Employee Appreciation Day 2024

Today (1 March) marks Employee Appreciation Day, a special day where we take the time to recognise and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our brilliant KMPT staff.

We asked staff to nominate a colleague who they believe goes above and beyond in their role. As a testament to this, nearly 200 nominations were submitted - a sign of just how much they value their colleagues. 

From those nominations, we’re sharing seven outstanding employees who’ve shown they truly live and breathe our KMPT values daily.

Congratulations to all our nominees! And a huge thank you to all our amazing staff. Your valuable contributions don’t go unnoticed, and we appreciate the positive impact you have, making everyday a better day for our patients and staff.

Andy Inett, Applied Psychologist - nominated by Claire King

“I am nominating Andy, as an excellent leader, manager and clinician. Having worked with Andy for many years, I have always valued the trust he places in his team to work autonomously and to challenge ourselves. He is however, always there to provide support when needed, and manages to foster a feeling that we can be both autonomous but are never alone in our work.

As a working mother I have found that Andy's flexibility as a manager and his openness to thinking creatively about people's roles and working arrangements is valued so highly and makes working life as a parent much less stressful.

Andy's excellence as a leader is evidenced by how long people stay in our team and how many positive comments we get from people in the team, trainees and students about the team ethos and supportive nature of the team. This is a a particular achievement working in the field of forensics, where the clinical work can be incredibly challenging.

Andy is keen to support development within his team and has always motivated and supported us to progress within our chosen field, helping identify goals for development and explore opportunities for professional growth.

As well as his strengths in team management, Andy is an fantastic clinician who continuously motivates our team and service to excellence.  He is keen to progress the discipline of psychology and has been key in ensuring we are part of 2 national randomised control trials, adding to the evidence base for psychological therapies with people with Intellectual Disabilities.

It would be great to recognise Andy for all of his hard work and dedication to our service and team.”

Clare Streeter, Dementia Empowerment Coordinator – Voluntary Services – nominated by Elizabeth Field

“Clare is constantly coming up with new roles and finding volunteers to fill them for the benefit of our patients, staff and volunteers themselves. She supports the volunteers so well they stay involved for years, often stopping only if they come into a KMPT post - so helpful in these times where recruitment is a challenge.

With her support volunteers have worked with people with dementia supporting them to write books, speak at national conferences, put on arts events at festivals, and conduct dementia led research. Her volunteers have befriended people with dementia, and supported them with IT, transport and with engaging in community activities.

Her volunteers provide a welcoming presence at KMPT groups for people with dementia. They help with recruitment to, and administration of our service user dementia engagement groups. People with dementia have been able to do so much more than people have expected of them, thanks to her volunteers and KMPT staff working together.”

Daisy Murray, Administrator/Receptionist – nominated by Lisa Diss

“Daisy is the youngest member of our team.  She is warm and friendly towards colleagues and clients alike.  Daisy goes out of her way to obtain information for clients and if they are in distress she will talk to them for as long as it takes, in a calm and empathetic manner.

Daisy never rushes to end a call or a face to face encounter with a client, she gives them as much time as they need even if they are being difficult or abusive to her.  She remembers all of the clients' names so that she can greet them in a less formal way when they enter our reception.

Our little team is a brighter place with Daisy in it.”

Faisal Kazi, CMHSOP Team Leader – nominated by Julie Austen, Becky Dodd, DR Mary Aston, Debbie Swinnerton, Mark Perkins, Sarah Price, Sinead McGettrick, Liza Smith, Ruby Tear and Katie Evans

“Faisal is a brilliant Team Leader. He is a very hard working, knowledgeable, competent, calm person who knows his staff well and appreciates everyone's work. It is a pleasure working with him and I believe that Faisal has made Canterbury CMHSOP such a great team to work in and our clients benefit from his outstanding work ethic.”

"Faisal has been a fellow team leader with me for 7 years, he is such a great person to work with.  he is a great support to the team, he is very skilled and knowledgeable and is able to support the team clinically and managerially, he is kind and caring and always makes sure the staff are well looked after.  Faisal will make sure that staff are well and that they have the opportunity to share their opinions and make sure their voices are heard.

Faisal is very good at keeping staff moral up and will do things such as random quizzes, make people smile and have a general interest in the staff.  Due to the transformation he has been moved to another service, we are all devastated and miss him terribly "

"Faisal is a diligent colleague with great professional attitude, excellent managerial and leadership skills who is always supportive of the team.

In my opinion, he is a true asset for our trust and definitely deserves a great appreciation by KMPT."

Being a brilliant Team Leader.

