We’re super excited to launch our STSFT Recognition Awards for 2025!
Nominations are now open and will close on Friday 6th December.
Our glittering celebration event will take place on Friday 4th April 2025, at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland.
Last year we introduced some brand new categories. We also split some of our previous categories. This is so that colleagues working in clinical, community, corporate and support roles, each have their own award. We're also introducing a new award for 2025, the Sustainability Award.
All STSFT and CHoICE colleagues are eligible to nominate and be nominated. There is a general criteria for all nominations, as well as a specific criteria for each award category. The judges will be looking to make sure all entries meet both the general criteria and the criteria specific to the award category you are entering.
General criteria for all nominations:
- Exceptional quality above and beyond what is expected of their role. You need to be able to demonstrate that the nominee has gone the extra mile.
- Enthusiasm and commitment to the Trust and its goals.
- A sustained contribution over a period of time.
- Achieving our vision of ‘Excellence in all that we do’.
Top tips for writing your nomination:
- Keep it simple, avoid jargon and acronyms
- Read the criteria and provide relevant examples
- Tell a story. Make the judges want to read more
- Tell us about the results/impact. Why does the person(s) deserve an award?
Scroll down to read the important information and specific criteria on each category, simply click on the category name.
Submit your nominations by completing the form at the bottom of this page in full.
Customer Service Award
This award recognises outstanding customer service. This is a team or individual who puts patient experience at the heart of all they do. They listen, respect and respond to feedback and regularly help to improve the experience of those who use our services. This could be patients, carers, families or other colleagues across the Trust.
Key things we look for:
- How does the team / person dedicate themselves to helping customers?
- Examples of how they regularly go above and beyond?
- Evidence of the improvement (stats, feedback etc).
Care and Compassion Award
This award recognises outstanding care and compassion. It is designed to celebrate those who are not only renowned for their commitment to patient care, but who show a level of compassion that simply stands out. This person will be known for not only being great at their job, but the one that consistently goes the extra mile to help patients / carers / visitors and colleagues.
The judging panel welcomes entries from all colleagues.
Key things we look for:
- Evidence of exceptional care and compassion within the nomination.
- Outstanding examples that show how the person / team goes the extra mile.
- How care and compassion has made an impact on patients, carers / visitors and colleagues.
Team of the Year (Frontline, Clinical and Clinical Support)
This award is dedicated to a team who works together to deliver outstanding care and support across our hospital sites. They have all the elements of a high performing team that consistently gives the very best to patients, families and colleagues. They show true team working and make sure that the needs of patients are at the forefront of all decisions.
Key things we look for:
- How they work as a team to achieve excellent practice.
- How they have improved performance or service as a result of multi-disciplinary team working.
- Examples of significant achievement and commitment.
Unsung Hero (Frontline, Clinical and Clinical Support)
This category recognises the outstanding practice of a member of staff working across our hospital sites. We want to know about the person you simply could not do without! Who is highly regarded by everyone around them. Who consistently makes a positive contribution and acts as a role model. They can be in a clinical or support role, but must demonstrate significant improvements to patient care and experience.
Key things we look for:
- Examples of excellent practice that show how the person goes the extra mile.
- How care and compassion has made an impact on patients, carers / relatives and colleagues.
- Testimonials / stats that show us the impact this person has made.
Team of the Year (Support and Corporate Services)
This award is dedicated to a team who working in our support and corporate services. They have all the elements of a high performing team and consistently work to the very highest standards and maintain essential services that support colleagues, patients and carers / families. They show true team working and make sure that the needs of patients are at the forefront of all decisions.
Key things we look for:
- How they work as a team to achieve excellent practice.
- How they have improved performance or service as a result of multi-disciplinary team working.
- Examples of significant achievement and commitment.
Unsung Hero (Support and Corporate Services)
This category recognises outstanding practice of a member of staff working in our support and corporate services. We want to know about the person you simply could not do without! Who is highly regarded by everyone around them. Who consistently makes a positive contribution and acts as a role model. The nomination should show the impact that the person has within their role, but also how it supports improvements to patient care and experience.
Key things we look for:
- Examples of excellent practice that show how the person goes the extra mile.
- How care and compassion has made an impact on patients, carers / relatives and colleagues.
- Testimonials / stats that show us the impact this person has made.
Team of the Year (Community and Community Support)
This award is dedicated to a team who delivers care and support in our local communities. They have all the elements of a high performing team who consistently gives the very best to patients, families and colleagues. They show true team working and make sure that the needs of patients are at the forefront of all decisions.
Key things we look for:
- How they work as a team to achieve excellent practice.
- How they have improved performance or service as a result of multi-disciplinary team working.
- Examples of significant achievement and commitment.
