The GMMH Stars Awards 2026
On Friday 30 October, colleagues from across the Trust came together to Hotel Football in Manchester, for the GMMH Stars Awards 2026, proudly sponsored by Red Tree Building Contractors.
Bringing together individuals, teams and services from across GMMH, the evening recognised extraordinary work shown by our colleagues each and every day and the remarkable impact their commitment delivers to the communities we serve.
Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, the full cost of the event was covered, ensuring our Stars enjoyed a special night that they truly deserve!
Many congratulations to our Stars of 2026, who you can read about below.
Clinical Team of the Year sponsored by Red Tree Building Contractors
Recognises a clinical team that has demonstrated exceptional care and compassion in patient care, significantly impacting patient outcomes.
Winner:
HMP Risley – Integrated Mental Health Team
The Integrated Mental Health Team at HMP Risley supports some of the most marginalised people in our care, many of whom have highly complex psychological needs and histories. Despite working within a challenging environment, the team provides an exceptional standard of mental health care, with a recent CQC inspection describing the service as the ‘benchmark’ for mental health services in Health and Justice.
Runners up:
Children and Young People – Crisis Team
Spring Ward, North View
Non-Clinical Team of the Year sponsored by Red Tree Building Contractors
Celebrates a non-clinical team that has worked together to inspire hope and improve service delivery, showcasing teamwork and dedication.
Winner:
Service User and Carer Engagement Team
The Service User & Carer Engagement Team ensures lived experience is at the heart of meaningful service improvement. By creating an inclusive and empowering culture of co-production, the team enables service users and carers to have a genuine voice in shaping and improving services across GMMH.
Runners up:
Salford Older Adults Community Mental Health - Admin Team
Workforce Systems Team
Learner of the Year
A learner who shows commitment to learning and growth, while also demonstrating care and compassion in their interactions with service users, carers, and colleagues. This individual has been a learner within the past 12 months or is currently a student or trainee.
Winner:
Thomas Dinoff, Clinical Psychologist, Specialist Community Forensic Team
Thomas has an exceptional commitment to his learning alongside his clinical responsibilities, research activity and support for colleagues. The significant amount of work he invests in his development reflects his dedication not only to his own learning, but to his service, his team and helping others to grow alongside him.
Runners up:
Ashleigh Grindey, Advanced Practitioner, Keats Ward, Meadowbrook Unit
Francesca Cottam, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Wigan Community CAMHS
Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Hill Dickinson
An apprentice who shows dedication to learning and growth, alongside care and compassion in their interactions with service users, carers, and colleagues. This individual has completed an apprenticeship within the past 12 months or is currently an apprentice.
Winner:
Kenneth Moth, Chef, Capital, Estates and Facilities
Kenneth’s journey demonstrates the fantastic opportunities that work-based learning can create. Through his dedication and continued development within GMMH, Kenneth has progressed to become a finalist in the NHS Chef of the Year competition, showcasing both his own achievements and the benefits of learning and development within the workplace.
Runners up:
Craig Hunt, Senior Peer Support Worker, Community Health and Justice
Leanne Monaghan, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Riverside Centre
Outstanding Contribution to Patient Safety Award sponsored by BD Construction
An individual or team that demonstrates an open and honest approach to improving patient safety, with tangible results.
Winner:
Victor Msimanga, Ward Manager, Acorn Ward, North View
Victor is a compassionate leader who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to both his patients and colleagues. Through his oversight of patient safety, he creates an environment where people feel able to learn, grow and challenge practice constructively. His leadership and dedication to improving patient outcomes are a fantastic reflection of GMMH’s values.
Runners up:
Dannie Farrar, Medication Safety Officer, Pharmacy
Marc Donnellan, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, A&E Liaison, North View
Outstanding Care (inpatient) Award sponsored by Kingsway Group
Recognises an individual or team that provides compassionate and respectful care to inpatients, highlighting their positive impact.
Winner:
Dr Rob Parkes, Principal Psychologist, North View
Rob provides compassionate, patient-centred and trauma-informed psychological care, taking time to personalise his approach and build genuine trust with the people he supports. His contribution extends across the multidisciplinary team, from managing complex cases and supporting family liaison to mentoring colleagues and advocating for patients. His kindness, expertise and dedication make a meaningful difference to service users, families and colleagues alike.
Runners up:
Prospect Ward, Atherleigh Park
Ruth Walters, Ward Manager, Cavendish Ward
Outstanding Care (in the Community) Award sponsored by BD Construction
Celebrates an individual or team whose community care efforts inspire hope and make a significant difference in someone's life.
Winner:
Kieran Jones, Senior Peer Support Worker, Wigan Neighbourhood Mental Health Service
Kieran uses his lived experience to make a positive difference to service users, colleagues and communities across Greater Manchester. Through trauma-informed training and his role as a Mental Health Ambassador, he brings passion and authenticity to improving people’s lives.
Runners up:
Richard Drysdale, Mental Health Practitioner, John Denmark Unit
Zuber Patel, Health Care Support Worker, Bolton Community Mental Health Team
Inclusive Leader of the Year
A leader who values and respects diversity within their team, positively impacting their team and championing inclusivity.
Winner:
Zoe Dent, Head of Operations, Eating Disorder, Perinatal and Specialist Psychology Services
Zoe is a visible champion for people with lived experience and an outstanding role model for inclusive leadership. She helps colleagues feel heard, valued and empowered, strengthens psychological safety and promotes equity in decision-making. By ensuring staff and service user perspectives remain central to improvement work, Zoe makes a tangible difference across her care group.
Runners up:
Loveness Ncube, Quality Matron, Trust-wide Urgent Care
Rebecca Yates-Dutton, Operational Manager, HMP Risley
Compassionate Leader of the Year
This special recognises a leader who embodies compassionate leadership and makes a positive difference to their colleagues, teams and the people we serve.
Winner:
Dr Patricia Nelson
Resident Doctor of the Year
This is awarded for consistently working at the top of their licence, demonstrating exceptional clinical expertise, leadership and professionalism to deliver outstanding patient care.
Joint winners:
Dr Abdul Rehman and Dr Sanchit Kapoor
Volunteer of the Year sponsored by CDW
A volunteer who shows exceptional care and compassion in their work, resulting in positive outcomes.
Winner:
Stephen Biggins, Volunteer, Chapman Barker Unit
Stephen draws on his lived experience to provide compassionate and meaningful support to patients and their loved ones. He generously gives his time to help people with their ongoing recovery, going out of his way to arrange aftercare and connect them with fellowships and community activities. His caring, down-to-earth and humorous approach embodies GMMH’s values and makes a real difference to the people he supports.
Runners up:
Kim Hale, Activities Assistant Volunteer, Achieve
Steve Ballingall, Volunteer, Meadowbrook Unit
Support Staff Star Award sponsored by DXC Technology
Recognising a support staff member in a non-clinical role who effectively collaborates with colleagues to improve patient care or services provided.
Winner:
Simon Ridley, Developer, Digital & Data Services
Simon consistently develops solutions to real problems for colleagues, with benefits that ultimately reach our patients and services. An integral part of numerous innovative digital projects across GMMH, his dedication, professionalism and commitment to improvement have delivered lasting benefits and made him one of the Trust’s quiet driving forces in using technology to improve care and services.
Runners up:
Carol Ann McCoy, Catering Supervisor, Capital, Estates and Facilities
Deborah Astley, Team Administrator, Manchester Dual Diagnosis Liaison Service
Improving Quality through Research & Innovation Award sponsored by Kingsway Group
Celebrates an individual or team that works together to drive research and innovation, leading to significant improvements in patient care.
Winner:
Melissa Lee, Ward Manager, Hayeswater Ward, Riverside Centre
Melissa’s work brings together research, innovation and collaborative improvement with the potential to make a meaningful difference to women’s lives. Her nomination demonstrates how working together to develop new approaches can translate ideas into improvements that directly benefit the people GMMH supports.
Runners up:
Bolton Electroconvulsive Therapy Clinic
Steve Lankshear, Lead Clinical Studies Officer, Research & Innovation
Financial Sustainability Award sponsored by Softcat
This award recognises individuals and teams who are finding innovative ways to maximise value and deliver greater impact while supporting excellent patient care.
Winner:
Integrated Fund Delivery Team
The Integrated Fund Delivery Team has helped more people receive the right care closer to home, reducing reliance on out-of-area placements and supporting better experiences for service users and families. The team reduced out-of-area placements by 135 from their peak, generating significant savings and enabling £11 million to be reinvested into community services.
Runners up:
Acute Care Group – Medical Leadership Team
E-Rostering & Temporary Staffing Team
Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion sponsored by DAC Beachcroft
An individual or team who values and respects diverse perspectives, creating a more inclusive environment.
Winner:
Sam Appiah-Anane, Deputy Director of Pharmacy
Sam has played an instrumental role in bringing the Change Makers podcast to life, helping increase awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion through the lived experiences of GMMH colleagues. From creating the podcast jingle to identifying guests and leading interviews, his contribution has helped produce six episodes covering a diverse range of topics and voices, turning an idea into a platform for learning and change.
Runners up:
Amanda Kane, Operational Manager, Wigan Community CAMHS
Angela Assor, Strategic Safeguarding Lead, CAMHS
Outstanding Partner Organisation Award
Celebrates a partner organisation (charity or supplier) that demonstrates exceptional collaboration and support to enhance patient care and services.
Winner:
MASH – Manchester Action on Street Health
MASH makes an exceptional and sustained difference to some of Manchester’s most vulnerable women through compassionate, innovative and person-centred support. Their advocacy and non-judgemental approach help reach people who may be unable or unwilling to engage with traditional services, while its partnership working creates meaningful improvements in health, wellbeing and access to support.
Runners up:
Great Places Housing Group – The Docherty Project
Salford CVS – Wellbeing Matters
People’s Choice Award
An individual or team that makes a positive impact on service users and carers’ experiences, demonstrating care and compassion in their interactions.
Winner:
Susan Murphy, Mental Health Nurse, HMP Hindley
Susan continues to make a profound difference by building trust and continuing to believe in the people she supports, even when they lose hope in themselves. Through encouragement, compassion and opportunities to grow, she helps service users to rediscover purpose, direction and strength. Her dedication reflects the exceptional commitment required within prison mental health services, where positive change can happen away from public view whilst having a lasting impact on someone’s life.
Runners up:
Greenway Ward and Bollin Ward, Moorside Unit
The Recovery Academy Team
Chair’s Award for Notable Contribution to the Delivery of Care
Recognises an individual or team that goes above and beyond to significantly enhance the quality of care provided to service users.
Winner:
Matthew Greatorex, Team Manager, Salford Referral and Assessment Hub
Matthew makes significant improvements to both the triage and assessment process and relationships with GMMH and partner agencies. Despite the pressures of developing a new service, he remains focused on improving care, including making communications clearer for service users. He also supports other teams through service changes, earning recognition from colleagues, service users and senior leaders.
Runners up:
Chrissy Ireland, Social Worker, Specialist Perinatal Service
Greater Manchester Inclusion Health Homeless Team
Chief Executive Award
The winner of this award was kept under wraps until the ceremony and was revealed on the night.
Winners:
Community Mental Health Teams and Older Adults Community Mental Health Teams
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