Why you should read this article:

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To remind yourself of the current scope of the nurse consultant role

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To learn how an associate nurse consultant can fit into the mental health workforce

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To understand some of the benefits and drawbacks of appointing an associate nurse consultant in a child and adolescent mental health service

Nurse consultants have an important role in strengthening the capacity and productivity of the workforce in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). An associate nurse consultant (ANC) was appointed to a local CAMHS team in County Durham, primarily to support the medical staff. A service evaluation of the effects of the newly developed post on the team, particularly the medical staff, showed that it had reduced the medical staff’s workload.

The evaluation further showed that the ANC had enhanced the support available to nursing staff and that there may be scope for another similar role to provide better coverage of the locality and respond to all healthcare disciplines’ needs. A major benefit of the appointment of an ANC is that it has developed another route for nurse career progression, thereby providing a means of improving staff recruitment and retention.