The Awards

The Awards

Entries for the 2024 Design in Mental Health Awards are now closed

Late entries may still be accepted for a limited time. Please contact the Organisers’ Office on +44 (0) 1892  518877.

Check back here for the shortlists in the coming weeks.

The Design in Mental Health Awards are considered nationally as the most prestigious Awards for the design and build community in mental healthcare.

They are presented at the annual Awards Ceremony; an inclusive and exciting occasion providing a great opportunity for the community to come together to network and celebrate excellence in the design, delivery, and management of therapeutic environments.

The judging committee comprises a panel of experts and community peers who have extensive experience within the NHS and Private Mental Health sector. They are looking for entries that embody exemplary design, community spirit and the very latest innovations in mental health.

Award Categories

Art Installation
of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Shows excellence in artistic vision
  • Innovative in a therapeutic environment
  • Visually interesting and create a sense of identity
  • Demonstrates good integration into the project
  • Commitment to good environmental practice and uses sustainable materials
  • Collaborative works are accepted

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been completed and operational within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the outstanding art project of the year within a mental health environment, an installation that shows creativity and artistic vision, it can include technology and interactive elements, sculptural or any medium that has an art basis.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Concept Product Innovation
of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

This award is for design concepts for new and innovative products. The product should be:

Criteria:

  • A new product not presently available
  • An improvement on an existing product
  • Should improve the environment for the service user and the clinicians
  • Imaginative, creative, innovative and original
  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Robust, durable and safe
  • Meet generally accepted reduced ligature requirements unless specifically developed for dementia
  • Show reference to discussion leading to BRE ‘Informed Choices’ compliance

Eligibility:

  • The product should not be available on the market as of January 2024.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Clinical Team
of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

Any clinical team in a clinical service or across an organisation. Must be linked directly to mental healthcare.

  • Team has taken design or environment to a new level in achieving higher quality care for patients.
  • The clinical team must be represented by a clinician who can talk to the value of the design project.
  • Team has evidence of improvement in patient experience, and/or quality improvement and/or innovation.
  • The design change or innovation must currently exist in a clinical setting (either in the proof of concept phase, testing phase or as part of standard clinical care process).
  • The design change can be from any art, design or environmental modality; and can be at the individual patient level or a systems level.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

Art Installation of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Shows excellence in artistic vision
  • Innovative in a therapeutic environment
  • Visually interesting and create a sense of identity
  • Demonstrates good integration into the project
  • Commitment to good environmental practice and uses sustainable materials
  • Collaborative works are accepted

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been completed and operational within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the outstanding art project of the year within a mental health environment, an installation that shows creativity and artistic vision, it can include technology and interactive elements, sculptural or any medium that has an art basis.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Concept Product Innovation of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

This award is for design concepts for new and innovative products. The product should be:

Criteria:

  • A new product not presently available
  • An improvement on an existing product
  • Should improve the environment for the service user and the clinicians
  • Imaginative, creative, innovative and original
  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Robust, durable and safe
  • Meet generally accepted reduced ligature requirements unless specifically developed for dementia
  • Show reference to discussion leading to BRE ‘Informed Choices’ compliance

Eligibility:

  • The product should not be available on the market as of January 2024.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Clinical Team of the Year

Sponsored by Kingsway Group

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

Any clinical team in a clinical service or across an organisation. Must be linked directly to mental healthcare.

  • Team has taken design or environment to a new level in achieving higher quality care for patients.
  • The clinical team must be represented by a clinician who can talk to the value of the design project.
  • Team has evidence of improvement in patient experience, and/or quality improvement and/or innovation.
  • The design change or innovation must currently exist in a clinical setting (either in the proof of concept phase, testing phase or as part of standard clinical care process).
  • The design change can be from any art, design or environmental modality; and can be at the individual patient level or a systems level.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

Estates & Facilities
Team of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

This award will go to an Estates and Facilities Team that have gone that extra mile in providing exceptional service to users of care on and off wards. Entries should highlight successful achievements that demonstrate working collaboratively with clinical and multi-disciplinary teams on and off the wards to ensure that the service users experience is enhanced and improved. This can include day to day operational activities as well as developments especially where it has enhanced the well being of service users.

