This year we received 222 nominations across six categories. Colleagues from across Cygnet were able to join the virtual event to celebrate our finalists and winners.
Sylvia Dubarry, Occupational Therapy Director said: “The Occupational Therapy Awards celebrate the positive contribution Cygnet’s Occupational Therapists make to the lives of the people we care for, and their loved ones, as well as to the wider Occupational Therapy team and sector as a whole.
Reading the nominations for this year’s awards has been genuinely inspiring — full of stories of innovation, compassion and brilliant practice. It’s a powerful reminder of just how much talent and dedication there is across our OT community. Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists. Thank you for everything you do, the energy and care you bring, and the difference you make every day. We’re so proud to work alongside you.”
The winners of this year’s awards are as follows.
Outstanding Occupational Therapy Practice Award
Winner: Dulcima Lilly, Specialist OT, Cygnet Alders Clinic
Dulcie’s stood out for her unwavering commitment to co-production, her values-driven leadership, and the extraordinary impact she has had on patients, families, and the entire service.
Dulcie’s work shines with integrity, creativity, and heart. She continually goes above and beyond, shaping a service where occupation is meaningful, hopeful, and transformative. Her leadership, her outcomes, and her dedication to every individual she supports make her a truly exceptional practitioner — and a worthy winner of this year’s award.
Dulcie said: “The best thing about being an Occupational Therapist is helping people rediscover what reignites their sense of purpose and brings them back to life. Every person’s journey is unique and it’s a profound privilege to build genuine human connection as we uncover strengths, nurture hope, and rebuild identity and confidence for life beyond hospital.
“Receiving this award feels especially meaningful after a challenging year. It’s a reminder that holding onto my values; compassion, integrity, hope and truly championing people’s strengths makes a difference. I’m deeply proud of what this recognition represents, and it fuels my ongoing commitment to the people I support and to the continued development of my practice.”
Practice Development & Staff Leadership Award
Winner: Alex Scordis Hutchinson, Clinical Lead OT for Neuro-Psychiatry, Cygnet Heathers
Alex’s nomination stood out for her transformational impact across an entire service line — for her unwavering dedication to supporting others, her ability to inspire confidence, and her leadership that is consistently described as empowering, compassionate, and truly life-changing for the staff she mentors.
Alex’s leadership has shaped a culture of reflection, growth, and wellbeing across Neuro-Psychiatry. She champions learning, supports teams through complex challenges, and ensures every OT she works with feels valued, supported, and capable. Her influence is felt nationally, and her commitment to developing people and practice represents the very best of our profession.
Alex said: ” It’s a real honour to receive this award. It makes me feel very proud that the Occupational Therapists’ within my service line feel supported, valued and inspired. I have a passion for always trying to improve myself as an Occupational Therapist and equally the service that we are able to provide within Neuropsychiatry. With the support from the Occupational Therapists in my team, we have been able to make significant changes to advance our practice and the service we deliver to our patients.
“There are so many things that I love about being an Occupational Therapist, being able to support my patients to succeed in their rehabilitation and re-gain their independence is by far the greatest aspect of my job, but also seeing the Occupational Therapist that I support develop a love and passion for working within Neuropsychiatry is an absolute privilege.”
Practice Education & Workforce for the Future Award
Winner: Fiona Safrany, Senior Occupational Therapist, Cygnet Oaks
Fiona’s nomination stood out for her unwavering dedication, her generosity with her time and expertise, and the way she quietly, consistently lifts others up. We are incredibly proud to recognise Fiona’s outstanding contribution to education and workforce development. She is a shining example of OT values in action, and a very worthy winner of this year’s award.
Research, Innovation & Measured Impact Award
Winner: Acute & PICU Occupational Therapy Sensory Strategies QI Project
The winning project stood out for its depth, its originality, and its extraordinary impact across some of the most challenging environments in mental health care.
This team’s work is nothing short of transformational. This project is a shining example of what happens when occupational therapists lead with evidence, compassion, and ambition. It is research with real-world impact — and it is changing practice nationally.
