SOCIAL VALUE
More artist’s impressions of the Bluebell Ward at Walton Hospital in Chesterfield. This re-location of patients formerly accommodated at the Hartington Unit at Chesterfield Royal Hospital is just one element of the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s ‘Making Room for Dignity’ programme – through which it is co-designing its new mental health facilities with service-users and clinical staff.
build and refurbishment work across the Chesterfield Royal Hospital site, the Kingsway Hospital site in Derby, Royal Derby Hospital, and Walton Hospital, Chesterfield. (See separate article in the February 2023 The Network.) Of course, it’s easy to see some of the positive impacts that will come from this project, for which EDGE is providing project and cost management services. Once complete, it will enhance healthcare services for those needing care, while supporting better mental wellbeing in staff and patients through an enhanced environment – just to name a few. However, social value isn’t just produced after a project completes – it should be felt along the way too.
Work with Lived Patient Experience lead
As part of our appointment, we have been working alongside DHCFT’s project officer and Lived Patient Experience lead, Nick Richards. Having worked for the Trust for four years, and personally being an ex-service user with a physical disability, Nick has an in-depth understanding of the DHCFT and what its service-users require. His insights have been central to the MRFD programme, and Nick has been involved in making key decisions – particularly around design – to ensure the smoothest user journey possible. His experience has allowed the voice of other service- users and carers to be heard, through feedback on how they’d like the buildings to look and feel. This, of course, feeds into creating the best outcomes possible for future service-users from an extremely informed point of view – but has provided further, unique-to-project opportunities to give back. Throughout the process, EDGE’s team has been able to offer Nick real hands- on experience outside of his day-to-day role, with training on BIM and contract management software, such as Sypro, collaboration training, and upskilling through a project management principles course.
Nick Richards said: “This experience has
really opened my eyes to a whole other industry. The team has been supportive
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of my role in the project, especially providing additional training and guidance on how to use various systems. It’s really helped me understand their line of work, which will really benefit me in the future – and hopefully others if I can pass that knowledge on further. It’s also really helped to improve my overall confidence, which is something a lot of people living with disabilities and mental health diagnoses struggle with. It has given me the opportunity to grow my knowledge and shape my role, rather than follow a set plan.
“Opportunities like this need to be
made available to more people, so I’d urge more companies to examine where these experiences can be provided – especially to those with disabilities or from more diverse backgrounds. You could have a
lifelong impact on a person if you provide them with the right opportunity that nurtures both practical and soft skills, offers opportunities, and allows them the time to grow.” From EDGE’s perspective, working with Nick has been a real pleasure – and as beneficial to the business as it has been for him personally. It has allowed for insight that our team couldn’t see or appreciate, either by hearing his own experience or from other users – something fairly unusual in the industry. These views have altered designs, and it’s been hugely positive to the project.
Forward-thinking future While I appreciate that not all projects will allow for an experience such as Nick’s, I think it is critical that we are engaging with end-users across projects, and at least asking about who can be involved. EDGE is a forward-thinking business, our Health team has worked with a significant number of NHS health Trusts across the country, and the success of our health sector delivery is born out of successful collaboration, taking time to understand our clients and their operational needs, and investing in structured clinical engagement. We have delivered over 80 health and social care projects between 2016 and 2023, with 22% of EDGE’s turnover coming through this critical sector. A high proportion of our health sector and advisory services provide cost and project management for the delivery of mental health services projects. Our work includes dormitory
As part of its appointment, EDGE has worked alongside DHCFT’s Project officer and Lived Patient Experience lead, Nick Richards. Here he is pictured testing glass for cabinets.
eradication, refurbishment for safer spaces and anti-ligature compliance, as well as new-build projects for mental health hubs and dementia care. Our approach to working with NHS organisations providing mental health services is to collaborate with all key project stakeholders, patient and service- user groups, and the wider community, to explore where EDGE can enhance the scheme further through added social value. Everyone in the industry should be aiming to provide similar opportunities,
FEBRUARY 2024 | THE NETWORK
Courtesy of ctd architects
Courtesy of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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