Entries should provide evidence of how they have meaningfully engaged with their clinical colleagues Service users and also product suppliers, manufacturers, architects and contractors where appropriate.  This can be at any stage from operational services, design to completion and cover new build or refurbished facilities, product development and testing and service transformations / refreshed ways of working.

Examples can include but are not limited to:

  • Regular and close liaison with the clinical teams to assist in the operation of the ward, safety of users etc.
  • Regular attendance in service (MDT) meetings, which may include service users, and taking positive actions to resolve any issues
  • Clear communication across all levels and across all teams
  • All team members accepting responsibility for seeing issues through to completion and providing feedback at all stages
  • Supporting service users to manage their own environment on the recovery pathway.
  • Encouraging interaction with service users to identify early any problems they may have with their environment, dealing with those in a prompt manner and keeping the Service User fully informed
  • Attending community meetings to understand issues and taking positive steps including feedback
  • Listening, understanding, empathising and reacting to the service users concerns in a positive way
  • Working with clinical teams, service users, manufactures and designers to improve the environment and services e.g. Patient safety.
  • Demonstrating honesty, truth and positive action
  • Treating the service users as part of the solution

Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

This award recognises the positive contribution made by Estates & Facilities Teams in enhancing the well being of users of health care services. The winning team will demonstrate a focus on improving people’s lives and the service user experience.

Low Cost – High Impact
Award

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

This award is for products or schemes, internal or external, which have been financially prudent but have had significant impact on improving patient care, wellbeing, safety and/or enhanced the healing environment

Criteria:

  • The entry should be a product or scheme in mental health or learning disability services.
  • Have had an overall budget less than £500k (ex VAT).
  • Have had an established benefit criterion for patients and services.
  • Showed ingenuity and innovation.
  • Improved the healing environment to a significant degree.
  • Have showed patient involvement in either design, development or running.
  • Addressed the principals put forward by the DIMHN (eg ‘Design with People in Mind’)
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Outside Space
of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

This award has no limits in terms of the size or the function of an outside space within a mental health environment – it could be recreational, for therapy, education, contemplation and calming, or as part of the building design to be used in conjunction with the therapy and care taking place within the facility itself.

Your submission should be for an outside space already in place in a mental health environment, demonstrate the healing, therapeutic and care benefits of the outside space in question, the theory and process behind its design, creation and use, and the benefits to service users / stakeholders that it provides.

Eligibility:

The project should have been completed and operational within 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards)

Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Estates & Facilities Team of the Year

Sponsored by TB+A

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

This award will go to an Estates and Facilities Team that have gone that extra mile in providing exceptional service to users of care on and off wards. Entries should highlight successful achievements that demonstrate working collaboratively with clinical and multi-disciplinary teams on and off the wards to ensure that the service users experience is enhanced and improved. This can include day to day operational activities as well as developments especially where it has enhanced the well being of service users.

Entries should provide evidence of how they have meaningfully engaged with their clinical colleagues Service users and also product suppliers, manufacturers, architects and contractors where appropriate.  This can be at any stage from operational services, design to completion and cover new build or refurbished facilities, product development and testing and service transformations / refreshed ways of working.

Examples can include but are not limited to:

  • Regular and close liaison with the clinical teams to assist in the operation of the ward, safety of users etc.
  • Regular attendance in service (MDT) meetings, which may include service users, and taking positive actions to resolve any issues
  • Clear communication across all levels and across all teams
  • All team members accepting responsibility for seeing issues through to completion and providing feedback at all stages
  • Supporting service users to manage their own environment on the recovery pathway.
  • Encouraging interaction with service users to identify early any problems they may have with their environment, dealing with those in a prompt manner and keeping the Service User fully informed
  • Attending community meetings to understand issues and taking positive steps including feedback
  • Listening, understanding, empathising and reacting to the service users concerns in a positive way
  • Working with clinical teams, service users, manufactures and designers to improve the environment and services e.g. Patient safety.
  • Demonstrating honesty, truth and positive action
  • Treating the service users as part of the solution

Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

This award recognises the positive contribution made by Estates & Facilities Teams in enhancing the well being of users of health care services. The winning team will demonstrate a focus on improving people’s lives and the service user experience.

