STAFF MEMBER RECOGNITION
The NAPICU 2026 Awards will be held at the Gala Dinner hosted on Thursday 17th September 2026 at Radisson Blu, Glasgow.
Shining a Spotlight on Those Who Make a Difference
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Who Can be nominated?
Any member from a Psychiatric Intensive Care Service who are members of NAPICU, can nominate a staff member for the recognition award 2026. Members of the NAPICU Executive Committee may not be nominated.
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Judging Criteria
The multi-disciplinary panel of independent judges will shortlist the nominees based on written submissions. Short listed nominee will be invited to attend the conference and NAPICU will present the staff member recognition award winner at the Gala dinner on Thursday 17th September.
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The Prize
The Staff Recognition Award winner will be presented with a trophy, certificate, and a voucher of with the value of £200.
How to nominate your colleagues
Applicants are required to submit a statement of up to 300 words in support of their nominee.
While nominations are open to all PICU staff in recognition of their dedication and hard work, we particularly encourage submissions that highlight colleagues who have achieved meaningful impact within their PICU. This may include outstanding contributions to team working, service development, innovation, or leadership that help shape the future of PICU care.
Nominations should clearly describe how the individual’s work demonstrates excellence, inspires change, and contributes to the ongoing development of PICU services, in keeping with the conference theme, “30 Years On: Shaping the Future of PICU.”
Closing date for nominations is Monday 25th May 2026
Shortlisted nominees will be contacted by Monday 8th June 2026
Please note: It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure that the staff member being nominated is aware of their nomination.
While we appreciate colleagues may want to provide multiple nominations, each nominee will be considered once by the NAPICU Executive Committee. All testimonies submitted will be compiled and reviewed collectively, but only one nomination per individual will count toward the decision-making process.
previous Staff Recognition Award Winners
2024 winner
Cornelia Beyers from Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Her team said "Her dedication to patient-centred care is nothing short of inspiring. They bring compassion and empathy to every interaction, and have worked tirelessly to create a safer, more structured environment for both patients and staff."
2025 Winner
Takudzwa Ushe from Cygnet Healthcare. Her team said "They have championed projects such as reflective practice, community meetings and culture of care reviews initiatives that have enhanced psychological safety, improved communication, and strengthened co-production between patients, carers, and staff."
2026 winner
Who will be our 2026 winner? It could be someone you know. Submit your nomination now!
ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPENING 5TH MARCH 2026
Showcase Your Work in PICU – Submit Your Abstract Today!
The NAPICU Annual Conference is your opportunity to present your research or practice-related projects in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) and Low Secure Units (LSUs). Your work does not have to align with the conference theme—this is your chance to showcase valuable contributions to psychiatric care.
Submission Deadline & Key Dates
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Submission Deadline: Monday, 25th May 2026
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Shortlisted Applicants Notified: Monday, 8th June 2026
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Conference Registration Deadline for Presenters: Monday 3rd August 2026. Abstract Winners for Posters & Oral Presentation will be announce at the Gala Dinner Awards, please ensure you have a ticket to attend or a colleague can attend on your behalf to accept the award.
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Final Abstract & Photograph for Oral Presenters: Required before the conference.
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Final PDF Submission for Posters: Required for display on the NAPICU Conference App/Website.
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Oral Presentations: 15–20 minute slots alongside keynote speakers.
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Poster Presentations: Displayed at the conference for judges & delegates to view throughout the conference.
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You can submit for an oral, poster, or both. Judges will determine the final format for each accepted submission.
- Title: Does it accurately reflect the study and method?
- Introduction: Is it clear and relevant to advancing mental health care?
- Aims: Are the aims well-defined?
- Methods: Is the rationale sound? Are the objectives, design, and methods appropriate?
- Results: Are findings clearly presented and supported by evidence?
- Conclusion: Do the conclusions align with the findings?
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Oral Presentation Winner: £200
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Poster Presentation Winner: £100
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Winning submissions may be published in the Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care (subject to peer review, please note this is not guarenteed).
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Winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner Awards on Thursday, 17th September 2026.
Prepare an abstract (350–500 words; max 350 if including a table or figure).
Choose a category:
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Research
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Quality Improvement
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Service Development
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Service Evaluation
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Other (provide details upon submission)
Use the required Abstract Template with the following structure:
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Introduction/Background
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Aims & Objectives
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Methods
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Results
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Conclusion
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References
IMPORTANT: Abstracts are reviewed anonymously—do not include author names or affiliations in the document.
Winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner Awards on Thursday, 17th September 2026.
