Implementing a new national role in mental health: the support, time and recovery worker

Abstract

Support, time and recovery (STR) workers are in the vanguard of the new frontline, non‐professionally affiliated groups identified in the NHS Plan (Department of Health, 2000).Since 2003, the former changing workforce programme mental health team (now part of NIMHE's national workforce programme) have facilitated the implementation of this role across England, initially through a pilot project, then an accelerated development programme (ADP). It is this latter, ongoing, programme that forms the basis of this article. The authors refer to the challenge of establishing the STR worker role in a variety of statutory, non‐statutory and independent service settings and achieving the Department of Health (DH) target of 3000 STR workers in post by December 2006. The collaborative implementation process is discussed and many issues such as performance management, measures, service user involvement, organisational (including human resources and occupational health) support, and education and training, are explored. Key learning from the process is identified, and consideration given to the future application of such a simple yet effective model for change.

Citation

James, A., Chadwick, S. and Rushforth, D. (2006), "Implementing a new national role in mental health: the support, time and recovery worker", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 30-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/17556228200600005