Vanessa Robinson wins the Trust’s first Exceptional People Award

A Project Lead in the Involvement team for the past three years, Vanessa’s dedication to her role has made a significant impact on her colleagues. Vanessa has led the team far beyond the goals of their Implementation Plan, and has consistently worked to ensure that our lived experience network have numerous opportunities to contribute to service development, despite the limitations of the pandemic. As a result of her leadership within the team, they are projected to not only meet pre-pandemic targets, but to go beyond them.

Vanessa is known by her colleagues for her enthusiasm and caring nature, and has always been quick to help fellow staff members. Her teammates have commented that they admire and respect her knowledge, skills and tenacity, but that her compassion and empathy are what make her unique as a colleague and supervisor.

Amanda Cummins, who nominated Vanessa, said: “Vanessa is the backbone to the Involvement Team and our team’s work, keeping us on track when our resources are diminishing.

“The team have their own lived experience of using mental health services and it is with this combination of skills that Vanessa offers that people are able to heal, develop and realise their potential.”

Upon learning that she had won the award, Vanessa said: “I couldn’t do my job without the support of our Lived Experience Members, staff and my team, so I feel very grateful for all those exceptional people.

When speaking about her favourite things about her role and working at the Trust, Vanessa said: “I love working with people with lived experience of accessing trust services! I enjoy getting to know them and seeing the passion they have for improving services in action. Involvement can play a part in personal growth whilst also giving people the opportunity to do something positive with their life experiences, for the benefit of others.  I enjoy working with staff who are dedicated to offering better services, while doing what can be challenging work. Having lived experience of mental distress and traumatic life experiences, I am passionate about challenging societal and self-stigma around mental health and relish the opportunity to demonstrate what we can achieve in life and what we have to offer, despite and because of our life experiences.”

Vanessa will receive a certificate, a badge and a gift, as well as our thanks for her valued service to the Trust and patients.