Led by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), the service was recognised for its integrated, child-centred approach, which brings healthcare, mental health support, safeguarding and criminal justice services together in one setting.

The Lighthouse is the UK’s first Barnahus, or Child House, service and was established as an alternative to fragmented care pathways that can require children to visit multiple services and repeatedly recount traumatic experiences.

Since opening in 2018, it has supported more than 3,000 children and families across North Central London. More than 80 per cent of children using the service access mental health support, while facilities for video-recorded interviews and court-related services are provided on site.

According to UCLH, 99 per cent of children and young people using the service report feeling listened to, respected and well supported. An independent evaluation has also estimated that the service generates around £3 of future social and economic value for every £1 invested.

The Lighthouse initially won the Joined-Up Care Experience and Long-term Improvements in Experience of Care categories at the PEN Awards before being selected as the overall winner, based on judges’ scores and votes from attendees at the awards ceremony, held at the University of Birmingham on 1 October.

Dr Sara Lakin, clinical psychologist at The Lighthouse UCLH, said: ‘This award recognises the dedication and hard work of our whole team over many years. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and of the difference this work makes to the lives of children and young people.

‘We remain passionate about continuing to deliver the holistic support every child deserves through this model and about reaching even more children who have experienced sexual abuse, so they can access the care they need.’

Ruth Evans, founder of the PEN Awards, described The Lighthouse as ‘a model and a beacon for the future’, highlighting the way the service has incorporated the voices of children and young people into its approach.

The Lighthouse was one of 18 projects recognised at this year’s PEN Awards, which celebrate patient experience and person-centred care across health and social care.

Other winners included the Chinese University of Hong Kong for its Post-Discharge Information Summary initiative, designed to improve communication as patients move from hospital to home, and Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust for its ‘That One Person’ programme, which involves Patient Safety Partners in safety training, complaints and organisational improvement.

The winning projects are featured in a new Picker report, ‘Learning from the Best – celebrating patient experience innovations to help deliver the 10 Year Plan’.