Published on: 22 October 2026
Megan Moorhouse, an Occupational Therapist at Kingfisher House, a 14-bed male psychiatric intensive care unit at the Kingsway Hospital site in Derby, has won the Making a Positive Difference Award at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s 2026 HEARTS Awards - Honouring Exceptional And Really Terrific Staff.
The award recognised a team or individual who has made a positive difference to the lives of the people the Trust serves or works with by creating a positive culture and embodying its values of Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative, Ambitious and Belonging.
Megan was awarded for establishing and developing the occupational therapy service at Kingfisher House during its first year, building its model of engagement, pathway, activities, equipment and approach to sensory regulation from the ground up.
Her work has ensured that every patient can access occupational therapy support, including people who are severely unwell or may initially find it difficult to engage. Megan takes time to understand the person beneath their illness, what helps them feel settled and what they want to work towards, then helps the wider team put that support into practice.
Megan has also become a trusted member of the ward leadership team, contributing to multidisciplinary meetings, assessments, supervision, incident reviews and seclusion reviews. She has supported healthcare assistants and occupational therapy colleagues to deliver activities, groups and gym sessions, helping to embed meaningful engagement across the ward.
The impact of the service is already supporting further growth, with two additional occupational therapy posts being created and plans being developed with Audrey House to offer outreach to acute wards and advise on engaging patients with more complex needs.
Janet Allison, Sensory Lead and Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist for Audrey House and Kingfisher House, who nominated Megan and spoke about her work in a video, said: “Megan has, over the last year, built something to address all these challenges, and done so with humour and commitment, creating a service that is fit for purpose, has a vision and commitment to grow.”
Janet added: “She finds out who the person is beneath the illness and their tough or scared persona, and connects with them, as humans in a difficult situation. She finds out what helps them ‘settle’ or regulate, and makes sure the whole team know and provide.”
After receiving the news, Megan was overjoyed and said: “It feels incredibly special to receive a HEARTS Award, particularly knowing that it reflects the difference this work can make for the people we care for. Occupational therapy is about seeing the person beyond their illness and finding meaningful ways to help them engage, build confidence and support their recovery. To have that impact recognised in this way means a great deal to me.”
Megan’s work has helped create an occupational therapy service with sensory regulation and individual needs at its heart, while influencing a ward culture in which meaningful activity and engagement are part of everyday care.
Her award celebrates the difference this approach is making for patients, colleagues and the continued development of occupational therapy across inpatient services.
Megan was presented with the award on 21 October at a ceremony at Makeney Hall in Belper.
