The theme for this year’s conference was Beyond risk: advancing suicide prevention through partnership and practice. Once again, the free, CPD accredited event was open to clinicians internal and external to Cygnet.
Our CEO, Dr Tony Romero said: “These awards are a testament to the achievements of our dedicated doctors and their teams. Their motivated, compassionate, and value-driven approach makes a profound difference in the lives of our service users and residents. The commitment and willingness of our staff to consistently go above and beyond ensures we are effectively improving lives together. Our finalists and award winners provide high-quality, safe, and person-centred care, offering the people in our care hope for a brighter future by keeping them and their families at the core of our work.”
Our Group Clinical Director, Dr Jon Van Niekerk added: “The awards are a powerful reminder of what this looks like in practice. Each winner represents the very best of our values, colleagues who embody compassion, creativity and resilience in their daily work. I know these stories will inspire all of us to continue striving for safer, more relational, and more hopeful mental health care.”
The winners of this year’s awards are as follows.
Cygnet Lifetime Achievement Award ‘The Swan Award’
Announced by Dr Tony Romero, Group CEO, Cygnet. Presented by Dr Jon Van Niekerk.
Winner: Dr Md Ashraful Bari, Cygnet Heathers
What truly sets Dr Bari apart is his “can-do” attitude and exceptional problem-solving abilities. He approaches difficult tasks with determination, always finding alternative strategies when faced with challenges. His interpersonal skills are exemplary, fostering open communication and respect among all staff members, which in turn supports their excellent leadership qualities. He is an innovative thinker, often devising “outside of the box” solutions to complex problems, and generously sharing his valuable academic knowledge through teaching sessions for doctors, nursing staff, and support workers.
Dr Bari has been instrumental in driving high-quality care, particularly in neuropsychiatric services managing extremely complex individuals. His efforts played a key role in Cygnet Heathers recently being rated “Outstanding” by a leading brain injury association. The feedback from his team, commissioners, and community teams consistently highlights him as an invaluable asset to any organisation.
Cygnet Educator of the Year
Announced by Prof Subodh Dave, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Presented by Jenny Gibson, HR Director.
Winner: Dr Rajesh Rama Iyer, Cygnet Hospital Colchester
Dr Rajesh Rama Iyer was nominated for the Medical Educator of the Year award for his pivotal role in developing and relaunching the new portfolio pathway programme. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership by incorporating ideas from both experienced supervisors and doctors completing the pathway to enhance accessibility.
Despite his demanding clinical schedule, Dr Rama Iyer ensures that all doctors in the programme have supervisors and meticulously creates an annual programme of facilitated groups, actively participating in both. He is described as an inspiring role model and motivator, deeply passionate about his role. This passion is evident in the high participation rates in his monthly teaching sessions. His dedicated efforts have significantly propelled the momentum of this programme.
“I am truly humbled and honoured to receive the Cygnet Educator of the Year Award. This recognition is not just a reflection of my own efforts, but of the incredible support, collaboration, encouragement, and shared dedication of everyone around me.”Dr Rajesh Rama Iyer
Cygnet Medical Leader of the Year
Announced by Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford OBE and Senior Independent Board Director, Cygnet. Presented by Shane Mills, Group Director of Nursing.
Winner: Dr Ajay Bhatnagar, Cygnet Hospital Blackheath
Dr Ajay Bhatnagar consistently demonstrates a deeply patient-centred approach and profound compassion in all his interactions. His self-awareness allows him to connect empathetically with both patients and colleagues. A notable example of his commitment to acting with integrity and managing himself is his immediate response to review a collapsed patient in the community while on leave, showcasing dedication beyond standard expectations. As an experienced clinician and respected medical educator at King’s Medical School, he continuously refines his expertise and shares his knowledge, setting a benchmark for lifelong learning.
“Being named Medical Leader of the Year is a deeply humbling honour.”Dr Ajay Bhatnagar
Cygnet Mental Health Team of the Year
Announced by Stephen Firn OBE, CEO Health Care, Cygnet. Presented by Mark Ground, Chief Financial Officer.
