Sheffield Children’s shortlisted for Trust of the Year at national HSJ Awards

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for Trust of the Year at the 2025 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards – one of the most prestigious awards in UK healthcare. 

As a national leader in children’s health, we’ve spent nearly 150 years pioneering care that is rooted in the community, delivering joined-up care that meets each child and their family where they are. 

The Trust of the Year shortlist recognises the way Sheffield Children’s has worked across services and systems to improve safety, performance, equity and experience – while staying true to our values. This includes: 

• Our unwavering commitment over the past 150 years to pioneering approaches which prioritise the health and wellbeing of children and their families. 

• Outstanding emergency care performance, with over 91% of children seen within four hours 

• A strong focus on inclusion and health equity 

•  A culture of safety, learning and staff voice 

• Improved performance and financial recovery 

• Inclusive leadership and staff engagement, with the highest regional results in the NHS Staff Survey 

• Leading-edge research and innovation, including gene therapies and AI-supported triage 

• Deep-rooted partnerships and system collaboration 

• Transformational support from The Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, including the new helipad 

Ahmed, a member of our Youth Forum recently reflected on the impact Sheffield Children’s has. His words are powerful in reminding us of the importance of our role: 

“[Sheffield Children’s] provides specialised life changing care to those who need it across the country, while also stepping into the world of the young people who use it instead of asking them to step into the clinical world fully, which is a daunting ask at any age.” 

Chief Executive, Ruth Brown said: 

“We’re incredibly proud to be shortlisted for Trust of the Year. It reflects the people who make Sheffield Children’s what it is – and our shared commitment to creating healthier futures for children and young people. This recognition belongs to every person who is part of Sheffield Children’s and those we work with including children, young people and their families.” 

Celebrating PAIRS – Early Intervention and Prevention for Children, Young People and Families category 

Sheffield Children’s has also been shortlisted in the Early Intervention and Prevention for Children, Young People and Families category, recognising the impact of our Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS).The second category we are shortlisted in highlights the work of the PAIRS, which provides specialist parent-infant relationship support for families with children under two. Since 2021, PAIRS has supported over 325 families, trained hundreds of professionals, and embedded infant mental health expertise across health visiting, maternity, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the voluntary sector. 

Dr Anna Engel, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and PAIRS Team Lead, said: 

“Being shortlisted honours our commitment to the families we support, the professionals we work alongside, and our aim to ensure babies in Sheffield grow up safe, secure, and ready to explore the world. PAIRS is about educating and empowering our communities and services to understand the importance of sensitive, responsive caregiver – infant relationships, and helping future generations to live happier, healthier lives” 

The HSJ Awards ceremony will take place in London on 20 November 2025.