WINNER

Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust

MRAP – Minimal Risk Activity Packs

MRAPs were created to facilitate effective Occupational Therapy interventions to patients often excluded due to the high risks they present (ie women who self-harm). They are a selection of creative, self-care, sensory and distractional items designed to alleviate boredom, ground distressed patients, promote inclusion, and convey care and compassion. Activities have low risk of sharps or ligatures and are designed for use in acute psychiatric settings. During the pilot, there was a significant reduction in self-harm and other benefits, including a reduction in the use of restrictive practice and improved service-user wellbeing and experience.

Read a detailed case study about this project at HSJ Best Practice.

Highly commended

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust: Improving Mental Health Clinical Risk Assessment and Safety Planning

Finalists

One Community Network – Central North West FT: One Community – A Thriving Vibrant Social Network

South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust: Advancing Patient Safety Through Service Development in a National Specialist Deaf Inpatient Mental Health Unit

Surrey & Borders Partnership FT: Reducing Enhanced Observations: Sustaining Safety, Reducing Restrictive Practices and Improving Quality of Care

Advanced Life Support Group: Raising the Standard: CYP APEx – A National Training Model for Safer CYP Mental Health Crisis Care

Primary Care Gambling Service: Safer NHS Care Through Integrated Gambling Harm Support

Lancashire and South Cumbria FT – Skylark Ward: Transforming Physical Healthcare in Mental Health Inpatient Services: The Skylark MDT Lester Huddle

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust: Experience of Care – Trust Wide Lived Experience Group, from Insight to Impact

Topics

HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026: Winners revealed

HSJ-Patient-Safety-Awards-704x385-1 (1)

The winners of the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026 were announced last night, recognising outstanding efforts to make care safer.