Winner: Castle Ward, Cygnet Hospital Godden Green
Castle Ward at Cygnet Hospital Godden Green a 13-bed Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, or PICU, has showcased outstanding dedication over the past year. Since increasing its capacity from 12 to 13 beds in 2024, Castle Ward has successfully admitted an impressive 563 patients and facilitated safe, therapeutic discharges. This achievement is a testament to the team’s outstanding teamwork, robust clinical governance, and patient-centred culture.
In March 2025, Castle Ward received the prestigious QNPICU Accreditation, a recognition of their unwavering commitment to national standards in PICU care. They have successfully received Triangle of Care accreditation, ensuring active collaboration between patients, carers, and clinical teams. Their strong focus on family involvement helps address inequalities often experienced in intensive mental health settings, creating a more inclusive and empowering environment for both patients and carers.
“We are deeply honoured and humbled to receive the Best Ward of the Year Award. This award is both a celebration of what we have accomplished together and an inspiration to strive for even greater excellence in the future.”Festus Oduntan, Ward Manager – Castle Ward
Cygnet SAS Doctor of the Year
Announced by Dame Clare Gerada, Non Executive Director, Cygnet. Presented by Dr Dale Lawrence, Responsible Officer.
Winner: Dr Nicola Tavares-Mott, Cygnet Raglan House
Dr Nicola Tavares-Mott was nominated for the SAS Doctor of the Year award due to her exceptional contributions, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, and her unwavering dedication to patient care and staff development at Cygnet Raglan House.
In addition to her ADHD work, Dr Tavares-Mott has run care groups with other staff members, which have been highly appreciated by patients’ families. She regularly provides teaching sessions to staff at Raglan House during their weekly meetings, sharing her knowledge and contributing to the continuous professional development of her colleagues.
Dr Tavares-Mott’s significant impact on patient lives, her proactive approach to addressing unmet clinical needs, and her commitment to education make her a truly deserving winner of the SAS Doctor of the Year award.
Cygnet Consultant Psychiatrist of the Year
Announced by Dr Shubulade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Presented by Dr Salim Matta, Divisional Medical Director – North Region.
Winner: Dr Gourinath Tokachichu, Cygnet Fountains
Dr Gourinath Tokachichu has been lauded for his exceptional clinical practice, compassionate patient care, supportive team leadership, and commitment to continuous learning and service improvement at The Fountains.
He is described as a kind, caring, and compassionate individual who genuinely listens to patients and respects their views. He always prioritises the least restrictive options and makes an effort to discuss and resolve disagreements, striving to accommodate patient wishes. He builds good rapport with service users and has received numerous compliments.
Group Clinical Director – Special Recognition Award
Presented by Dr Jon Van Niekerk, Group Clinical Director, Cygnet.
Winners:
- Cygnet Hospital Stevenage
- Dr Mark Luffingham, Cygnet Alders Clinic
- Dr Surur Davids, Cygnet Hospital Beckton
Cygnet Hospital Stevenage has demonstrated exceptional resilience and a steadfast commitment to clinical excellence amidst significant challenges, and they truly deserve special recognition for this. The recent retooling of two critical wards necessitated substantial staff re-shuffling and the provision of additional support, a complex undertaking that the site managed remarkably well. This success was underpinned by the phenomenal collaborative efforts between the Hospital Manager (HM) and the Medical Director (MD), whose unified leadership ensured seamless transitions and maintained high standards of patient care.
Dr Mark Luffingham brings a wealth of clinical experience, leadership and wisdom to Cygnet. His long-standing dedication has been instrumental in elevating the standard of care and fostering a culture of clinical excellence. For many years, he has not only driven high-quality patient care but has also profoundly impacted the team by equipping them with the essential skills and confidence required to effectively manage complex patients with Personality Disorder and co-morbid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Dr Surur Davids is an exceptionally deserving candidate for this award, having dedicated over 20 years of distinguished service to Cygnet Health Care, where he has made significant contributions to shaping and maintaining the remarkably high standards of care on the Personality Disorder ward. His calm approachable nature and hard work has created an environment where patient well-being is consistently prioritised and clinical excellence is the norm.
Congratulations to all our nominees, finalists and winners in this year’s awards. Thanks also to our judges and guest presenters for this year’s awards.