The Mental Health Podcast

Mental Health Nurses Association
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Semiweekly

#MHpod is a podcast from the Mental Health Nurses Association, a professional association in Unite the union. We hope our podcasts will be of interest to everyone that's interested in mental health. Get in touch to share your thoughts and suggestions: On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Unite_MHNA or via email: mhna@unitetheunion.org. Credits - Theme music: Tony Gillam / Editing: Dave Munday / #MHpod logo typeface: Gilbert colour (https://www.typewithpride.com)

  1. 1d ago

    A Unite member update on…accessing health and care records

    Recently there has been a number of high profile cases where health professionals have accessed health and care records which they were not permitted to access. At this event on 29 September 2026, lead professional officer Dave Munday provided a presentation based on the NHS England Digital guidance. This reminded Unite members of what the situation is in respect of what is both acceptable and unacceptable. The Q&A session was not recorded but the topics covered will be included on the Unite website. You can access more information about this seesion, and past sessions here: https://www.unitetheunion.org/what-we-do/unite-in-your-sector/health-sector/unite-reps-update-on-the-nhs-job-evaluation-scheme-afc

    A Unite member update on…accessing health and care records

  2. Sep 24

    Unite in Health update on NHS Staff Standards

    On 6 July 2026 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, working closely with employers and staff representatives through the Social Partnership Forum, published the NHS Staff Standards. These standards set out what staff can expect from their employer in a number of important areas. At this event on 18 August 2026, lead professional officer Dave Munday provided a presentation based on the new standards. This included what each of the 6 standards are, what staff can expect, why this matters and how the standards will be measured. The Q&A session was not recorded but the topics covered are included on the Unite website https://www.unitetheunion.org/what-we-do/unite-in-your-sector/health-sector/unite-reps-update-on-the-nhs-job-evaluation-scheme-afc. You can also find a copy of the slides on this website.

    Unite in Health update on NHS Staff Standards

  3. Aug 28

    Unite in Health update on how to write a job description

    In April 2026 we held an online meeting for Unite health sector representatives (in England) that focused on annex 31, an important new addition to the NHS terms and conditions of service. You can see information about this session on our website via https://www.unitetheunion.org/annex31. This includes a recording of the presentation and links to helpful resources. We discussed a second session and, following feedback, that session was an update for reps on how best to write a job description with a focus on what is needed for (NHS Job Evaluation Scheme) job evaluation purposes. At this event on 23 June 2026, lead professional officer Dave Munday provided a presentation based on the previously published advice from NHS Employers. He was joined by Paul Smith (Unite representative on the NHS Staff Council Job Evaluation Group) during a question and answer session. The Q&A session was not recorded but the topics covered were included on the Unite website https://www.unitetheunion.org/what-we-do/unite-in-your-sector/health-sector/unite-reps-update-on-the-nhs-job-evaluation-scheme-afc. You can also find a copy of the slides on this website.

    Unite in Health update on how to write a job description

  4. Aug 27

    Unite in Health update on Annex 31

    On 1 April 2026 a new annex to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook was published relating to the requirements of the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme (NHS JES). The publication of this annex is one part of a programme of work asked for by trade unions and committed to by the government to restore confidence in and build local capacity to improve job evaluation practice across the NHS. At this event on 28 April 2026, lead professional officer Dave Munday updated reps on Annex 31 and discussed how this could be used locally. He was joined by Paul Smith (Unite representative on the NHS Staff Council Job Evaluation Group) during a question and answer session. The Q&A session was not recorded but the topics covered were included on the Unite webiste: https://www.unitetheunion.org/annex31. You can also find a copy of the slides on this website.

    Unite in Health update on Annex 31

  5. 05/01/2025

    #mhTV episode 174 - Good mental health, children and schools

    Welcome to episode 174 [originally broadcast on Wednesday 30 April 2025] of #mhTV​​​​​​​​. This week Nicky Lambert and David Munday spoke with guest Sam Chapman about the Good mental health, children and schools. SC: Sam is a mental health nurse and Specialist Practitioner in mental health having worked in mental health services since 2003. Sam has had the privilege of working with adults and young people who have experienced mental health difficulties. She currently works at Aston University as a Teaching Fellow and is the programme lead for the pre-registration mental health nursing programme. Sam is currently undertaking her Doctoral studies including co-production workshops with young people in one UK secondary school as part of her Doctoral research. Sam is passionate about enabling young people to influence and shape research, and generally passionate about understanding the world that young people live in, creating research outcomes underpinned by young peoples lived experiences and knowledge. Some Bluesky links to follow are: VG - https://bsky.app/profile/vanessamhn.bsky.social NL - https://bsky.app/profile/niadla.bsky.social DM - https://bsky.app/profile/davidamunday.bsky.social SC - https://bsky.app/profile/sam--chapman.bsky.social Credits: #mhTV Presenters: Vanessa Gilmartin, Nicky Lambert & David Munday Guest: Sam Chapman Theme music: Tony Gillam Production & Editing: David Munday

