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Developing the Primary Mental Health Worker Role in England
Author(s) -
Hickey Nicole,
Kramer Tami,
Garralda Elena
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
child and adolescent mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1475-3588
pISSN - 1475-357X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00524.x
Subject(s) - workforce , mental health , workforce development , primary care , perspective (graphical) , nursing , professional development , training (meteorology) , job satisfaction , training and development , policy development , psychology , medical education , business , medicine , family medicine , political science , psychiatry , management , social psychology , artificial intelligence , meteorology , computer science , law , economics , economic policy , physics
Background: The Primary Mental Health Worker (PMHW) interface role was introduced in England 13 years ago. This study evaluated the development of the role. Method: 415 English PMHWs (64% of workforce) completed a survey about the services they provide, management organisation, training and development, and job satisfaction. Results: PMHWs perceive their role to involve successful collaboration with primary care staff, offering improved access to mental health services, and being supported by a generally good infrastructure; although training opportunities remain an area of need. Conclusions: The workforce development policy appears, from the PMHWs’ perspective, to be successful although training opportunities need consideration.