The security and risk management specialist won Healthcare Team of the Year for its St Helier University Hospital security team and the Violence Prevention & Reduction Award for its One Person, One Voice initiative.
 

Healthcare Team of the Year
 

ASG's St Helier NHS Healthcare Security Team claimed the Healthcare Team of the Year award for saving nine lives in the past year whilst managing approximately 500 incidents monthly with a 99% achievement rate against their three-minute response time.
 

The team of 50 security professionals, operating 24/7 throughout the year, has responded to everything from preventing suicide attempts to assisting police with major criminal investigations. 
 

In one incident, the team detained an armed suspect linked to body parts discovered in a nearby park. In another, officers provided first aid to a woman who had attempted to take her life in the hospital car park, keeping her calm and gathering vital information that enabled clinical staff to save her life.
 

The team has also protected staff from armed threats, responded to bomb alerts, and safeguarded vulnerable patients including those with dementia and paediatric mental health patients in crisis.
 

Paul Grzegorzek, ASG's NHS Account Director, said: "These awards belong to everyone involved – our security teams, NHS clinical staff, trust leadership, and the wider healthcare community who have embraced new approaches to keeping people safe."
 

Violence Prevention & Reduction Award
 

ASG's second award recognised its One Person, One Voice initiative. Implemented from July 2024, the approach ensures a single trained individual takes responsibility for communication during high-risk interactions. This reduces confusion and overstimulation, particularly for patients in mental health crisis.
 

The initiative has been rolled out at Epsom, St Helier, and Croydon hospitals, with 446 staff trained across 1,784 training hours. Results include:

• 2.2% reduction in staff injuries despite rising violence across the NHS
• 20% improvement in reporting compliance
• 7% increase in positive staff survey feedback about security

The training extends beyond security teams to all patient-facing NHS staff, including clinicians and administrative personnel. Each participant receives four hours of focused training covering verbal de-escalation, situational awareness, and collaborative intervention.
 

"One person one voice ensures that patients aren't being overwhelmed with information, creating a more relaxed environment for them to receive care and therefore reducing the chances for violence and aggression," said Grzegorzek.

The initiative has been delivered at no cost to the NHS and provides a model that other Trusts can adopt.
 

Partnership Working
 

Both awards reflect ASG's work with NHS Trusts including Guy's & St Thomas', Croydon Health Services, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Barts Health, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
 

“I want to thank St Helier and in particular Chris Ford whose leadership and ongoing support enables the ASG team to deliver a highly effective service to protect the staff, patients and estate,” said Grzegorzek.
 

Louise T, Emergency Department manager at St Helier, said: "I love the security team at St Helier. They're always nearby, willing to help and often step in to deescalate situations before we even know they are there. They make us feel safe."