Learning Disability website wins Highly Commended award at HSJ Patient Safety Awards

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust recently launched their Connect website made specifically for children, young people, adults with learning disabilities and their families. Last night the team brought home the Highly Commended award in the category of Learning Disability Initiative of the Year at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards for the project.

Representatives from the team behind the website, alongside other teams from the Trust shortlisted for the awards, attended the HSJ Patient Safety Awards ceremony in Manchester. These awards are amongst the most coveted across health and social care organisations for their recognition of exceptional patient safety and care. More than an awards programme, they provide a platform to showcase the most impactful projects, best practice initiatives and transformative innovations shaping the future of NHS care.

The Connect website represents a digital innovation for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities. However, the awards have specifically recognised the website for its excellence in the field of learning disabilities.

Connect was developed to centralise service information and created specifically for service users and their families, making it easier to find and navigate. Historically, information about services for children and adults with learning disabilities existed across various platforms which created potential barriers for users.

Throughout its creation, at least 17 adults with learning disabilities and 70 young people contributed, ensuring the website resonated with its audience. Their input shaped a wide variety of useful and bespoke content including 28 animations with user-generated voiceovers and relatable characters and tours of the buildings to prepare visitors for appointments. The site integrates video tours, accessibility information and life-sized animated characters in Trust buildings to promote the site via QR codes.

As Trusts navigate the government’s 10 Year Plan for the NHS, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust is proving they are already working in line with these national goals. With one of the key pillars of the plan highlighting the need to move from analogue to digital, this achievement is evidence of the Trust’s forward-thinking and continuous drive for improvement.