Low Cost – High Impact Award

Sponsored by P+HS Architects

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

This award is for products or schemes, internal or external, which have been financially prudent but have had significant impact on improving patient care, wellbeing, safety and/or enhanced the healing environment

Criteria:

  • The entry should be a product or scheme in mental health or learning disability services.
  • Have had an overall budget less than £500k (ex VAT).
  • Have had an established benefit criterion for patients and services.
  • Showed ingenuity and innovation.
  • Improved the healing environment to a significant degree.
  • Have showed patient involvement in either design, development or running.
  • Addressed the principals put forward by the DIMHN (eg ‘Design with People in Mind’)
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Outside Space of the Year

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

This award has no limits in terms of the size or the function of an outside space within a mental health environment – it could be recreational, for therapy, education, contemplation and calming, or as part of the building design to be used in conjunction with the therapy and care taking place within the facility itself.

Your submission should be for an outside space already in place in a mental health environment, demonstrate the healing, therapeutic and care benefits of the outside space in question, the theory and process behind its design, creation and use, and the benefits to service users / stakeholders that it provides.

Eligibility:

The project should have been completed and operational within 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards)

Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Project of the Year –
Future Design

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Innovative and creative project design offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
  • Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
  • Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
  • Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
  • A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been in design during the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the future outstanding project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

Project of the Year –
New Build (UK)

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Innovative and creative project offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
  • Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
  • Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
  • Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
  • A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been completed and operational within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the outstanding project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working.
  • Projects submitted last year for this award but were unsuccessful may be resubmitted provided they became operational in the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

Project of the Year –
Refurbishment

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Innovative and creative project offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
  • Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
  • Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
  • Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
  • A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been completed and operational within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the outstanding refurbishment project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working, within an existing facility
  • Projects submitted last year for this award but were unsuccessful may be resubmitted provided they became operational in the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Project of the Year – Future Design

Sponsored by Light Years Ahead

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Innovative and creative project design offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
  • Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
  • Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
  • Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
  • A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been in design during the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the future outstanding project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

Project of the Year – New Build (UK)

Sponsored by Building Better Healthcare (BBH)

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

• Innovative and creative project offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
• Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
• Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
• Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
• A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

• The project can be either at design stage or have been completed and operational from January 2020 onwards.
• This award will recognise the outstanding project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working.
• Projects submitted last year for this award but were unsuccessful may be resubmitted provided they became operational from January 2020 onwards.

Project of the Year – Refurbishment

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Innovative and creative project offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
  • Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
  • Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
  • Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
  • A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been completed and operational within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the outstanding refurbishment project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working, within an existing facility
  • Projects submitted last year for this award but were unsuccessful may be resubmitted provided they became operational in the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Product Innovation
of the Year

ENTRY FEE – £150 +VAT PER ENTRY

Criteria:

The panel want to see new and innovative products which have been launched and used in a mental health setting within 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).

The product should be:

  • Imaginative, creative, innovative and original
  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Robust, durable and safe
  • Meet generally accepted reduced ligature requirements unless specifically developed for dementia
  • Progressing on steps to achieve BRE ‘Informed Choices’ compliance
  • Improve on previous design

 Eligibility:

  • The product should have been launched on the market within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • It should have been in use in a mental health setting for a minimum of 6 months during that time.
  • Supporting evidence from at least one user of the product will be required.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Research & Education
Award

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Demonstrates excellence in research and/or education, in the form of a publication or series of publications, or a specified project
  • Shows innovation in research and/or education design
  • Development of innovative theoretical work relating to the design of mental health settings and spaces and/or clinical practice issues
  • Commitment to service user or patient involvement
  • Collaborative work is accepted

Eligibility:

The project should be completed and be able to reference service user (expert by experience) feedback within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).

This award will recognise the outstanding research project or publication(s) of the year within a mental health environment, including both action led, qualitative or quantitative research and education work.

Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Service User Engagement
Award

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

The panel want to see the importance of providing a connection between service users and the people with the skill and knowledge to help them develop their own thinking and explore further options.