Neil Voakes, Occupational Therapy Lead at Cygnet Hospital Harrogate, said: “We were thrilled to win the award for our Sensory Strategies QI project. The project was a labour of love by a group of exceptional Cygnet Occupational Therapists within the Acute and PICU service line. Shout out to Theoca Fredericks, Chloe Cafferty, Sarah Prinn, Courtney Greene, Katie Metcalfe, and Michelle van Vuren.
“This project has enabled us to support the reduction of behaviours that challenge and has seen recognition from external stakeholders. I am incredibly proud of the team. We would also like to thank the support we received from the OT directors, QI Team and to all the Senior Management and Multi-disciplinary teams that were involved in the roll out within the pilot sites.”
Outstanding OT Assistant Award
Winner: Sahar Alhabaj, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Cygnet Hospital Clifton
The nomination recognised Sahar as an exceptional Occupational Therapy Assistant whose creativity, compassion, and commitment have had a profound impact on both service users and colleagues at Cygnet Hospital Clifton. Since joining in 2023, she has approached every part of her role with enthusiasm, reliability, and an unwavering drive to improve the service. Her willingness to learn, try new approaches, and translate training into meaningful practice has already resulted in enhanced patient experience and outcomes.
Her commitment, professionalism, and positivity have made her a true pillar of the OT team. Sahar embodies everything this award stands for, and we are thrilled to recognise her exceptional contribution. Congratulations, Sahar — a truly deserving winner.
Sahar said: “This award means a lot to me. It not only acknowledges the effort I have put into working within a new culture and language, but also reflects the meaningful journey I have been privileged to share with the people I serve. It is an honour to give back to the community that has welcomed and hosted me.
“Being recognised as an Outstanding Occupational Therapy Assistant for 2025 is a powerful reminder of why this work matters. I am truly grateful for every service user and every colleague who has shaped my experience and contributed to this journey.”
Sarah Thompson Legacy Award
Winner: Hannah Burkinshaw, Occupational Therapist, Gledholt Mews and Coach House
This award is in memory of Sarah Thompson – a beloved colleague who embodied warmth, purpose, and professional pride.
The nomination acknowledged that Hannah truly lives and breathes occupational therapy. She bridges theory and practice effortlessly, dedicates large amounts of her own time to CPD, and consistently puts the needs and well-being of her service users at the heart of every decision. Her drive, compassion, and determination to improve OT provision make her a rising star and an inspiration within our profession.
Hannah is a shining example of what the future of our profession looks like: innovative, values-driven, and relentlessly focused on meaningful, person-centred transformation. We are incredibly proud to recognise her achievements.
Hannah said: “I am deeply honoured to have received the Sarah Thompson Legacy Award. The ceremony was inspiring and a testament to the remarkable achievements of colleagues across the company. I am grateful for the outstanding support, mentorship, and opportunities I have experienced early in my career at Cygnet, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in the profession that I love.
“What I value most about Occupational Therapy is its inherently person-centred nature, which encourages creative problem solving and a genuine understanding of the individuals we support.”
Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists, and thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination, as well as our judges.
Well done also to the team who, at incredibly short notice, were able to relocate the ceremony due to damage caused at the original venue by Storm Claudia.
Victoria Wisniewski, Occupational Therapy Director said: “Finding out we needed to find a new venue at 4pm on a Saturday sent us into what can only be described as a full-blown OT version of The Amazing Race: rapid problem-solving, creative adaptation, highly coordinated crisis planning, and at least three people Googling ‘is torrential roof damage classed as a sensory stimulus?’
“But, true to form — because if anyone can turn chaos into calm, it’s OTs — we rallied, we adjusted, and we found the only alternative venue in Stoke on Trent! And honestly… it wouldn’t be a Cygnet OT event without a small dose of unexpected drama to keep us all on our toes. So thank you to everyone for rolling with us, and for joining us to celebrate the extraordinary talent, compassion, and innovation across our OT community.”