Kingston University leadership training programme for black, Asian and minority ethnic mental health nurses up for Royal College of Nursing award

Posted Monday 24 June 2019

A Kingston University and South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust programme to help black, Asian and minority ethnic mental health nurses develop the skills and confidence to access more senior roles has been shortlisted for a Royal College of Nursing Institute award.

The Harnessing BAME Mental Health Nurses' Talent programme, which offers nurses an opportunity to build leadership skills, explore how cultural backgrounds influence professional development and provides one-to-one coaching, is in the running for the national Leadership Award.

The latest group of students to be part of the Harnessing BAME Mental Health Nurses' Talent programme.The bespoke five-day programme, part-funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, includes focus groups with BAME staff, service users and carers, internal and external individual coaching, training and development opportunities.

Course participants also have the opportunity to undertake work based learning modules provided by Faculty of Health and Social Care and Education, run jointly by Kingston and St George's, University of London.

The programme has notched up a number of successes, with all 18 of the participants who applied for a promotion receiving an interview and 14 of these getting the job. This has seen interest in the project from other NHS trusts, with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust already signing up staff to attend.

Senior lecturer in clinical leadership and management Judith Francois, who heads the initiative for the University, said the idea for the programme came as a result of an under-representation of BAME mental health nurses in senior roles. "Our aim was to create a customised programme for the BAME nursing workforce to support professional development and improve nursing retention rates.

"We wanted to give the participants the confidence to believe in themselves and show them their cultural background should be celebrated as they progressed through their careers," she added.

The award ceremony takes place at Westminster's Park Plaza hotel on Wednesday 3 July.