Assist Security Group (ASG) received two honours at the National Association for Healthcare Security (NAHS) Annual Conference and Awards 2025, held on 25–26 November at The Slate, University of Warwick.
The organization was named Healthcare Team of the Year for the performance of its St Helier University Hospital security team and also received 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 was recognized for its work across the past year, during which it saved nine lives and managed around 500 incidents each month. The team achieved a reported 99% success rate against its three-minute response target.
The unit comprises 50 security officers operating on a 24/7 basis. Their duties have covered a broad range of incidents, including suicide prevention, support to police during major investigations, and response to high-risk situations.
Incidents highlighted in the submission included the detention of an armed suspect connected to the discovery of body parts in a nearby park, and an event where officers provided first aid and reassurance to a woman who had attempted to take her life in the hospital car park, enabling clinical teams to intervene.
The team has also responded to bomb alerts, protected staff from armed threats, and supported vulnerable patients, including individuals with dementia and young people experiencing mental health crises.
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
The second award recognized ASG’s One Person, One Voice approach, introduced in July 2024. Under the model, a single trained individual leads communication during high-risk encounters, reducing overstimulation and improving clarity for patients, particularly those in mental health crisis.
The initiative has been adopted across Epsom, St Helier and Croydon hospitals. According to ASG, 446 staff have been trained, accounting for 1,784 training hours, with reported outcomes including:
2.2% reduction in staff injuries
20% increase in reporting compliance
7% rise in positive staff feedback relating to security
Training is delivered to security teams as well as clinical and administrative staff, with each participant completing four hours of instruction covering de-escalation, situational awareness, and coordinated response techniques.
Grzegorzek said:
“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.”
The programme has been delivered at no cost to the NHS and is positioned as a model that can be replicated across other Trusts.
Partnership Working
ASG’s submissions referenced collaboration with a number of 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.
Grzegorzek added:
“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.”
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.”
About Assist Security Group
Assist Security Group provides security and risk management services across the retail, healthcare, corporate and hospitality sectors. The business operates through two core divisions: Assist Security, which delivers physical security services, and ASG Protect, which provides risk advisory and intelligence-led solutions.