A pioneering nurse education project delivered through a partnership between the University of West London (UWL) and London North West University Healthcare Trust (LNWUHT) has been shortlisted for a Health Service Journal (HSJ) Award 2026.
The project, ‘Caring for Those Who Care: Restorative Clinical Supervision in Critical Care Postgraduate Education,’ has been recognised in the Staff Wellbeing and Culture category, highlighting its innovative approach to supporting the health and wellbeing of critical care nurses.
Building on award-winning success
This is a new project implemented within a course design that has already received national recognition, having won Nurse Education Provider of the Year (post registration) at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2025.
As a quality improvement, it showcases the strength of academic and clinical collaboration, bringing together expertise from UWL and LNWUHT to enhance postgraduate critical care education while supporting workforce wellbeing.
Supporting critical care nurses
The project was created by Melanconia Duval Pazzaglia, Senior Lecturer Practitioner in Critical Care at UWL’s College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare (CNMH). It was developed and implemented in partnership with the education team she leads at LNWUHT and has embedded within the Trust’s postgraduate Critical Care programme over the past year.
The initiative integrates key elements of the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) role into postgraduate education, ensuring nurses have access to structured wellbeing support throughout their studies and clinical practice.
A unique collaboration
Speaking about the project, Melanconia said:
“The project focuses on embedding key elements of the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) role into the postgraduate course, with the aim of providing structured wellbeing support to Critical Care nurses throughout what is often an exceptionally demanding period.
“At the moment this is the only postgraduate course to have done so in the UK, and it is even more unique that it is a partnership between the NHS and Higher Education.”
Recognising excellence across the NHS
The winners of the HSJ Awards 2026 will be announced at a ceremony at Evolution London on 19 November 2026.
The Health Service Journal (HSJ) is a leading source of news and insight for healthcare leaders working in, for, and alongside the NHS. The annual awards celebrate outstanding innovation and impact across health and care services, recognising projects that drive excellence, improve outcomes and support the adoption of best practice across the sector.
