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Wales Mental Health Leadership Exchange sharpens focus on mental health access

Mental health leaders representing a number of sectors have participated in the Wales Mental Health Leadership Exchange, establishing greater connectivity amongst partners and shaping the future of mental health support in Wales.

As part of the Wales Mental Health Leadership Exchange, leaders in a variety of roles, and across a diverse network of stakeholders have participated in a series of knowledge exchange opportunities which concluded with a conference held in Aberystwyth.

The diversity of involvement, from leaders representing lived-experience, health, social care, the Third Sector and more, is fundamental in building collective commitment that will drive sustainable change and help realise the ambitions due to be set out in the All Age Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-34, notably vision statement four, “there are seamless mental health services – person centred, needs led, and guided to the right support first time, without delay.”

Insights and evidence from countries around the world has demonstrated success in transforming mental health systems from traditional tiered models of care to recovery-based system approaches. The Wales Mental Health Leadership Exchange was designed around three core themes which have underpinned transformation in other parts of the world:

  • Theme 1: Transforming the community mental health system including: 
    • Open access care 
    • Person-centred, recovery oriented, trauma informed practice 
    • Place based, connected community 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 event has been a first of its kind in Wales, inspired by the success of the Global Leadership Exchange. In 2024, a small group of colleagues representing NHS Wales were fortunate to be able to attend the Global Leadership Exchange and see first-hand how events of this nature can offer rich opportunities to connect mental health leaders and showcase evidence informed practice in a way that creates a lasting impact.

 

Sharing insights and fostering connectedness

Experts by experience and occupation participated in nineteen knowledge exchange opportunities throughout March 2025 that were hosted by a number of NHS Wales organisations and other key partners. The knowledge exchanges were structured immersive experiences designed to share best practice and build collaborative relationships. The knowledge exchanges enabled a mutual learning opportunity, where hosts and participants shared innovations and challenges.

 

A national conference rooted in knowledge, experience and evidence informed practice

The knowledge and insights shared at the knowledge exchanges played an instrumental part in informing a series of workshops at the conference which were also focused on the recovery-based system approach themes. Subject matter experts led discussions which allowed attendees to hear and contribute to insights and then input into tasks which challenged attendees to think differently about how we provide mental health support in Wales.

 

People are sat around a table having a conversation and writing on flip chart paper as part of a workshop session taking place at conference Workshop session taking place at conference

 

As part of the conference, attendees heard from and engaged with a number of thought leaders representing experts by profession and experience, both in-person and through live online engagement. The conference was opened with a powerful speech from writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare about his lived experience and passion for change.

 

Cardiff and Vale UHB Youth Board panel discussion at the conference. Participants are stood and sat around a table at the front of the conference hall, looking at the camera and smiling. Cardiff and Vale UHB Youth Board panel discussion at conference

 

Representatives from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Youth Board took part in a panel discussion where they too shared their lived experiences of mental health services in Wales, and their hopes for change as advocates for improvement and involvement of young people. A similar panel discussion was held with a group of adults who were also strong advocates for improvement and involvement, voicing experiences around access, stigma and comorbidities in mental health.

 

Lived-experience panel discussion at the conference, participants are sat around the table having a discussion at the front of the conference hall. Lived-experience panel discussion at the conference

 

Attendees also benefitted from two plenary sessions delivered by professionals from Canada and Australia that have experienced success in transforming how people access mental health support. Colleagues from Stepped Care Solutions shared learning from implementation of the Stepped Care 2.0 model which promotes flexible and open access mental health support, engaging attendees in discussion about how the model can help realise ambitions set out in the incoming All Age Mental Health Strategy 2024-34 in Wales. Colleagues from SANE showcased how it is implementing Australia’s first digital psychological support service for people with complex mental health needs, including how it has been developed, embedded and monitored.

A number of exhibitors from the National Centre for Mental Health, Health Education and Improvement Wales and the NHS Wales Executive, attended the conference as a useful opportunity to engage with mental health leaders. The NHS Wales Executive also provided a poster opportunity for people to share evidence-based practice in mental health in Wales, focused around the recovery-based system approach themes.

98% of people who attended the conference in Aberystwyth told us they would recommend future events like this to their colleagues. This data is based on feedback from 58 out of 150 people that attended the conference in person, representing all stakeholder groups.

The NHS Wales Executive extends its sincere thanks to everyone who was involved in the knowledge exchanges, conference and satellite conference that was held in Cardiff – as facilitators and/or participants. The time commitment and energy people have given to attend and contribute, and the candidness people have brought to conversations, has created a real appetite for change.  A special thank you to everyone who shared their lived and living experience, helping to focus conversations on why transformation is so important.

 

A commitment to open access and recovery focused support

Ciara Rogers, National Director for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity, said: “The NHS Wales Executive is committed to fostering a collaborative and unified approach to the transformation of mental health support in Wales. National working is fundamental to creating a deeper and more accurate picture of system challenges, as well as enabling the best use of experience, expertise and research to scale evidence informed practice. I’m really excited about the energy generated from the knowledge exchanges and the conference, and the appetite to be bold and take action to deliver open access recovery focused support for Wales.”

 

Ciara Rogers is stood at the front of the conference hall addressing attendees. Ciara Rogers speaking at the conference

 

A consolidation of learning from the knowledge exchanges, conference workshops and action planning sessions has taken place as part of the conference, and this will be developed further in the coming weeks. The NHS Wales Executive will share the insights to support colleagues and senior leaders to think differently about large scale change, and is committed to developing an Open Access Acceleration Plan for mental health support in Wales.

 

Strengthening national leadership across mental health

Members of the Strategic Programme for Mental Health Programme Board met ahead of the conference to take part in a leadership development session led by Avanti Change. The leadership development session was centred around enhancing stakeholder relationships, expectations, purpose and outcomes.

The Strategic Programme for Mental Health Programme Board provides a strong collaborative mechanism for the direction and delivery of objectives in line with shared national priorities. The NHS Wales Executive, Welsh Government, health boards, special health authorities, Third Sector and other key stakeholders in the mental health sector are represented on the forum.

The session proved valuable in establishing further shared consensus around the role of the Programme Board in enabling momentum around the delivery of the All Age Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-34, notably vision statement four, “there are seamless mental health services – person centred, needs led, and guided to the right support first time, without delay.”

Some of the key benefits of the Programme Board that were further shaped include:

  • Examining evidence to improve outcomes
  • Supporting and influencing change, and improvements in quality and safety
  • Supporting the implementation of principles into practice
  • Whole-system leadership, stewardship, challenge, scrutiny and assurance
  • Improving mental health and wellbeing for the population of Wales
  • A mechanism that promotes and facilitates listening and understanding

Following the leadership development session there will be continued work to evaluate how the Programme Board can continue to enhance its value and impact as it continues to mature.

 

Members of the Programme Board holding postcards which formed part of a workshop activity. Leadership development session for the Programme Board