Criteria:

  • Innovative and thoughtful engagement of service users.
  • Support for and engagement with ‘Experts by experience’
  • To see evidence of the importance of involving service users in the design process and the need for the service user group to be centric to the project structure
  • Uniqueness of the work that has taken place within a mental health setting and what significant effect it has had on the design when involving service users
  • How you have “designed in” problem solving approaches when involving service users in the design process
  • The methodology of sharing and gathering of information
  • How it allows the service user group to identify what they think are important components of an effective healthcare setting and design vision of new builds and environments
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

The Service User Engagement Award highlights innovative and thoughtful engagement of service users’ in the design process. It shows how services users’ perspectives on the environment has been captured and their inclusion in the design process from consultation to completion.

Product Innovation of the Year

ENTRY FEE – £150 +VAT PER ENTRY

Criteria:

The panel want to see new and innovative products which have been launched and used in a mental health setting within 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).

The product should be:

  • Imaginative, creative, innovative and original
  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Robust, durable and safe
  • Meet generally accepted reduced ligature requirements unless specifically developed for dementia
  • Progressing on steps to achieve BRE ‘Informed Choices’ compliance
  • Improve on previous design

 Eligibility:

  • The product should have been launched on the market within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • It should have been in use in a mental health setting for a minimum of 6 months during that time.
  • Supporting evidence from at least one user of the product will be required.
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Research & Education Award

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Demonstrates excellence in research and/or education, in the form of a publication or series of publications, or a specified project
  • Shows innovation in research and/or education design
  • Development of innovative theoretical work relating to the design of mental health settings and spaces and/or clinical practice issues
  • Commitment to service user or patient involvement
  • Collaborative work is accepted

Eligibility:

The project should be completed and be able to reference service user (expert by experience) feedback within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).

This award will recognise the outstanding research project or publication(s) of the year within a mental health environment, including both action led, qualitative or quantitative research and education work.

Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had.

Service User Engagement Award

Sponsored by Safehinge Primera

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

The panel want to see the importance of providing a connection between service users and the people with the skill and knowledge to help them develop their own thinking and explore further options.

Criteria:

  • Innovative and thoughtful engagement of service users.
  • Support for and engagement with ‘Experts by experience’
  • To see evidence of the importance of involving service users in the design process and the need for the service user group to be centric to the project structure
  • Uniqueness of the work that has taken place within a mental health setting and what significant effect it has had on the design when involving service users
  • How you have “designed in” problem solving approaches when involving service users in the design process
  • The methodology of sharing and gathering of information
  • How it allows the service user group to identify what they think are important components of an effective healthcare setting and design vision of new builds and environments
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

The Service User Engagement Award highlights innovative and thoughtful engagement of service users’ in the design process. It shows how services users’ perspectives on the environment has been captured and their inclusion in the design process from consultation to completion.

Project of the Year –
New Build (International)

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

• Innovative and creative project offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
• Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
• Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
• Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
• A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been completed and operational within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the outstanding project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working.
  • Projects submitted last year for this award but were unsuccessful may be resubmitted provided they became operational in the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

Project of the Year – New Build (International)

THIS AWARD IS FREE TO ENTER

Criteria:

  • Innovative and creative project offering a therapeutic environment which enhances recovery
  • Visually interesting and offering good, flexible use of space both internally and externally
  • Demonstrates good integration into the surrounding landscape
  • Is energy efficient and uses sustainable materials
  • A team works well together exploring different solutions and can recognise and demonstrate the contributions of service users to the design process

 Eligibility:

  • The project should have been completed and operational within the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • This award will recognise the outstanding project of the year, a project that demonstrates innovation, creativity and excellent team working.
  • Projects submitted last year for this award but were unsuccessful may be resubmitted provided they became operational in the 18 months ahead of the conference (January 2023 onwards).
  • Please provide evidence of coproduction and user involvement in your project and the impact that it had

Join us at the Ceremony

4 June 2024, Manchester Central

The Awards Ceremony takes place at the end of Day 1 of Design in Mental Health, at the event venue.

The ceremony is free to attend for all registered visitors to Design in Mental Health.  Please register for a Conference Delegate Pass (fees apply) or an Exhibition Visitor Pass (free of charge), either of which will grant you free access to the Awards Ceremony.