A mental health nurse from Redditch has been recognised with a Safeguarding Adults Award for the life-saving support she offered to a vulnerable person when she was out spending time with her family.
Hosted by the Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board, the awards were held to shine a light on the excellent safeguarding practices which takes place across the county.
On her day off in July, Sian O’Neill was out with her family when she spotted a person on the wrong side of a bridge in distress.
Despite it being her personal time and knowing she would miss her young daughter’s school play, which was also on her daughter’s 2nd Birthday, she prioritised the safety of the person.
She calmly approached, engaging them with empathy and understanding, building enough trust to talk them away from danger. Through her professional skill and genuine compassion, Sian successfully de-escalated the crisis and brought the person to safety—quite literally saving a life.
Sian, said: “I’m honoured and deeply thankful to have been recognised with a Safeguarding Award. Supporting a safe and caring environment is a team effort, and I’m proud to play a part in that.”
The Redditch Neighbourhood Mental Health team said: ' We are incredibly proud of Sian and the remarkable bravery she demonstrated. We are very lucky to have her in the team!'
Professor Keith Brown, Chair of Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board, said: “Sian’s story is a fantastic example of how safeguarding is everyone’s business, each and every day. I’m really pleased we as a board are coming together and are recognising Sian, not just for her quick thinking and bravery, but the humanity she showed in a moment when most would have simply passed by. She upheld the very essence of mental health nursing: putting others before self, showing up when it matters most, and treating every individual with dignity, even outside of work hours.”
Worcestershire County Council is one of three statutory partners on the Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board, (WSAB) alongside Health organisations and West Mercia Police.
The WSAB monitors the effectiveness of the safeguarding work carried out by Health and Social Care services across Worcestershire to ensure that safeguarding practice is continuously improving the quality of life of adults within our local communities.
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