New roles in the Mental Health Workforce: Implementation and Experience
Recent policy documents such as the National Service Framework for Mental Health (1999), NHS Plan (2000), Policy Implementation Guidance and the Planning and Priorities Framework have driven forward considerable change in the mental health workforce. New roles have been created in order to improve patient care, to increase the number of staff and ensure best use of their skills, to enhance job satisfaction and to improve retention of skilled staff in the NHS.
A study funded by NIHR and involving a collaboration between a team from Newcastle University with colleagues at Durham University examined what difference it makes (to service users, staff and the organisation) when new jobs are developed or staff are working differently and what factors are involved in mental health workforce change that ‘works’. The project was planned and conducted with guidance and participation from service users and carers, as well as trust representatives. The research team was led by Revd Dr Pauline Pearson and also included Prof. Stephen Procter, Dr Eileen Kaner, Dr Roger Paxton, Dr Paula Whitty, Dr Claire Dickinson, Dr Alison Steven, Mr Michael Lavelle, Mr Tony McAnelly, Dr Di Bailey and Dr Di Barnes.
View short project report (pdf)
Main Contact
Dr Pauline Pearson, Project Director, medev@ncl.ac.uk.
