Published on: 15 October 2026
In the run-up to Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Honouring Exceptional and Really Terrific Staff (HEARTS) Awards 2026, the Trust will be spotlighting an inspiring person, team or service from each award category whose work is making a positive difference.
This spotlight recognises the North Derbyshire Community Neurodevelopmental Team, which has been nominated in the Clinical Team of the Year category for its exceptional standards of care, dedication and resilience during a period of significant organisational change.
The team supports people with neurodevelopmental needs in the community and was nominated following an independent quality assessment carried out shortly before the service transferred from Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust to Derbyshire Healthcare.
The assessment highlighted excellent clinical care across different areas of the service, alongside the team’s commitment to improving the lives of the people it supports. Observations of practice identified exemplary interactions and a consistently person-centred approach to care and support.
The team maintained these high standards while preparing to move between NHS organisations. Despite the uncertainty and practical demands associated with the transfer, colleagues remained focused on the people using the service and continued to demonstrate passion, professionalism and dedication.
Chris Holloway, a Clinical Assessor for Quality Always at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, who nominated the team, said: “The standards of clinical care I observed were excellent, but even more impressive was the team’s passion and dedication to improving the lives of the people accessing the service. Their practice demonstrated exemplary interactions and person-centred care, and these high standards remained firmly in place throughout the move from one organisation to another.”
The team’s story reflects the purpose of the Clinical Team of the Year Award, which recognises teams that rise to the challenge of changing circumstances while continuing to deliver compassionate, safe, responsive and effective care.
Further HEARTS Awards 2026 spotlights will be shared in the lead-up to the awards, celebrating individuals and teams across each category who embody the Trust’s values and make a difference to the people and communities they support.
