NHS Lothian has been honoured with three Mental Health Nursing Forum Awards.
The ‘Earn while you Learn’ NHS Lothian and Open University pilot scheme designed to broaden access to Graduate Mental Health Nursing won the best ‘Innovations in Education’ award. It also went on to be declared the ‘Overall Winner’ of the 9 categories of awards.
The pilot was set up in Royal Edinburgh and Associated Services to help address local mental health nursing workforce gaps, as a result of national shortages. It also aims to maintain the Healthcare Support Workforce within clinical services during the 4-year duration of the program. Candidates were recruited specifically to undertake nurse training through this route from the outset of their employment, which builds on experience from a similar model for existing Healthcare Support Workers. Support Workers can also be supported to access nurse training through the Open University.
The Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Unscheduled Care Service also received a highly commended award for its new initiative to ensure children and young people who do not always meet the CAMHS assessment criteria can still access help and support.
The Mental Health Nursing Forum ScotlandAwards recognise the role mental health nurses play in improving the experience and outcomes of care for people experiencing mental health issues alongside the development of innovative mental health nursing-led practice.
Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, speaking at the awards announced that a national review of Mental Health Nursing in Scotland will commence this Autumn and will consider new access routes into nursing based on the NHS Lothian and Open University pilot.
It is anticipated that NHS Lothian will now have an additional 40 Registered Mental Health nurses over 2 cohorts, who will be eligible for permanent Band 5 appointments upon completion of their Honours Degree program, in addition to those student nurses completing degrees through the Scottish Government commissioned student nurse training places.
Tracey McKigen, Services Director for the Royal Edinburgh and Associated Services at NHS Lothian, said, “I am delighted that the ‘Earn while you Learn’ pilot programme has been awarded overall winner and that the CAMHS Tier 2 service has been highly commended at the awards.
“Across our mental health services, and with support from clinical education colleagues, many teams and individuals have worked tirelessly to introduce these initiatives successfully and ensure they support clinicians, patients, and families in a meaningful way. This recognition is testament to that drive and determination.
“The ‘Earn while you Learn’ pilot can transform access to mental health nursing while the CAMHS service adopts an early intervention approach to ensure we’re delivering the best patient care possible. I’m looking forward to seeing both programmes evolve and thrive going forward.”
NHS Lothian’s CAHMS Tier 2 Service was commended with widening access to support services for over 280 children and young people during an 8-month period. It is now looking to roll-out the model across GP clusters within NHS Lothian.
