Evaluation of Chief Nursing Officer Review of Mental Health Nursing

Project Lead: Professor Patrick Callaghan

Collaborators: Professor Patrick Callaghan, University of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust; Dr Julie Repper, University of Nottingham; Professor Karina Lovell, University of Manchester; Professor John Playle, University of Huddersfield; Dr John Baker, University of Manchester; Dr Andrew Clifton, University of Huddersfield; Mr Torsten Shaw, Making Waves, Nottingham; Mrs Gemma Stacey, University of Nottingham; Ms Pauline Nelson, University of Manchester; Mrs Sylvia Minshull, Carer Consultant; Ms Caroline Swarbrick, University of Manchester; Professor Justine Schneider, University of Nottingham and Professor Mary Watkins, University of Plymouth.

Date: 2008-2010

In 2006, The Chief Nursing Officer’s Review of Mental Health Nursing in England was published.

The review gathered evidence from a wide range of people with a stake in mental health nursing and published 17 recommendations and associated ‘making change happen’ actions to guide the implementation of the review in Mental Health Trusts (MHTs) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

In collaboration with the Universities of Nottingham, Manchester and Plymouth, Dr Andrew Clifton was part of a research team which undertook a systematic evaluation of the impact of the review in MHTs and HEIs in England.

The study was funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme 2008-2010 and it was found that implementation of the CNO Review of Mental Health Nursing in England varies, hampered by an overall lack of an evidence-based implementation plan at both the national and local level.

A lack of strategic nursing leadership in some MHTs appeared to be associated with a lack of implementation as the review appeared to be subjugated by competing Trust priorities and a lack of awareness of it among mental health nurses.

Whilst many MHTs reported making progress towards implementation of the review recommendations when surveyed, detailed case studies with selected trusts did not always support this finding. In HEIs there are many examples of the review steering revision of mental health nursing education curricula, most notably in shifting the focus of education towards recovery approaches, as evidenced in phase two, and working in partnership with service users, carers and other stakeholders in many aspects of education, as evidenced in all phases. 

For further information, please contact Dr Andrew Clifton.