TRIBUTE has been paid to care trust staff for their achievements this year.

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust staged an event recognising the contribution of those whose work has won – or been nominated for – awards.

Among those to be congratulated was the safety risk and resilience team from Heather Ward at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health, based in the grounds of Airedale Hospital.

It became the region's first hospital ward to be accredited for the quality of its so-called safety huddles, by the Yorkshire Academic Health Science Network Improvement Academy.

The ward's twice-daily 'mini meetings' allow all staff to share information, with the aim of better supporting patients that day and improving safety.

This year, the team was also shortlisted for two national patient safety awards, in one case being highly commended.

Assistant ward manager, Katie Eacret, said: "Being the first ward to receive regional accreditation, and national recognition, is a huge achievement for all the team.

"Safety huddles have changed how we manage risk and the way we support people daily.

"They provide an important space for discussion, where all staff in our team can manage safety on the wards."

There was also recognition for the trust's health and safety team.

It received a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents gold award for its occupational health and safety standards.

The trust has now been honoured for nine consecutive years in the awards, achieving gold for the past three.

Staff from Lynfield Mount Hospital in Bradford were congratulated on their National Service User Award, given for the annual music festival Lynfest.

And other accolade winners included therapy support worker Helen Roberts, regional winner of the Our Health Hero Award; the specialist services team, recipient of the Kate Granger Compassion in Practice Award, and the district nursing team, which was highly commended in the national Health Tech Newspaper Impact of the Year Awards.

Trust chairman, Michael Smith, said: "I'm delighted that staff have been recognised by so many different awards' bodies this year.

"It just goes to show that all our staff are dedicated to going the extra mile to make our trust an excellent place to work, and more importantly an excellent provider of care.

"Myself and the rest of the board are incredibly proud of all the hard work that is put in every day."