The excellence and professionalism of health and social care services in South Lanarkshire has been recognised ahead of Thursday’s Scottish Health Awards.
A wide array of services and staff across Lanarkshire, including South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, have been shortlisted as finalists, showcasing and recognising the fantastic work being delivered.
Two of these nominations include the peer support workers based in the Family Support Hubs, shortlisted for the care for mental health category, and South Lanarkshire Recovery Oriented Justice Service (ROJS), shortlisted for the integrated care award.
The South Lanarkshire Recovery Oriented Justice Service represents an exemplary approach in addressing profound challenges associated with substance use through an innovative integration of public health, social work, recovery groups, justice services, and families.
Gillian Booth, Justice Service Manager (Children and Justice Services), South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership said:
“We are delighted to be nominated for these national awards.
“South Lanarkshire’s Recovery Oriented Justice Service innovatively integrates public health, social and justice approaches with the communities, families and individuals affected.
“This joined-up approach has made a profound impact and we are delighted to receive this recognition for all the hard work and dedication of our team.”
ROJS, in partnership with Hamilton Sheriff Court’s Pan Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Problem Solving Court, has launched Scotland’s first dual alcohol and drug problem solving court to address substance use related offending. This initiative shifts from punitive measures to a supportive system, offering structured deferred sentences with 6-9 months of intensive intervention.
A multi-disciplinary team, including health professionals and support workers with lived experience, provides immediate support, addressing substance use alongside broader social and personal needs.
The programme has shown success to date with, with 85% of participants accessing employment and health opportunities, and 90% of participants staying within treatment and completing their support period. Long-term goals include supporting the reduction of drug-related deaths, preventing further criminalisation, and integrating public health strategies into justice services.
Sharon Grant, Family Support Hubs Service Manager, Children and Families, said:
“The Family Support Hubs in South Lanarkshire, launched in 2022, has transformed mental health care by integrating professional expertise with lived experience, specifically for families affected by substance and alcohol misuse.
“By doing this we have achieving outstanding results in family support and well-being. We are honoured to be nominated for these prestigious awards.”
Central to this model are peer support workers, individuals with personal experience of addiction and recovery, offering empathetic, relatable care that addresses both immediate and long-term needs.
The hubs focus on early intervention and prevention, helping families manage challenges before they escalate. In their first year, they exceeded targets, supporting 72 parents with overwhelmingly positive feedback. This collaborative, multi-agency approach has proven effective in enhancing family well-being and engagement with services.
Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), said: “These nominations clearly demonstrate the outstanding level of commitment, care and compassion of our staff.
“We are exceptionally proud and privileged to work with staff who demonstrate this level of commitment no matter the challenge. I extend my sincere thanks to them, as well as all our teams and services, who continue to work extremely hard for the people of Lanarkshire.”
Councillor Margaret Walker, Chair of Social Work Resources Committee, added: “I am extremely proud of all our finalists. This national recognition is testament to all the great work and dedication of our staff who continue to provide an outstanding service to our local communities.”
Scotland’s Health Awards acknowledge and celebrate those working across NHS Scotland and its partners to deliver high quality health and social care services to the people of Scotland.
The awards, running for the 23rd year, in partnership with NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government, recognise the contribution of frontline health and social care workers.
The awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on Thursday 7 November 2024 in Edinburgh. For full details on all the finalists visit Scotland’s Health Awards website here.
Picture caption: The Family Support Hubs and Recovery Oriented Justice Service teams