    #mhTV episode 174 - Good mental health, children and schools

  6. 03/27/2025

    #mhTV episode 173 - Substance use in nurse education

    Welcome to episode 173 [originally broadcast on Wednesday 12 February 2025] of #mhTV​​​​​​​​. This week Nicky Lambert and David Munday spoke with guest Dr Natalie Finch about substance use in nurse education. We're sorry to say the audio of this recording is of a lesser quality than we'd like due to internet problems during the livestream. Apologies for this and to Natalie! NF: Natalie is a registered mental health nurse. Her clinical background is in co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders. Natalie currently works as an Assistant Professor at the University of Bradford and is the field lead for undergraduate mental health nursing. Natalie has a special interest in embedding substance use into nurse education. Her masters degree focused on substance use, and her related research on supporting students to care for people with mental illness who use drugs was awarded an impact prize by the Society for the Study of Addiction. Natalie is passionate about partnership working in education to enhance learning opportunities and ultimately improve patient care. Some X links to follow are: VG - https://x.com/VanessaRNMH NL - https://x.com/niadla​​​​​​​​ DM - https://x.com/davidamunday NF - https://x.com/Natfinchleeds Credits: #mhTV Presenters: Vanessa Gilmartin, Nicky Lambert & David Munday Guest: Dr Natalie Finch Theme music: Tony Gillam Production & Editing: David Munday

    #mhTV episode 173 - Substance use in nurse education

  7. 12/18/2024

    #mhTV episode 172 - An evening with Andy Bell

    Welcome to episode 171 [originally broadcast on Wednesday 11 December 2024] of #mhTV​​​​​​​​. This week Nicky Lambert and David Munday spoke with guest Andy Bell. Andy is the chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health. AB: Andy has been with Centre for Mental Health since 2002 and became Chief Executive in January 2023. He has worked for more than 25 years in the voluntary sector, striving for equality and social justice through research, communicating evidence, influencing policy, and informing debate. Andy was the driving force behind the Commission for Equality in Mental Health, funded by the Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust, established to investigate inequalities in mental health. The Commission's work culminated in a final report, Mental Health for All , which set out what a system for equality could look like across communities, local and national government. He is at the forefront of Equally Well UK, a collaborative to support the physical health of people with a mental illness. He plays a pivotal role in facilitating the Local Authority Mental Health Challenge which engages elected members across the country. Some X links to follow are: VG - https://x.com/VanessaRNMH NL - https://x.com/niadla​​​​​​​​ DM - https://x.com/davidamunday AB - https://x.com/Andy__Bell__ Credits: #mhTV Presenters: Vanessa Gilmartin, Nicky Lambert & David Munday Guest: Andy Bell Theme music: Tony Gillam Production & Editing: David Munday

    #mhTV episode 172 - An evening with Andy Bell

  8. 11/12/2024

    #mhTV episode 171 - Physical and mental health - Nutrition, sleep and hydration

    Welcome to episode 171 [originally broadcast on Wednesday 23 October 2024] of #mhTV​​​​​​​​. This week Nicky Lambert and Vanessa Gilmartin spoke with guest Linda Pert about Physical and mental health - Nutrition, sleep and hydration LP - I qualified as a mental health nurse in 1994 in Plymouth. From 1997 I spent over 20 years working in high secure forensic services at Rampton Hospital, I moved to the community setting in 2018 and worked in Bed Management, Crisis Team, Street Triage and a Community Mental Health Team within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. I have just reached the end of my training to be an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) with Sheffield Hallam University, whilst working in a Community Mental Health Team for Notts Healthcare. I have a new challenge ahead as I am about to return to the ward environment with a new role as an ACP on a psychiatric intensive care unit with Solent NHS Trust. I have a passion for research and sit as Vice Chair on the Chief Nursing Officers Shared Professional Decision Making Council for Research. My specific interest is identifying service gaps and developing ways to address them in my work and that of my team. I have recently written and delivered a training package for my masters dissertation with the aim to improve the physical health of those under our care. My idea is for a bottom-up approach where mental health practitioners engage with patients in such a way as to start to address the real fact that SMI patients die an average of 20 years too soon. Mental and physical health are inextricably linked and I believe we need to have this holistic view in all our patient interactions. It doesn’t require much of a change in our approach, just a little extra knowledge and confidence and a curiosity about all aspects of our patients life and lifestyle. Some X links to follow are: VG - https://x.com/VanessaRNMH NL - https://x.com/niadla​​​​​​​​ DM - https://x.com/davidamunday Credits: #mhTV Presenters: Vanessa Gilmartin, Nicky Lambert & David Munday Guest: Linda Pert Theme music: Tony Gillam Production & Editing: David Munday

    #mhTV episode 171 - Physical and mental health - Nutrition, sleep and hydration
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About

#MHpod is a podcast from the Mental Health Nurses Association, a professional association in Unite the union. We hope our podcasts will be of interest to everyone that's interested in mental health. Get in touch to share your thoughts and suggestions: On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Unite_MHNA or via email: mhna@unitetheunion.org. Credits - Theme music: Tony Gillam / Editing: Dave Munday / #MHpod logo typeface: Gilbert colour (https://www.typewithpride.com)

Information

  • Creator
    Mental Health Nurses Association
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    208
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Mental Health Podcast