The Estates and Facilities team at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has been recognised and shortlisted as “frontline heroes” in a national awards ceremony to be hosted in London.

This is in recognition of the complexity, pace and magnitude of the work to bring in-house more than 350 staff from an out-sourced provider to create our own specialist teams to meet the needs of the Trust and help ensure clinicians can deliver excellent care to patients.

These teams comprised colleagues from cleaning, catering, portering, reception teams, mechanical and electrical engineering technicians, building fabric technicians, grounds and gardeners, along with senior leaders as vital members of the newly created in-house estates and facilities team.

The awards by the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) recognise and promote excellence in the workplace and empower industry professionals to share best practice.

Richard Brown, LPT’s associate director for estates and facilities, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the IWFM Awards. I am really proud of the senior team in helping create this new offer and particular thanks to all the frontline teams who make this possible. The whole team has contributed to setting up the associated systems, processes, and structures to ensure the safe transfer and commencement of this new service into our business. We are already seeing significant changes and service improvements at this early stage.

“We have invested in a new helpdesk software, harmonised terms and conditions for staff, moved staff onto electronic records, provided training, invested in equipment, and set up a new base co-located with colleagues for greater business efficiency.”

The winners of the awards will be announced at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London on October 16, 2023.