Awards & Recognition
Our Talking Therapies services have won multiple awards and received recognition from a variety of organisations demonstrating our high level of performance, innovation, service user involvement and excellent quality of care.
March 2024 – Community of Best Practice 
Our Autism Expert by Experience and Autism in Schools project (offered by the Healthy Minds Team in South Tyneside) was recognised by the Integrated Care Board’s Community of Best Practice. Clinical Leads Lisa Mundell and Emma Lee presented the projects to the panel in January 2024 and received positive feedback and the offer to feature the projects in the best practice guides.
March 2023 – Bright Ideas in Health Winner - Autism Expert by Experience Project
In March 2023 Talking Therapies received a Bright Ideas in Health Care Award in the category of ‘Innovation and Research in reducing Health Care Inequalities’. The project welcomed an Expert by Experience in to the service to review all areas to improve the pathways for Autistic Adults.
2023 – Nomination for a Parliamentary Award
In 2023 Talking Therapies received the nomination from Gateshead MP *** for a Parliamentary Award in relation to our staff wellbeing strategy group. The group meets on a monthly basis and looks at how best we can understand and support the needs of our staff.
May 2022 – Featured in CBT Today
Talking Therapies were featured in the BABCP’s publication of CBT Today. The article entitled ‘Supporting Psychological Therapists in an IAPT Service during a Global Pandemic’, shared best practice ideas to promote staff wellbeing in the hope of all services seeing how important it is to prioritise the wellbeing of those who provide care for others.
2019 – South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) Outstanding Contribution Award
Clinical Team Manager Vicky Cowens won the STSFT Outstanding Contribution Award for her work on improving our perinatal mental health pathways. Vicky developed a post-natal mental health course for mothers struggling with anxiety and low mood after having a baby. The programme was developed with Mum's in mind, to be accessible, not stigmatising, to reduce social isolation, and to support women through the challenges of new motherhood.
March 2016 – Bright Ideas in Health Winner – South Tyneside Lifecycle Model
In 2016, South Tyneside and Sunderland Mental Health Services won a Bright Ideas in Health Award for the development of an all age model of mental health care. One point of access for anyone with mild to moderate mental health issues.
June 2014 – British Journal of Community Nursing ‘Training Community Matrons in basic CBT based techniques for patients with COPD.’
Following the successful implementation of the ‘Training Community Matrons in Basic CBT Techniques for patients with COPD’, Talking Therapies was featured in the British Journal of Community Nursing.
2013 – Invited to present at best practice workshops with Department of Health – Access & Recovery
Talking Therapies was recognised by the Department of health as an area of best practice for the ‘Training Community Matrons in Basic CBT Techniques for patients with COPD’ project.
March 2013 – Bright Ideas in Health Award – ‘Training Community Matrons in basic CBT based techniques for patients with COPD’.
Talking Therapies won a Bright Ideas Award for their training package which was delivered to Community Matrons to support them in delivering basic CBT techniques to their clients who were suffering from anxiety and depression linked with their COPD.
2012 National Institute of Health Research Certificate of Recognition for Promoting a Research Culture within the Organisation
Talking Therapies training package which providing basic CBT training to Community Midwives who were working with COPD sufferers was recognised by the National Institute of Health Research because it promoted innovation and research within South Tyneside Foundation Trust.