Mental health workforce must be properly funded and developed to meet rising demand for care, says NHS Providers

Responding to the new report from the Nuffield Trust Understanding the mental health clinical support workforce, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

“Today’s report highlights the invaluable contribution mental health clinical support workers make to the NHS.

“These staff play a pivotal role in supporting patients within mental health services. There is a risk that without significant investment in the development of the workforce and measures to tackle staff shortages, our efforts to meet the steep rise in demand for mental health services due to the pandemic will be further hindered.

“It is vital therefore that these roles are adequately funded and that steps are taken to enable flexible working and to support training and career development. This is key to attracting and retaining existing staff.

“The government must start investing more in the NHS workforce with the upcoming spending review providing a prime opportunity to set out a robust long term workforce plan for the NHS.”