New Director - and star employee - to support most vulnerable
At West London Mental Health NHS Trust
In a week when concerns have been expressed by politicians and experts alike about the gaps in policies to protect the interests of children, West London Mental Health NHS Trust has appointed consultant psychiatrist Dr Johan Redelinghuys as Director of Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults. Co-incidentally, Johan has also just been selected by staff and service users as the Trust’s employee of the month.
Johan will start his new position imminently, moving from his current role as consultant psychiatrist at the Ealing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). The newly created role affirms the Trust’s commitment to ensure the welfare of the most vulnerable in our care is considered at all levels of the organisation.
Johan says: "Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults is everyone’s responsibility and we take this very seriously. It will be my job to initiate and lead new strategies that ensure service users are supported and have a positive experience while they engage with our services, and identify how we best give an account of the complex work we do.”
Johan’s professionalism and dedication to patient welfare over his 10 year tenure with the Trust has endeared him to both colleagues and service users alike. Most recently, his colleagues nominated him for the Trust’s Employee of the Month award. He was chosen as the winner for his work with Ealing CAMHS by a panel of staff and service users.
Anna Larter, service user and member of the judging panel says: “Dr Johan possesses all the qualities a frightened, confused child or adult might need: intense attention to patient well-being, high emotional awareness and genuine respect and interest for patient welfare. My journey would have been so much better if I’d had such a doctor when I was first unwell.”
Dr Nick Broughton, Medical Director says: “Johan is committed to providing care of the highest standard and I am sure that he will use his past experience in the Family and Young Person's Service to make an immediate and positive impact on the Trust in his new role as Director of Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.”
Johan adds: “I am looking forward to working with my colleagues and our service users to deliver on this rich agenda and visibly improve the level of support received by children, vulnerable adults and their carers."
June 13, 2011