Mental Health Nursing Review: monthly updates
Brief updates on the work of the Scottish Mental Health Nursing Review for mental health nurses and other stakeholders who are interested in the work of the Review.
Part of
This month we have:
MHNR Implementation Group meeting
The fifth meeting of the Mental Health Nursing Review (MHNR) Implementation Group was held on 4 September, bringing members together to review progress and agree priorities for the next phase of implementation.
Stakeholder mapping exercise
A comprehensive mapping exercise has now been concluded. The exercise aimed to understand the breadth of stakeholder engagement, identify key networks supporting implementation of the Review, assess existing communication routes, and highlight opportunities to strengthen delivery of the MHNR recommendations across Scotland.
Engagement with key stakeholders
Engagement has continued with a range of key stakeholders to support implementation of the Review, including:
- Scottish Executive Nursing Directors (SEND)
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Council of Deans (Health) Scotland
- Carers Trust Scotland
- Chief Nursing Officers Directorate (CNOD)
Sub-group’s leadership confirmed
Co-Chairs have now been confirmed for the three MHNR Implementation Sub-groups that will take forward the 24 recommendations contained within the Mental Health Nursing Review. The sub-groups will focus on the Review's five themes, including strengthening the contribution and impact of the workforce, nurturing the workforce, mental health nursing leadership, and workforce education and development. Rural and island considerations will be embedded across all sub-group activity.
The three sub-groups are:
- Strengthening the Contribution and Impact of the Mental Health Profession and Nurturing the Workforce: Co-Chairs – Eileen McKenna and Julie Barrett
- Mental Health Nursing Leadership: Co-Chairs - Paula Fraser and Hamish Fulford
- Mental Health Nursing Education and Development: Co-Chairs Gillian Davies and Gwenne McIntosh
Latest MHNR podcast now live
The latest PSD Scotland podcast, “In Conversation with Alex”, is now accessible, managed by Principal Educator Gillian Davis, Public Services Delivery Scotland.
Episode 5, "Mental Health Nursing in Scotland – Continuing the Conversation with Professor Alex McMahon: Next Steps for the Mental Health Nursing Review", explores progress to date and outlines priorities for the next stage of implementation.
Supporting mental health nursing workforce research
The programme is supporting research led by Victoria Petrini, Federation University Australia, examining the factors that influence the recruitment and retention of mental health nurses in Scotland. The research will contribute valuable evidence to support future workforce planning and policy development. As part of the research study, mental health nurses are invited to complete a short online survey exploring workplace experiences, job satisfaction and work-life balance.
The survey takes approximately 5–10 minutes to complete and participation is voluntary. Findings will help inform recommendations to strengthen the mental health nursing workforce in Scotland. Colleagues are encouraged to participate in this research and to share this opportunity with eligible mental health nursing staff.
Ongoing stakeholder engagement
Monthly update meetings continue to be held with key stakeholders to maintain momentum, support collaboration and ensure alignment across implementation activity.
Looking ahead
- engagement with the Mental Health Nurse Leads Group is scheduled for October to gather views and support the progression of key workstreams
- a meeting with the Scottish Executive Nursing Directors (SEND) has been arranged for October to advance collaborative working and shared priorities
- discussions are planned to explore the potential role and contribution of Professional Nurse Advisor role in supporting the programme's aims
- agree and finalise terms of reference with each of the sub-group co-chairs
- the Mapping Report will be incorporated into the Alignment Paper to strengthen the identification of priority actions and inform stakeholder engagement
- recruitment of student representatives on MHNR implementation group to share student experiences, contribute ideas, help shape the future development of MH nursing education and practice
Further updates on the work of the implementation group and progress against the review's recommendations will be published on this page.