MHNAUK has 3 main sub-groups, spanning the topics of Policy and Practice, Education and Research. Each group has a Chair, elected for a 2-3 year term by the members of MHNAUK, and meets at 6-8 week intervals. Any member of MHNAUK with an interest in the sub-group topic can attend meetings at any time, although contributions to the work of the groups on a regular basis is encouraged. The aims of the sub-groups are to

• Contribute directly to MHNAUK’s biennial plan, agreeing a minimum of one prioritised objective and associated set of actions.

• Horizon scan for issues, developments and challenges in its area of expertise, to consider the implications of these for mental health nursing and to share intelligence within the larger organisation.

• Produce working papers, responses (and related), and serve as a source of internal and external advice.

• Act as a resource of individuals with expertise able to contribute to external processes, consultations and groups.

POLICY & PRACTICE SUB-GROUP

Chris Wagstaff (University of Birmingham) was elected as Chair of the group in 2022 and will serve until 2024.

More information on Chris Wagstaff can be found here.

The role of the Policy and Practice Sub-Group included raising awareness amongst group members, and the wider MHNAUK group, of UK mental health policies, and their ramifications for mental health nurse education and practice, as well as users of mental health services.

Potentially Policy & Practice Sub-Group can impact emergent UK policy.  Through having an awareness of policy and practice issues, listening to the opinions and suggestions of both standing group members and the wider MHNAUK, and liaising closely with the MHNAUK Chair and Vice-Chair, the group can give timely responses to national bodies about the issues that matter to mental health nurses, students, academic and service users.  Group members have collaborated successfully to publish in peer reviewed journals, and write editorials and opinion pieces on relevant issues. Between them they have many years experience of mental health nurse education and clinical practice, generating an understanding of the complexities of mental health nursing on a local, national and international stage.

EDUCATION SUB-GROUP

Lucy Colwell (University of Brighton) was elected as Chair of the Education sub-group in 2023 and will serve until June 2025.

More information on Lucy Cowell can be found here.

This group focuses on issues relating to mental health nurse education and policies influencing the content and means of delivering this training. Topics have included use of the practice assessment document for students, adherence to new guidance from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), collaborations between HEIs on educational programmes and the work of Health Education England in supporting nurse education.

RESEARCH SUB-GROUP

Maxine Cromar-Hayes (University of Liverpool) was elected as Chair of the Research Sub-Group in 2022 and will serve until 2024.

More information on Maxine Cromar-Hayes can be found here.

Fundamentally there are four activity streams to the meetings:

• Stream one – To review pervious activities the group have been involved so that we do not lose a focus of what has and is being achieved.

• Stream two – To focus on research priorities that can feed into NIHR and other national initiatives to influence research and research funding steams.

• Stream three – The groups research focus will be focused on 2 main areas (1) To explore why the focus of curriculum subjects varies across the regions (there may be a sub section within this, given the emerging and varied interpretations of the proficiencies in the practice documents) (2) To conduct a literature review to develop a collaborative model for service user involvement in curriculum development and delivery in MH and all fields of nursing.

• Stream four – To encourage the discussion of other research ideas and offer support and connection via the MHNAUK group.