Multi-professional approved clinicians’ contribution to clinical leadership
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-03-2017-0019 |
| Pages | 65-76 |
| Date | 12 March 2018 |
| Published date | 12 March 2018 |
| Author | Selma Ebrahim |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Mental health education |
Multi-professional approved clinicians’
contribution to clinical leadership
Selma Ebrahim
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore how multi-professional approved clinicians (MPACs),
responsible for the care of patients detained under the Mental Health Act (2007), can enable clinical
leadership in mental health settings.
Design/methodology/approach –A questionnaire was completedby clinical psychology and mental health
nursingpractitioners in a mental healthtrust in the UK working towardsor having gained approved clinician(AC)
status, identifying barriers to implementation of the roles and enablers. Qualitative interview data were also
gathered with psychiatrists, clinicalpsychologist and Mental Health NurseACs (three in each group).
Findings –There are a number of barriers and enablers of distributed leadership promoted by the MPAC
role. Themes identified focused on enabling person-centred care, clinical leadership and culture change more
broadly within mental health care. The AC role is supporting clinical leadership by a range of professionals,
promoting patient choice by enabling access to clinicians with the appropriate skills to meet needs. Clinical
leadership roles are promoting links between organisational priorities, teams and patient care, fostering
distributed leadership in practice.
Research limitations/implications –This project reflects the views of a limited number of practitioners
within one organisation which limits generalisabilty.
Practical implications –Organisations need clear strategies linked to workforce development and
implementation of theroles to capitalise on theirpotential to supportclinical leadershipand person-centredcare.
Originality/value –This study provides initial qualitative data on potential benefits and challenges of
implementing the role.
Keywords Clinical leadership, Distributed leadership, Person-centred care, Approved clinician, MHA,
Shared decision-making
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
There are significant pressures on mental healthcare services which are linked to the need to
change systems and to develop more distributed, multidisciplinary leadership. These issues will
be explored, then how clinical leadership can enable distributed leadership will be introduced.
The Mental Health Act (MHA) as a framework for the care of detained mental health patients in
the UK will be described, and the introduction of new roles in 2007, that of approved clinician
(AC) and responsible clinician (RC) which provide an opportunity for a range of professionals to
provide clinical leadership. Finally the complexity of promoting shared decision making within a
coercive treatment structure will be discussed, linked to the need to change how detained
patients are engaged in treatment. The research aim was to understand how multi-professional
approved clinicians (MPACs) can enable clinical leadership and care provision in mental health
settings and to explore the barriers and enablers to the implementation of the roles in practice.
National context
There is an imperative to increase the efficiency of mental healthcare provision due to greater
identification of mental health problems alongside a decrease in funding (NHS Confederation,
2016). Within this context, aims within the NHS England (2016) strategy for mental health include
increased equality of access to a range of therapies and commissioning for outcomes.
Received 12 March 2017
Revised 4 May 2017
Accepted 22 September 2017
The author would like to thank all
the practitioners who took part in
the project and helped with the
data analysis.
Selma Ebrahim is a Consultant
Clinical Psychologist at the
Psychological Services,
Northumberland Tyne and
Wear Foundation Trust,
Morpeth, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-03-2017-0019 VOL. 13 NO. 2 2018, pp.65-76, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228
j
THE JOURNAL OF MENTALHEALTH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE
j
PAGE65
To continue reading
Request your trial