An NHS eating disorder service that treats adults with severe eating disorders at home instead of in hospital has been shortlisted for a national award. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust said on 11 November 2026 that its Step Care service is a finalist in the Mental Health Innovation of the Year category at the HSJ Awards 2026.

The service is run with the HOPE Thames Valley Adult Eating Disorders Provider Collaborative. Its entry is titled “Integrated Step Care: Bringing Intensive Specialist Eating Disorder Treatment Home”, and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 19 November.

What Step Care does

Step Care offers an alternative to hospital admission where that is clinically appropriate, and it supports people as they recover after leaving hospital. Treatment is personalised and delivered with local community teams. It includes psychological therapy, nutritional support, supported meals and regular clinical reviews.

The service uses digital technology to deliver enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy, known as CBT-E, through a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, specialist nurses, dietitians and an art therapist.

Results from 66 patients

A peer-reviewed evaluation published in the Journal of Eating Disorders in February 2026 reported encouraging results among 66 patients treated between June 2023 and June 2025. Of those patients, 91% completed treatment, despite an average illness duration of nearly 13 years.

Among patients on the admission-avoidance pathway, 74% avoided hospital admission altogether. Patients treated to prevent admission showed significant improvements in weight, eating disorder symptoms and psychological functioning, while patients stepping down from hospital maintained a healthy weight.

By reducing reliance on inpatient care, Step Care has also generated estimated cumulative cost savings of more than £4 million since 2023.

Patients and carers shaped the service

Patient and carer feedback has been central to how the service developed. One patient said: “I could stay at home and still get the support I needed. It made recovery feel more possible.”

Carers have particularly valued the continuity of support after hospital discharge. One carer said: “Discharge used to feel like falling off a cliff, but this time there was a plan in place.”

Dr Michael Holland, chief executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that Step Care has been recognised as a finalist in the HSJ Awards. This is a significant achievement for our teams and partners.”

He added that Step Care shows what can be achieved when services work together to provide specialist treatment around patients’ individual needs, and thanked the patients and carers who helped shape the service.

What happens next

The HSJ Awards shortlist confirms Step Care as one of the finalists in its category, alongside other mental health projects from across England. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on 19 November 2026.

Sources: Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and HSJ Awards 2026 shortlist.