An Assistant Psychologist at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has won a prestigious award in recognition of how she goes the extra mile for her patients and colleagues.
Fauzia Khan, who works in the Trust’s Sandwell Older Adults Enhanced Community Mental Health Team, won the ‘Outstanding Mental Health Professional Award’ at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards earlier this month.
The awards, which took place virtually, are nominated for by the public and recognise mental health professionals who have made a real difference through their work and celebrate excellence in mental health and well-being interventions. The judging panel consisted of clinicians and mental health organisations.
Fauzia first joined Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which is the lead provider for mental health, learning disability and autism services in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, in 2016.
Alongside working in both urgent and planned care services for adults over the years, and more recently older adults, Fauzia has always dedicated her time to improving patient’s experience.
She has also thrown herself into supporting her colleagues by providing wellbeing support, mentoring and mental health awareness workshops for her peers.
Fauzia is also passionate about breaking down barriers to the psychology profession. She has recently contributed to a new book where she shared her experience of entering the world of psychology from a minoritised and underprivileged background with the hope of inspiring others to pursue a career in psychology.
Celebrating her win, Fauzia said: “I have previously been shortlisted as a Finalist for the UK Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards, so I was all the more thrilled to learn that I was once again nominated, shortlisted and this time around picked as a winner in the category of an outstanding mental health professional.
“It is a huge honour to be acknowledged and recognised at a national level for making a difference to people’s lives, and something that I am immensely proud of. I would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone, past and present that has been a part of my journey, because this award would not have been possible without them.”
Ann Detheridge, Older Adult Divisional Lead Psychologist at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, added: “I am so proud of Fauzia and she whole-heartedly deserves to be honoured in winning such a prestigious award.
“Her work ethic is second-to-none and she is an asset to our older adult psychology team, not only for her commitment but also for her caring and charming nature – always happy to help, to further the reach of psychology and to promote the health and wellbeing of staff.”