The Open Mental Health (OMH) VCFSE Alliance and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) are celebrating after winning the Mental Health Innovation of the Year Award at the highly respected 2025 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards held on the 20th of November 2025 at Battersea Evolution, London.
The event was hosted by comedian Rob Brydon and attended by 1700+ healthcare professionals from across the UK. Now in its 45th year, the HSJ Awards celebrates outstanding achievements in health and social care, recognising teams and individuals who are driving innovation and improving patient outcomes.
OMH, a partnership established five years ago to transform adult mental health support in Somerset, was honoured for its collaborative “no wrong door” model, which provides highly personalised, preventative, and clinically informed care.
The alliance, which includes voluntary and community sector organisations, the NHS, and Somerset Council, has successfully embedded this partnership model across the county.
The award nomination highlighted the significant positive impact of this joint approach that has led to a 35% reduction in acute hospital bed days for mental health-related complaints in Somerset. Furthermore, the rate of readmission to mental health beds is less than half the national average, standing at just 4% compared to the UK average of 8.5%.
National Recognition for Healthcare Excellence
This year’s competition was strong, with 1,250 entries received, and 246 organisations, projects, and individuals shortlisted. Following two rigorous rounds of judging by a panel of more than 200 respected healthcare leaders. All entries were assessed against five key criteria: ambition, outcome, spread, value, and stakeholder involvement.
Alastair McLellan, Editor of the Health Service Journal, commented: “The calibre of entries this year has been exceptional, making for some difficult decisions for our judging panel. The Open Mental Health VCFSE Alliance with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust stood out as truly worthy winners in the Mental Health Innovation of the Year category.
“For over four decades, the HSJ Awards have recognised the dedication and innovation of those working in and with the NHS. These awards remain truly inclusive, welcoming entries from all corners of the service, from trusts to primary care teams, public health to the voluntary sector.
“Every finalist receives valuable feedback that can be taken back to improve their services. Congratulations to the Open Mental Health VCFSE Alliance and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and welcome to our growing family of HSJ Awards winners.“
A Model of True Collaboration
The OMH alliance in collaboration with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust ensures that people’s needs are met regardless of where they first seek help, offering access to specialist mental health support, housing, debt and employment advice, community activities, peer support, and other essential wellbeing services. Experts by Experience (people with lived experience of mental illness) are integral to the alliance, ensuring their voice has an impact throughout OMH.
“This award reflects the hard work and dedication of people across the Open Mental Health VCFSE alliance and Somerset Foundation Trust. Together we want to make sure that everyone in Somerset can get the mental health support they need where and when they need it most.”
– Juliet Lyon CBE, Independent Chair for the OMH VCFSE alliance
“We were so happy to win the HSJ Mental Health Innovation award last Thursday night. It was very exciting (and very nerve wracking!) to be part of the night. There was a fabulous band and I danced for the first time in about 15 years! 7 years ago, I longed for my life to be over. Now I live a full and fulfilled life, and Open Mental Health has been, and is, a big part of that.”
– Jo Poole, Lived Experience Independent Co-Chair of the OMH VCFSE alliance
Mark Arruda-Bunker, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s service group director for mental health and learning disabilities, said:
“We’re thrilled that our trust, as part of the Open Mental Health alliance has won a prestigious Health Service Journal award. The award for ‘Mental Health Innovation of the Year’ recognises the partnership work with our voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise partners, to ensure that people struggling with their mental health in Somerset can access the right support at the right time.
“Since the Somerset Open Mental Health alliance was introduced five years ago, we’ve been able to meet the expected increase in patients with a whole new range of support, whether that be NHS, social care, voluntary, or third sector support. This has largely helped to stabilise waiting times for NHS mental health services too.”
Do You Need Support with Your Mental Health?
Somerset residents don’t have to face mental health struggles alone, OMH is here for you. We offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please get in touch with our team at Mindline Somerset, locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692 and ask about our services.
Mindline Live Web Chat is available every day from 8 pm to 11 pm on our website, or you can send us a message.
As the holiday season approaches, we know that for many people across Somerset, this time of year can bring significant mental health challenges, often intensified by stress, financial pressure, or feelings of loneliness.
To help our communities manage these pressures, Open Mental Health has put together an easily accessible resource: the Festive Wellbeing Kit.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Open Mental Health
Open Mental Health is an alliance of local voluntary organisations, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Somerset Integrated Care Board, Somerset Council, and individuals with lived experience, all working together to support adults in Somerset experiencing mental health difficulties.
For more information relating to Open Mental Health please contact Jonathan.Creffield@rethink.org or Katharine.North@rethink.org
About the HSJ Awards
The most coveted accolade in UK healthcare, the HSJ awards is the largest annual benchmarking and recognition programme for the health sector. For more than 40 years, the awards have been celebrating healthcare excellence through huge political, technological and financial challenges within the sector. Through a rigorous, fair and transparent judging process the awards produce a roll call of the best organisations, teams and people in the NHS and the wider health sector.
Health Services Journal is the only title to cover all aspects of publicly funded healthcare, providing news, analysis, best practise information from some of the most powerful and respected figures in health. The HSJ audience is formed of healthcare leaders from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds and both public and private sectors.
For more information/media enquiries relating to the 2025 HSJ Awards, please contact Jo Hudson or Katie Hinksman via katie.hinksman@trinitypr.co.uk or tel: 0770 948 7959
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