Celebrating our Nursing Development Team on Mental Health Nurses Day
This Mental Health Nurses Day (21 February), we’re celebrating not only our incredible mental health nurses, but also the team working behind the scenes to support them – our Nursing Development Team!
The team plays a vital role in helping our nurses to grow, develop and feel confident in delivering safe, high-quality care. At the heart of the team are passionate development nurses like David, our Preceptorship Lead, and Ruth, who supports our Band 2–4 workforce.
Supporting nurses from day one
David oversees programmes designed to support newly qualified nurses as they transition into practice. “The first two years of a nurse’s career can be challenging – it’s when they’re most likely to question whether it’s the right career for them,” he explains.
“Our preceptorship programme runs for eight months, with monthly training days and clinical support from senior nurses. We also offer a separate programme for newly qualified nurses in the community, as well as training for preceptors focused on leadership and coaching skills.”
Recognising a gap in formal development opportunities for band 6 nurses, David also helped create a Band 6 development programme to support career progression into leadership roles. “It’s something we’ve built without extra funding or resources, and I think it has huge potential,” he says.
Ruth’s role focuses on supporting healthcare assistants and nursing associates. This includes overseeing essential training such as the Care Certificate, supporting with development pathways like nursing apprenticeships, and top-up programmes for those aspiring to become registered mental health nurses. “My role is about making sure our staff feel valued, supported and able to grow,” she says. “Being part of people’s development journeys is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.”
Ruth’s journey into nursing development wasn’t planned, but it has always been driven by a desire to make a difference. “Mental health nursing appealed to me because it’s truly person-centred – it looks at the whole person,” she says. During the pandemic, Ruth was deployed from South London and Maudsley to work on Avalon Ward.
“Afterwards, the matron emailed me to say what a positive impact I’d had and told me about an opportunity in the community eating disorders team,” she recalls. That moment helped shape the next stage of her career, and Ruth has now been with the Trust for five years.
When an opportunity came up to join the Nursing Development Team, she knew it was the right step. “I wanted to help make sure everyone has a positive experience working at the Trust and feels supported to develop,” she says. “Creating an environment where people feel encouraged and confident to grow really matters to me.”
For David, who has been with the Trust for more than a decade, the move into development was driven by a desire to support others. After starting as a newly qualified nurse on Lilac ward and gaining experience across acute and urgent care, he joined the Nursing Development Team in 2023. “It gave me the chance to teach, mentor and provide pastoral care,” he says.
The Nursing Development Team also provides a safe space for staff navigating challenges. For newly qualified nurses, joining a large organisation can feel overwhelming, says David.
“It can feel quite lonely at times. Fitting in with new teams and adapting to new working patterns can be daunting. We offer a safe space to talk through these challenges and problem-solve together, including weekly drop-in sessions.”
The power of kindness
Asked about the qualities most essential to mental health nursing today, both said kindness. “Kindness is the most effective treatment any nurse can apply in any situation,” David says. “We’ve had many people with lived experience come to preceptorship and talk about the small acts of kindness that have stayed with them.”
Ruth agrees wholeheartedly. “You need to be patient and kind. Treating people how I’d like to be treated has guided me throughout my career so far. Kindness costs nothing, but its impact can be life‑changing."
