TWO amazing Basingstoke staff have been honoured as Southern Health announced winners of its Star Awards to recognise NHS teams and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their care for patients.

Tracey Hollis, a senior support worker at Hazel ward at Parklands Hospital, and Elsie Chizana, the nurse team lead at Hazel ward at Parklands Hospital, are two of the 12 winners of the annual Star Awards held in July - the NHS’ 75th birthday month.

While Tracey won the people first award, Elise grabbed the respect and inclusion award at an event held at the Winchester Guildhall.

In total, more than 650 nominations were received from staff, patients, families, and members of the public.

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A team of judges then had the difficult task of selecting a shortlist of 58 finalists across 12 categories, based on Southern Health’s core values - people first, partnership working and respect.

Elsie was nominated by her ward manager Charlotte Dodd, who said that she stood bravely to create a change in culture when the Hazel ward psychiatric intensive care unit was experiencing a consistently high rate of racial abuse incidents.

Charlotte wrote in the nomination: “We used to think comments like 'they are unwell they don't mean it' was helpful or felt we didn't have the education or the words to be able to offer support so we stayed quiet, not realising this was part of the problem.

“Elsie created a 'Safe Space' for everyone to learn from each other, ask questions and make mistakes. This has allowed for open sharing, open receiving, mutual understanding, acknowledgement and then, if appropriate, shared problem-solving.

“It has also enabled people to be heard, validated and feel safe to respectfully express their experiences.  We are not expecting the gold standard, and we are not expecting it to no longer happen, but she has worked so hard to improve the support, the culture, and the understanding that staff do not come to work to be racially abused, making Hazel Ward that much of a better place to be."

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Tracey's nominator wrote: “Tracey is the physical embodiment of one of our core Trust values: people first. Although I would go further, not only does Tracey keep the people who we care for at the centre of all the work she does - she values everybody.

“Tracey advocates for our patients like no other. Fearlessly and tirelessly making sure that we deliver a high level of care. Never afraid to challenge behaviours that fall short of this ideal. Taking new members of staff under her wing, sharing with them the Hazel Ward ethos which has led to us being recognised (not for the first time either) as champions of least restrictive care - having the lowest level of seclusions in our area.

“I'd love to give you further examples (of which there are too many to count) but I doubt there would be enough time to do her justice and, knowing Tracey as I do, I wouldn't like to offend her modesty.”

The full list of winners are:

· Working in partnership: Alpa Raja, service development lead for the memory assessment research centre, Southampton

· Respect and inclusion: Elsie Chizana, nurse lead team, Hazel Ward, Parklands Hospital, Basingstoke

· Developing others: Matt Burdock, principle clinical psychologist, Leigh House general adolescent unit, Winchester

· Supporting wellbeing: Stephanie Llewellyn and Rachael Smart, the Willow group, Gosport

· IRIS (voted by staff): Ellie Hickman, mother and baby unit, Melbury Lodge, Winchester

· You Shine: Michelle Lansley, specialist health visitor for vulnerable families, Gosport health visiting team, Gosport

· People first (nominated by patients): Tracey Hollis, senior support worker, Hazel ward, Parklands Hospital, Basingstoke

· Southern Health ambassador: Anne Cato, volunteer from working in partnership group, representing St Denys Activity Group, Portswood

· Unsung hero: Darren Alderson-Hall, health visiting area manager for children’s and families services in West Hampshire

· Team of the year: Lyndhurst ward, Ravenswood Hospital, Fareham

· Rising star: Shannen Rees, mental health nurse, Leigh House, Winchester

· Lifetime achievement: Dr Martin Brown, psychiatrist in Southeast Hampshire; and Jenny Walsh, clinical lead for perinatal mental health across Southeast Hampshire.

Southern Health’s chief executive Ron Shields said: “Every nomination reflects the compassion, enthusiasm and commitment our staff provide to the people they support every day. I really am honoured to lead an organisation with such caring, talented and innovative people who are committed to delivering the best possible care. It goes without saying that I am immensely proud of each and every one of them.”