Organised by NHS South East Coast, the Awards honour the innovative and inspirational achievements of teams and individuals across the south east coast region.

The Leadership for Improvement Award is described as recognising, 'great leadership approaches or leaders that can demonstrate positive and sustained impact on patients, service users and staff'.

The Irvine unit provides valuable rehabilitation services for the elderly, provided by Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust, and it was thanks to the innovative and forward thinking of the unit's intermediate care team that ultimately lead to them being honoured with the award.

The Irvine unit's intermediate care team were selected for the award having worked closely with all staff and listening to their concerns, with the goal of finding solutions within the hospital team rather than externally.

As a result the hospital now has clear admissions criteria, an integrated set of patients records and improved staff training.

Staff were encouraged to voice their opinions and initiate the improvement process, enabling them to take early ownership of these projects, fostering a culture of staff-led change, with all employees feeling a part of a united team, working together towards the common objective of providing the best care possible for their patients.

In addition, ensuring that patients' views on their care are central to all improvements, surveys are conducted and questionnaires issued following discharge.

Thus patients, their families and carers, are involved in care and treatment planning, facilitating the nurturing of strong relationships between patients and hospital staff.

The length of patients stay has been reduced and the patients' reports of their care is now more positive.

In addition staff staying employed at the hospital has greatly improved, with increased staffing levels enabling the team to deliver care more effectively and efficiently.

Head of Unscheduled Care at the Irvine Unit, Alice Webster said she is delighted the unit won the award and that it is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the unit's caring team.

Alice said: "My pride for this work has come through watching the unit and its staff grow and develop and believe in themselves and the care that is delivered."