Kate Manning has been named the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) Star of the Future at the organisation’s Trust-wide staff awards ceremony. The Trust provides community and mental health services in east London and in Bedfordshire and Luton.
Kate, a graduate from Brighton University who joined ELFT in 2023, is based at the Trust’s mental health inpatient services at Calnwood Court, on the site of the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital.
She received the Star of the Future aware in recognition of her commitment to always delivering the highest standard of care for the people she supports and for continuously developing her clinical skills.
Her path to joining the OT team began following admission to one of the Trust’s inpatient wards, when she experienced first-hand the positive impact OTs can have on individuals in crisis.
“Her lived experience is a significant strength, allowing her to advocate effectively for service users and to ensure their voices are central to all aspects of care,” said her awards citation.
“Kate’s unique insight, together with her dedication to both personal and professional development, marks her out as a future leader in the field.”
Kate said she was honoured to receive the award.
“I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside the inspiring people who use our service,” she said.
“It’s a privilege to draw on my lived experience to help ensure we deliver truly compassionate, person-centred care. I hope to contribute to the continued development of the occupational therapy profession and to ELFT’s vision of keeping service users at the heart of all we do."
OTs help people recover and live fulfilling lives by supporting them to take part in everyday activities that are important to them. They work with individuals to build confidence, develop practical skills, and manage the effects of mental health conditions.