26th June 2025

Mental health professionals to become Swansea Bay’s first Approved Clinicians

Two mental health professionals are on course to become the health board’s first Multiprofessional Approved Clinicians.

Ross Watson and Luke Harris are currently employed as a consultant clinical psychologist and an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) respectively, but have begun training on a new course which will give them extra responsibilities with their work with mental health patients.

Once qualified, in addition to their existing roles, they will be able to assess, diagnose, manage and discharge from inpatients settings, as well as manage complexity and risk. They will also be able to employ their new skills in community mental health settings.

Although Swansea Bay UHB has previously employed a psychologist, who had completed similar training but has since retired, this is the first time substantive posts have been developed for non-medical approved clinical roles to create a new workforce.

Consultant psychiatrist and Medical Director for Mental Health and Learning Difficulties Richard Maggs said: “What we are doing is providing a route for non-medical professionals to become approved clinicians and to take on senior clinical leadership responsibilities.

“We are supporting allied health professionals with alternative training routes into senior clinical posts. But it is not just them who benefit – there are benefits for us, and for patients.

“The approved clinician role will give patients access to a more diverse workforce with different clinical backgrounds, and clinical experiences.

“It also helps tackle national shortage of consultant psychiatrists and will improve the quality of care delivered to our patients, and bolsters the multi-disciplinary working within our teams.”

Luke Harris, who is already based at Cefn Coed started working for Swansea Bay UHB as a health care support worker in 2012, moving on to work in adult outpatients before becoming an ANP in mental health services, helping to support the development of an ANP forum.

He said: “Advanced Clinicians are nurses, psychologists, social workers and OTs who are trained to undertake specific duties historically delegated only to medics.

“It means I’ll be able to support patients with a full episode of care, within hospital or out in the community.

“It expands my role as I’ll be supporting and managing patients, either informally, or under the provisions of the Mental Health Act.

“I’ll also be responsible, and accountable for, completing and undertaking mental health tribunals, and other managers’ hearings.”

He added: “It’s a career progression I’ve been thinking about for some time ever since I completed my ANP qualification, and was fortunate to have the conversation with Dr Maggs about what was available.”

Consultant Clinical psychologist Ross Watson, based in adult mental health rehabilitation and recovery services, is also undertaking the training.

He said: “I had a conversation a number of years ago with a colleague who was a consultant psychologist who told me about the role and initiated my interest, so when I learned Claire and Richard were developing it for Swansea Bay, I expressed my interest in the role.”

“Further conversations with another colleague who is a psychologist and approved clinician helped me consider the role so when this opportunity arose I was confident enough to apply for it.”

“I’m really excited by the prospect of being part of a developing and growing group, and being able to make a contribution.”

Professional lead for MHLD psychology Claire Nagi added: “This is a great model to look at a difference workforce for the future and to find solutions to some of the workforce challenges in mental health services.

“There are only eight non-medical Approved Clinicians in Wales at the moment, and this will contribute to developing our workforce and addressing the issues we face from within.”