A CHESTER health unit has won a prestigious award at this year’s National Children and Young People’s Mental Health Awards.

The awards ceremony, which was held on Saturday, May 11, recognised Ancora House, which opened in Chester in 2016, for its levels of service and care.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s £14m mental health unit provides inpatient and day patient care for children and young people with severe and/or complex mental health conditions.

Praised for including young people and their families in all stages of its development- from initial design through to continued improvement of services, as well as their work with the Land Trust in facilitating activities for young people on the site’s corresponding country park.

The unit’s short-stay school, which provides education and support to young people who are admitted to Ancora House, has been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted.

Clair Jousting Moulder, Participation Lead at Ancora House, who nominated Ancora for the award, said: "I am proud to nominate Ancora House for the inpatient care award as the team works very hard to support young people on their recovery journey, sometimes through very challenging times.’’

Sheena Cumiskey, Chief Executive at CWP- a Foundation Trust that provides health and care services for local people in partnership with other organisations, echoed those sentiments.

She said: "The unit is a great example of co-production that continues to go from strength to strength. The team involve young people, their parents and carers as much as possible to improve the recovery journey.’’