Collective knowledge. Collective change.

About the event

This spring, the Wales Mental Health Leadership Exchange will bring together leaders from across the Welsh health and care system as part of a series of activity that supports information sharing and innovation.

The event will be a first of its kind in Wales and a valuable opportunity to:

• Celebrate the contributions of colleagues that are making strides in improving mental health and wellbeing support and services for their population.
• Connect with colleagues across the system, sharing knowledge and developing networks for peer support.
• Champion the value of lived experience and co-production in service planning.
• Inspire, inform and empower participants to drive the delivery of seamless mental health services.
• Invest in professional development with protected time to enhance skills and knowledge around evidence-based practice and research.

“Having been fortunate enough to attend the Global Leadership Exchange in 2024, a group of colleagues and I experienced first-hand how events like this can offer rich opportunities to connect mental health leaders and showcase best practice in a way that creates a lasting impact. I’m really excited that the NHS Wales Executive will be hosting its first ever Wales Mental Health Leadership Exchange this year. The event will be key in fostering greater collaboration to enhance services in a needs led way that is underpinned by a dynamic and sustainable workforce.”

Ciara Rogers, National Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity, NHS Wales Executive.

Recovery-based system approaches

Three core themes have been drawn from approaches undertaken in other countries that have shifted mental health systems from traditional tiered models of care to recovery-based system approaches.

• Theme 1: Transforming the community mental health system including:
  • Open access care
  • Person-centred, recovery oriented, trauma informed practice
  • Place based, connected community health services
• Theme 2: Redefining the mental health workforce
• Theme 3: The systematic implementation of PROMs/PREMs in mental health services to support and demonstrate person-centred care

The content of the event will be fundamental in developing the right conditions for seamless mental health services in Wales, that are person centred, needs led, where people are guided to the right support first time, and without delay (Vision Statement 4 of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Wales).

Who is the event for?

The event is designed for leaders across a variety of roles in mental health services that have the ability to inspire, influence and action change at a local level. A limited number of places are available, and nominations will be sought from organisations.

Knowledge exchanges

March 2025, online and various sites

A series of knowledge exchanges on specific topics will take place online and at various sites across Wales. Each knowledge exchange will be hosted by a team or organisation. As part of the knowledge exchanges, participants will share expertise, information and insights between individuals and organisations to foster greater collaboration, learning and innovation.

Sharing knowledge will stimulate ideas and solutions that can be applied in national and local contexts. Knowledge exchanges around the world have resulted in excellent growth of partnerships that have driven significant improvements in the quality and safety of healthcare.

Find out more about the knowledge exchange opportunities available and sign up by 26 February 2025.

Conference

Thursday 3^rd to Friday 4^th April, Aberystwyth University

Insights from all of the knowledge exchanges will be presented at the residential conference at Aberystwyth University. The conference will include networking opportunities, keynote speeches, workshops and an innovation showcase.

The conference will take place over two full days with an optional opening reception on the evening prior. The knowledge exchanges and conference are free to attend but expenses will need to be agreed and covered by individual organisations.

More information about the event will be available soon.