Unsung Hero (Community and Community Support)
This category recognises outstanding practice of a member of staff working in our community teams. We want to know about the person you simply could not do without! Who is highly regarded by everyone around them. Who consistently makes a positive contribution and acts as a role model. They can be in a clinical or support role, but must demonstrate improvements to patient care and experience.
Key things we look for:
- Examples of excellent practice that show how the person goes the extra mile.
- How care and compassion has made an impact on patients, carers / relatives and colleagues.
- Testimonials / stats that show us the impact this person has made.
Innovation Award
This award recognises a team or individual who is a true ambassador for innovation within STSFT. They champion innovative practice. This could be by supporting and delivering novel approaches to problem solving that helps us transform healthcare services. It could also be improving patient care, safety or staff experience through new pathways, technology or products. The panel will be looking for evidence of a positive and sustained impact.
Key things we look for:
- How the innovation had a positive impact.
- How the impact is measured and used to make further improvements.
- How is learning / success shared?
- How they are working to champion innovation in their own areas of work and across the Trust.
Research Award
This award honours a team or individual who has enhanced the research reputation of the Trust through their significant contribution. They will work hard to build a culture where research is seen as business as usual. They will have made a demonstrable impact either within or outside of the organisation. This will have contributed to improving patient care, safety or staff experience. The panel will be looking for evidence of a positive and sustained impact.
Key things we look for:
- How the research had a positive impact.
- How the impact is measured and used to make further improvements.
- How is learning / success shared?
- How they are working to champion research in their own areas of work and across the Trust.
Sustainability Award
This award recognises an individual or team who takes action for a more sustainable future. This could be by reducing the Trust’s impact on the environment and taking action to make a change; making the most of technology to improve patient care; helping keep our buildings and facilities fit for purpose; or making sure we get the best value for money.
Key things we look for:
- Examples of work, projects of initiatives that show exemplary work to make the Trust more sustainable.
- Ways in which the person or team champion sustainability across the Trust and embed it into business as usual.
- Examples of innovation or partnerships that are having a positive impact on our local communities and wider NHS.
Leadership Award
This is awarded to someone who shows exceptional leadership skills. Who is compassionate, inspirational and embodies the values and behaviours of our organisation. The nominee does not have to be in a management role, but evidence of leadership, impact and how they help others to be the best they can be must be demonstrated.
Key things we look for:
- How performance has improved due to their contribution and leadership.
- How they have led through organisational development and change.
- How they encourage and motivate colleagues to develop and achieve organisational goals.
- How they promote equality, diversity and an open and honest culture where colleagues feel empowered to speak up and take action.
Outstanding Contribution Award
This award recognises someone who is known for their outstanding contribution to the Trust over a sustained period of time. They will motivate and inspire others within their own working area and beyond. This is an individual who is known as a ‘go to’ person. They embody our values and behaviours and champion outstanding services and patient care each day in all they do. Most importantly they know how to inspire this way of working in others too.
Key things we look for:
- Evidence of outstanding contribution to services and patient care.
- Testimonials / stats that support the nomination.
- Examples of excellence over a sustained period of time.
- The impact of their work within their own area as well as others.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is for someone who has dedicated their working life to the NHS. They will have spent most, if not all of their career in healthcare and achieved long service of 20 years and over. This individual will have seen and championed significant change. They will use their experience to mentor and support colleagues and to continually maintain excellent standards of care, while embracing new and innovative practice.
Key things we look for:
- Examples of mentoring, coaching and sharing experience.
- A track record of excellence at the Trust and our wider NHS.
- Career history which outlines contribution to patients, carers / families and colleagues.
Rising Star Award
We are looking for someone who has joined the Trust in the last two years and is already making a real impression. They show early promise in their career and takes initiative to achieve above and beyond what’s expected. This could be someone currently in training or an apprenticeship. They’ll already be flagged as a future potential leader and will hold respect from peers across all levels of the organisation.
Key things we look for:
- Examples of achievements to date.
- Testimonials / stats that support their contribution.
- Details of continuous professional development.
Championing Equality Award
This award recognises an individual, team or group who promotes equality, diversity and inclusion across our Trust. They will champion equality and diversity issues and create an inclusive culture by challenging inequalities, barriers and bias. They will lead in their work with positive action to improve the experience for patients, carers / families and colleagues.
Key things we look for:
- Examples of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives that have resulted in positive change for patients, carers / families and colleagues.
- Campaigns, recruitment strategies, policies or strategies that champion diversity and inclusion.
- How equality, diversity and inclusion has been built into everyday practice with learning shared across the organisation.
- Specific work / projects that had engaged people with protected characteristics or harder to reach groups and led to improvements.
