The award recognises the successful collaboration between MPFT teams and Sandbox digital mental health platform, provided by Mindler, to provide mental health support through a digital platform with the intention of improving experience and reducing inequalities for some of the most vulnerable in society.
Sandbox provides online mental health support for all children and young people in South Staffordshire and allows access to online support via an innovative gaming-based approach, provided in the right way and at the right time for the young person. This includes access to self-help mental health resources, mental health assessment, internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and one-to-one therapy.
Judges remarked: “This is a remarkable digital solution to a complex healthcare problem, impactfully reaching those affected by health inequalities. The judges were captivated by the evident wider benefits that this initiative promises to deliver. They were particularly impressed with the meticulous and thoughtful long-term plan presented for the continued development and expansion of this initiative.”
Claire Bailey, Managing Director of MPFT’s Children and Families Care Group said: “The COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for mental health services for children and young people and also changed how they engage with digital healthcare. Feedback from children and young people was integral in leading this opportunity to expand the support available online.
“Mental health is a serious issue affecting children and young people, who can feel stressed, lonely and frightened and often struggle to cope with the pressure they are feeling. Early intervention and support can make a massive difference and Sandbox offers easily accessible emotional health and wellbeing support for young people and their families in South Staffordshire.”
The team were also highly commended in the ‘Improving Mental Health through Digital’ award for their work on Sandbox.
Other successes for the Trust include the High Intensity Team who were finalists in two categories: ‘Connecting Health and Social Care through Digital’ and ‘Improving out of Hospital Care Through Digital’.
Working in partnership with the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and MySENSE, the team aim to reduce hospital admissions and length of stay by utilising remote monitoring of patients' health in the community.
Neil Carr, MPFT’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are immensely proud of the teams that were recognised at the HSJ Digital Awards. There is a great deal of work taking place in the Trust to enhance our digital offer which gives our service users new and convenient ways to access our services and receive care.
“The HSJ awards are one of the most esteemed accolades and there are hundreds of entries, so to be selected as a finalist is a huge achievement and to win is an endorsement of the commitment of our staff.”