HR executive awarded top accolade

A HR executive at a West Midlands NHS Trust has scooped a top industry award for the work she’s carried out in supporting staff and improving experiences for patients and communities.

Meagan Fernandes, Deputy Chief People Officer at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, was given the Deputy Director of the Year accolade in the HPMA (Healthcare People Management Association) Excellence in People Awards.

She was praised for her work in delivering the Trust’s People Plan which focuses on the role that leaders should play in ensuring staff flourish and thrive at the organisation and increasing access to education and employment opportunities for the local communities surrounding the area.

The Trust runs Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals and Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre, as well as GP services.

Meagan said: “It’s a real honour to receive this recognition from one of the leading organisations in the industry. The Trust has been working hard to introduce a meaningful plan which improves the experiences of our staff and delivers enhanced outcomes for our patients and communities.

“Through this we have introduced our values which are ambition, respect and compassion, a leadership programme that helps embed this further and a comprehensive education and employability programme with local partners. These initiatives increase opportunities for our communities to thrive and meet our regeneration commitments linked to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital opening next year and the Learning Campus which will be based at the new hospital site. They are a reflection of what is best about us and what matters most to us, the people we care for and the wider community we serve.

“The behaviour of our staff has a positive impact on the experiences of our patients and I’m pleased to be driving this forward with the team I work with.”

During the ceremony, Meagan was described as a “values driven and authentic leader who was relentless in the pursuit of success”.

The HPMA Awards event was held in Leeds during a two-day conference. Established nearly 50 years ago, the body boasts more than 5,000 members ranging from HR directors and deputy directors from across healthcare. It aims to support and develop the profession to improve the management of people leading to better patient care.