A partnership project that transforms the lives of young people in Essex attending hospital has been shortlisted for the national NHS Excellence Awards 2026.
The Youth Workers in Hospital project is funded by NHS Essex and delivered by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and Essex County Council Youth Service. The project places trained youth workers in hospital A&E departments and outpatient clinics across the county, where they support young people arriving in acute emotional distress or struggling to manage long-term conditions. Their conditions often impact on other aspects of their lives, leading to frequent visits to A&E. The project reflects NHS Essex’s commitment to earlier intervention, prevention and supporting children and young people to stay well.
Working closely with clinicians and family members, the youth workers support young people for several months or even years, to navigate the hospital environment, advocate for them with medical and social services and help build their confidence and independence so they can complete their education, training and find work. By addressing wider factors that affect health, such as education, housing and confidence, the programme demonstrates the shift towards more holistic, neighbourhood-based care and reducing health inequalities across Essex.
The award nomination included testimonials from young people, who said: “I wouldn’t have sat my GCSEs without them,” and “If it wasn’t for the youth workers I wouldn’t be here”.
This award demonstrated the very best of partnership working locally and captures our ambition to make health services better in Essex. It highlights how preventative work can make a real difference to our residents and sets the standard for how we want to work as we move forward as a new organisation.
Tom Abell, Chief Executive Officer at NHS Essex ICB
The team is thrilled at being recognised for the work we do. We work with young people who have a range of conditions or needs, from neurodiversity or diabetes, sickle cell disease and epilepsy. Some young people have experienced homelessness, are disengaged with the education system or are having a difficult time at home which then impacts on other areas of their lives.
Abi Kelly, Youth Work Team Leader
One young person we worked with who has Type 2 diabetes was disengaged with education, didn’t attend and had no confidence. During our time working together they are now more independent and are applying to college. They have dreams and aspirations.
It’s a challenging but hugely rewarding job. You can’t help but be inspired by the young people’s determination to change their future. Being recognised for the hard work is the icing on the cake.
Evie Ball, Senior Youth and Community Worker
The project was shortlisted in the ‘Improving Health Outcomes’ category and is one of 10 regional champions in the NHS Excellence Awards. It will now progress to the national awards ceremony on 10 June at NHS ConfedExpo, where the winners from each category will be announced.
Rethinking how we support young people in crisis, working with our ICB and Essex County Council colleagues has been vital in improving outcomes for children and young people who come into contact with our hospitals, either through emergency care or outpatient appointments. The impact of seamless partnership working speaks for itself. We are pleased that this work has been recognised and that we have reached the final stages of the NHS Excellence Awards.
Zephan Trent, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust