MERSEY Care’s Community Mental Health Services have been granted the prestigious Gold Award for the NHS England Lived Experience Charter, a set of standards recognising excellence in inclusive recruitment and retention practices of people with lived experience. 

The Lived Experience Charter has been achieved by 99 services since being launched in 2020, but only 20 have been granted the Gold Award, the highest level available. The assessment panel described Mersey Care’s submission was 1 of the best they had seen.

They praised its commitment to flexibility, tailored work plans, governance and planning groups demonstrated genuine co-production which gives lived experience a voice in shaping policy. The panel highlighted an induction programme promoting wellbeing and confidence, with clear pathways for progression and robust Trauma Informed training which fosters a psychological safe workplace.

Helena Keeley, Head of Nursing for Mersey Care’s Community Mental Health Services, said:- “Our Trust prides itself on inclusion - it’s not an add on – and it’s built into how we recruit, support and develop our workforce and is key to the continued provision of high quality care to our communities. We’re delighted to have received the Gold Award because it’s recognition for the work and innovation of many different people and also shows the pathways and practices we’ve introduced are achieving results. It gave us the opportunity to reflect on the exceptional work already happening across our services to ensure lived experience is valued, represented, and integrated into everything we do.”

Each application for the Lived Experience Charter is judged on 6 different criteria - Open and Inclusive Recruitment, Awareness and Benefits, Support Through Employment, Clear Progressive Pathways, Workplace Environment and Culture and Co-Production and Good Practice – and each award follows a long and thorough application process.

The assessment panel noted the Mersey Care team “exemplifies what it means to be values-driven and inclusive. From peer support resources that instil confidence, to trauma-informed supervision focused on strengths, you’ve created an environment where people feel connected and empowered. Your commitment to flexibility and tailored work plans shows you truly listen to individual needs – ‘It’s not 1-size-fits-all,’ - and that’s powerful… your approach is collaborative, compassionate, and forward-thinking - an outstanding example of best practice.”