”, and they reognised the lasting impact it would have on the local community on the island.

They added: “It speaks to education reform as well as transformation within the healthcare workforce. Our winner is an example of innovative change that paves the way for the workforce of the future.”

Christine Picton, of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, was recognised as Practice Educator of the World. Ms Picton was praised by the judges for having a “strong understanding” of the challenges of recruitment in her trust.

“Value and support was given to individuals, and the programme offered career progression, succession planning, promotion, care and compassion,” said the judges.

“[Her work] appeared sustainable and had potential for bigger picture and strategic impact.”

For its #StayAndThrive initiative, the NHS England North East and Yorkshire and South West regions and NHS England Retention Team won the award for Best Employer for Staff Recognition and Engagement.

This programme aims to improve internationally educated nurse retention by improving pastoral support and streamlining the integration process.

Of this initiative, judges said: “[It] utilised both a research-in-action and community approach, which demonstrated staff recognition and engagement to recruit and retain the international workforce.

“The judges felt this also demonstrated impact, growth and scalability with sound underpinning data. Great work!”

The full list of winners:

Best Employer for Diversity and Inclusion – Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Review, refresh and re-launch of staff equality networks

Best Employer for Staff Recognition and Engagement – NHS England North East and Yorkshire and South West regions, NHS England Retention Team: #StayAndThrive – international retention

Best International Recruitment Experience – Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust: Overseas recruitment and retention – for each internationally educated nurse to be thriving in their roles and supported from the outset

Best Recruitment Experience – North Central London Integrated Care System: Capital Nurse Graduate Guarantee Scheme

Best Social Responsibility Programme – Hywel Dda University Health Board: Cost savings and waste reduction through sustainable procurement

Best Staff Wellbeing Initiative – Swansea Bay University Health Board: Sharing HOPE – The art of healing together

Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff – Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust: Mental health and learning disability – health care assistant progression to registered nursing associate and registered nurse degree apprenticeship career pathway

Best Use of Workplace Technology – Spectrum Community Health Community Interest Company: Breaking free online

Best Workplace for Learning and Development – South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: Cancer Internship Programme

Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year – Michael Mark Dalauidao, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Manager of the Year (Non-clinical) – Ryan Burfoot, Practice Plus Group

Nurse Manager of the Year – Amy Dewhurst, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

Overseas Nurse of the Year – Paul John Alegado, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Practice Educator of the Year – Christine Picton, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Preceptor of the Year – Akeem Fernandez, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Preceptorship Programme of the Year – Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust: #PreceptorshipMatters

Workforce Team of the Year – Isle of Wight NHS Trust: Careers for Young People