Faisal is one of the kindest caring Team leader that is always available for questions and guidance with the older adult team in Canterbury - Faisal has help me grow within my role in the team and offers kind constructive feedback and is a real linchpin within the team - Faisal is a true hero within the team and is a very supportive person. 

"Fantastic role model

Calm supportive

Grounds the whole team

He can’t be bettered "

"Faisal is the most fantastic team leader. He is a calming presence, always professional and full of good sensible advice. He is so busy but always makes time to stop what he is doing to listen to staff and offer reassuring words of wisdom.

He is always appreciative of the hard work that his team does and has a good sense of humour."

Faisal is the best team leader I have work with. He is very supportive towards staff. If I need advice or if I have a "problem" at work, I always go to him. He always makes things "alright". The team is brilliant because of his excellent leadership.

"Faisal has been the most incredible team leader and he is going to be so missed. His new team are extremely lucky! His calm approach makes even the most difficult situations feel manageable and means you never feel on your own. He inspires confidence in all of us and enables everyone to do the best job they can. This all seems to come so naturally to him - I don't know how he does it!

We are going to find it so difficult to adjust to not having Faisal but the team will continue to support each other as ever and this is a huge credit to him for being integral in creating such a kind and supportive work culture."

“Faisal has been Team Leader within Canterbury CMHSOP since I joined the Team in 2019.

I was directly supervised by Faisal trough my induction to KMPT and for my probationary period.  Moving form inpatient wards to community work and Trusts was a huge transition period personally and he supported me the whole way, has I known he has with many other new staff. 

Faisal has recently moved to Thanet CMHSOP he will be missed dearly here as had such a safe and comforting aura within the Team and always knew you were alright if he was around.

Thank you for all you do Faisal Thanet are blessed to have you!”

Lee-Anne Fender, Business Support Officer, PA to Nicola George, Deputy Director of Finance and DAWN Administrator – nominated by Elizabeth Taylor

"Lee-Anne is always cheerful, helpful, and goes the extra mile.  Nothing is too much trouble.  Although we don't work together closely whenever I have had contact with Lee-Anne she is really happy to help and assist where she can even though she is super busy all of the time. 

Recently I asked her to attend a meeting to give an update on a project she had been involved with.  She was willing and without hesitation agreed to support me even though she has soon much on. 

Lee-Anne tackles new tasks without question and is a real asset to her team.  We need more Lee-Anne's."

Nazma Soormally, Liaison Psychiatry Practitioner – nominated by Sarah comfort and Allan Manalo

"Having worked in the NHS for 50 years, I feel that Nazma deserves to be recognised.

Always professional, and compassionate, goes above and beyond for patients and carers. Outstanding knowledge that Nazma shares with students and new staff, amazing Practice assessor, this is shown by positive feedback students give.

Nazma is constantly identified by patients, having been nursed by Nazma throughout the years, a nurse who represents KMPT values.

Will always make someone in distress feel cared for, listened to.

It is experience, it is genuine compassion, Nazma is a credit to Liaison, KMPT and the NHS."

“I have been working with Nazma in Liaison Psychiatry and I believe that she is one of the excellent Clinicians I have come across in my nursing career. She is very knowledgeable, efficient and reliable team member. She also puts patient first and would go beyond her role in providing outstanding patient care. She also make sure that she shares her knowledge and expertise to those who have newly joined in the team. She is also thorough in her assessment and would also consider what patients views and decisions.”

Tina Hayton, Senior Healthcare Assistant – nominated by Emmaline Collins

“When I think of KMPT's strategy "brilliant care through brilliant people", Tina Hayton immediately springs to mind. Tina truly deserves to be nominated, recognised and appreciated for her countless positive contributions, exceptional hardwork and unfaltering dedication of over 25+ years service within KMPT.

Tina's extensive knowledge, skills and experience makes her an absolute asset and an invaluable source of information, advice and support to those around her. Tina inspires through leading by positive example and consistently goes above and beyond in her role as senior healthcare assistant. Tina regularly undertakes additional lead roles and works extra shifts when the ward is short staffed to support her colleagues and maintain patient safety.

Tina is truly passionate about the wellbeing and recovery of our patients and is unwavering in her commitment and determination to promote the best standard of quality care. Tina is proactive in advocating for others and her conscientious, hardworking and compassionate disposition is both impressive and an inspiration. Thank you Tina!!”

Each of these individuals represents the best of our organisation, embodying our core values and demonstrating outstanding commitment in their respective roles.

Thank you for all that you do. Happy Employee Appreciation Day!